Forklift pallet made of plastics material, and method of manufacture

• US 5,778,801 A
• Filed: 05/21/1996
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frederic Delacour
• Original Assignee: Frederic Delacour
• Inventors: Delacour, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/557,161
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 108/901, 108/902, 108/51.1, 108/53.1, 108/53.3, 108/51.11, 108/57.25, 108/57.27, 108/57.28
• US Class Current: 108/57.25
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/06 using friction, e.g. spin welding non-plastics elements to plastic elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/0618 Linear
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/2015 being a single welding mirror comprising several separate heating surfaces in different planes, e.g. said heating surfaces having different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/203 being several single mirrors, e.g. not mounted on the same tool
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/112 Single lapped joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/114 Single butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/21 said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/30223 said melt initiators being rib-like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/322 Providing cavities in the joined article to collect the burr
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/3282 for reinforcing the joint
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/472 said single elements being substantially flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81821 of the welding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7178 Pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0026 : and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0028 : and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0034 : forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0048 : and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00104 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 : made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00323 : made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 : contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 : contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00373 : whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 : without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 : chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0083 : Anti-slip means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0096 : when empty
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 : Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

A fork pallet structure and a method of manufacturing a forklift pallet which is applicable to handling goods in industries where hygiene requirements are strict, such as food industries, the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, and "clean" technology industries. The pallet of the invention comprises a platform (30) and blocks (33-35) for spacing the platform from a rest surface such as the ground, both the platform and the blocks being made of solid plastics material. The blocks are optionally interconnected by a belt or by runners and are connected together by a polyfusion method that does not leave any interstices, and does not run any risk of creating crannies while the pallet is in use. The pallet is suitable for use in industries having strict hygiene requirements, such as the food industry.

Claims

1. A pallet comprising:

a platform; and

a plurality of blocks for spacing said platform from a rest surface to allow a handling member to pass, said plurality of blocks being secured to a bottom face of said platform by a polyfusion method at a connection zone, said polyfusion method minimizing outwardly-opening interstices between said plurality of blocks and said platform, said plurality of blocks having at least one c-shaped plate; and

said platform and said plurality of blocks being made of a solid plastics material to minimize outwardly-opening interstices caused by breakage from a blunt instrument.

2. The pallet according to claim 1 wherein said solid plastics material of said platform and said plurality of blocks is polyethylene.

3. The pallet according to claim 1 wherein said solid plastics material of said platform and said plurality of blocks is polypropylene.

4. The pallet according to claim 1 wherein said polyfusion method includes the steps of using a heater mirror technique, a linear vibration welding technique, or a technique of welding by ultrasound or by microwaves.

5. A pallet comprising:

a platform;

a plurality of blocks for spacing said platform from a rest surface to allow a handling member to pass, said plurality of blocks being secured to a bottom face of said platform by a polyfusion method at a connection zone, said polyfusion method minimizing outwardly-opening interstices between said plurality of blocks and said platform, said plurality of blocks having at least one x-shaped plate; and

said platform and said plurality of blocks being made of a solid plastics material to minimize outwardly-opening interstices caused by breakage from a blunt instrument.

6. The pallet according to claim 5 wherein said solid plastics material of said platform and said plurality of blocks is polyethylene.

7. The pallet according to claim 5 wherein said solid plastics material of said platform and said plurality of blocks is polypropylene.

8. The pallet according to claim 5 wherein said polyfusion method includes the steps of using a heater mirror technique, a linear vibration welding technique, or a technique of welding by ultrasound or by microwaves.

9. A pallet comprising:

a platform;

a plurality of blocks for spacing said platform from a rest surface to allow a handling member to pass, said plurality of blocks being secured to a bottom face of said platform by a polyfusion method at a connection zone, said polyfusion method minimizing outwardly-opening interstices between said plurality of blocks and said platform, said plurality of blocks having at least one upside-down v-shaped plate with ramifications; and

said platform and said plurality of blocks being made of a solid plastics material to minimize outwardly-opening interstices caused by breakage from a blunt instrument.

10. The pallet according to claim 9 wherein said solid plastics material of said platform and said plurality of blocks is polyethylene.

11. The pallet according to claim 9 wherein said solid plastics material of said platform and said plurality of blocks is polypropylene.

12. The pallet according to claim 9 wherein said polyfusion method includes the steps of using a heater mirror technique, a linear vibration welding technique, or a technique of welding by ultrasound or by microwaves.