Abstract:
A pallet of the load-and-roll type having a frame constructed to carry sheet steel of varying widths, being light weight, stackable and nestable for unloaded return shipment. The pallet defines a front or roller end, a back or lift end, two sides and a top surface. The pallet includes frame members and peripheral arms and side rail members. A vertical roller is provided at each corner of the pallet to assist in moving the pallet into and out of lading carrying container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to lading carrying pallets that can be rolled into a lading carrying container or the like and more particularly to a pallet/frame structure for carrying sheets of steel. 
     Pallets for carrying lading are well known and widely used. A rollable load-and-roll style pallet is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,000. The pallet disclosed in that patent is generally rectangular and elongated, with a roller front end, a fork lift back end, a pair of sides and a top surface. The pallet as disclosed has a frame construction which includes an elongated center I-beam that extends from one end to the other, a flat wooden deck that forms the upper or lading engaging surface which rests on the frame and I-beam, supports for engaging the lading-container floor and pair of front rollers. Thirty-five references are cited in that patent which disclose various types of systems. 
     Another type of load-and-roll style pallet is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,813. The pallet disclosed therein includes a well or depression within which a steel coil can rest for securement and shipment. This well is generally transverse to the direction of the shipment so that the coil axis is also transverse. The coil is placed on the pallet and then the pallet and coil are loaded on a flat bed trailer or similar surface. Rollers are on the pallet at one side and the forklift receiving pockets are on the opposite side. 
     Often steel is to be shipped in the form of flat sheets (e.g. 4′×16′, or 6′×16′ etc.) rather than coils. The ability to pre-load the pallet with the sheets and then efficiently load it into or onto a lading carrier is important. 
     The pallet disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,813 is designed for coils, includes a coil receiving depression and maybe too small for larger sheets. The pallet disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,000 is flat so it can carry sheets but has a wooden decking over a frame, is heavy to lift and may not include a frame that is structurally sufficient for very heavy loads. 
     Moreover, after shipment when the pallets are unloaded they are shipped back to the point of origin or elsewhere for reloading. The existing pallets can be relatively thick and only a few pallets can be stacked one-on-one another for shipping. 
     An object of this invention is to provide a load-and-roll style pallet that is of a light weight construction. 
     Another object is to provide a load-and-roll style pallet that is constructed to carry heavy loads of large sheet steel. 
     Yet another object is to provide a load-and-roll style pallet that it is sufficiently flexible to receive loads of various widths. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a load-and-roll style pallet which can be efficiently stacked for return of a maximum number of pallets. 
     These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There is provided by this invention a load-and-roll style pallet that meets the foregoing objects. The pallet is comparatively light in weight, has only a frame structure and does not have a deck, it is constructed to carry sheet steel lading of various widths and is stackable and nestable for unloaded return shipment. 
     The pallet is elongated and rectangular and a has a roller at the front end, a back end, a pair of sides, a lading supporting top surface and fork lift tine receiving pockets at the back end and along the sides. The pallet includes two spaced transverse and tubular frame members that extend from one side to the other and are positioned between the ends at about the ⅓ and ⅔ positions lengthwise. The pallet also includes two (2) longitudinal and tubular frame members that extend from one end to the other end, intersect the transverse frame members at substantially right angles and are positioned between the sides at about the ⅓ and ⅔ positions widthwise. 
     A roller system is located at the front end between the longitudinal frame members and the roller&#39;s axis of rotation is transverse to the longitudinal frame members. The back end of each longitudinal frame member forms a lift pocket for engagement by a forklift tine. Each of the ends of the transverse members define lift pockets for engagement by forklift tines from the sides. 
     A peripheral arm (which is tubular) extends from each longitudinal frame member at each end outwardly or toward an adjacent pallet side. A plurality of peripheral and tubular side rails extend from the outboard end of each peripheral arm to the adjacent transverse frame member. Side rails also extend between the adjacent ends of the transverse frame members. 
     Tie down or hold down brackets are secured to the outboard sides of each longitudinal frame member. Angle iron supports and nesting guides are secured to the frame where a longitudinal frame member intersects a transverse frame member and also adjacent the front and back ends. One leg of the angle iron extends above the top surface of the pallet and is used as a guide when the pallets are nested and stacked. 
     A vertically positioned roller is positioned at each pallet corner for use in guiding pallet into and out of a lading carrying container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective and diagrammatic style view showing a pallet loaded with sheet steel being positioned within a trailer type of container; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a narrow sheet load (e.g. 4′×16″) supported on the longitudinal central fra e members and tied down to the pallet; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2 showing a wide sheet load (6′×16′) held down to the pallet along the peripheral rails; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a bulkhead system mounted to the front end of the pallet for restraining forward movement of the lading; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view taken from the roller end of the pallet showing the front roller, a side rails and tine receiving side pockets; 
     FIG. 5 a  is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of a vertical roller system that is located at each pallet corner; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 but taken from the tine receiving back end and showing tine receiving side pockets; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of an unloaded pallet showing the longitudinal frame members, the transverse frame members, the roller front end and the back end; 
     FIG. 8 is a side sectional view taken along the line of  8 — 8  of FIG. 7 showing a side section of the pallet; 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a side elevational view of the pallet; 
     FIG. 10 is a view taken along the line  10 — 10  of FIG. 7 showing a sectional view of the longitudinal frame members of the pallet and the related angle irons; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line  11 — 11  of FIG. 7 showing the back end of the pallet; 
     FIG. 12 shows the pallets being loaded on top of one another from one side; 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line  13 — 13  of FIG. 12 showing a nesting of several pallets; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view showing two sets of stacked pallets on a flat bed trailer and for return shipment to be reloaded; and 
     FIG. 15 is an elevational view showing the series of pallets being rolled into a container such as a trailer for return shipment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a trailer  10  into which a pallet  12  generally on which is a stacked load of sheets  14  generally is being rolled. A forklift  16  generally is shown as having engaged the back end of the pallet, lifting the pallet and rolling the loaded pallet into the container. The pallet will be lowered and the container then shipped. 
     The pallet itself can be seen in FIG.  7 . The pallet  12  generally is an elongated rectangularly shaped member. The pallet is a frame like construction that includes a pair of tubular transverse frame members  18  and  20  which extend from one pallet side to the other side and are positioned lengthwise or longitudinally between the front or roller end  22  and the back or forklift end  24  at about ⅓ and ⅔ positions. Two longitudinal or central frame members  26  and  28  extend from the roller end to the forklift end and are positioned transversely or widthwise between the sides of the pallet at about the ⅓ and ⅔ positions. The longitudinal frame members  26  and  28  are about 20 inches apart and the distance to the outboard sides of the frame members is about 48″. The longitudinal frame members  26  and  28  intersect the transverse members  18  and  20  and may be formed in sections  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c ,  28   a ,  28   b , and  28   c  which are secured by welding to the transverse members  18  and  20 . It will be understood that the transverse members  18  and  20  as well as the longitudinal members  26  and  28  are elongated and hollow steel tubes. 
     It is seen that the front roller assembly  30  includes a pair of shafts  32  and  34  which are each secured to one of longitudinal or elongated frame members  28   c  or  26   c  and a roller  36  is journalled to the shaft ends and positioned between the frame members  28   c  and  26   c.    
     A peripheral frame is formed and secured to the transverse and the longitudinal frame members. The peripheral frame includes four (4) peripheral arm members  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  each of which are secured at one end to an end of a longitudinal frame member and extend outwardly therefrom toward the adjacent or nearest pallet side, and in a direction substantially parallel to the transverse frame members. In addition, there are provided side rail members  46 ,  50 ,  52  and  56  which connect the peripheral arms and adjacent transverse member ends. For example side member  46  connects the arm member  42  to the transverse frame member  18 . Side peripheral rail member  48  connects two transverse members  18  and  20  as shown. In a similar manner, side member  54  interconnects the other adjacent ends of the transverse and members  18  and  20 . 
     At each corner of the pallet such as  38  there is provided a vertical roller such as  58 ,  60 ,  62  and  64 . The rollers are vertically mounted or have a vertical axis of rotation and assist in loading and unloading the pallet by rolling against a side wall if a side wall is engaged. 
     The pallet also includes eighteen (18) hold down brackets such as  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76  which are U-shaped brackets welded to the outboard side of the longitudinal members, such as  26   b  or  28   b  and to which tie downs can be secured so as to hold lading down against the pallet. Such tie down brackets are provided in connection with each of the longitudinal frame member sections  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c ,  28   a ,  28   b  and  28   c  and are positioned on the outboard side of the longitudinal frame members. 
     Angle iron members such as  78 , 80 ,  82  and  84  are welded on the inboard side of each elongated frame member adjacent the transverse member and at the front and back ends. Each angle iron is positioned so that it&#39;s vertical leg extends about 1 inch above the transverse and longitudinal frame members. Each angle iron&#39;s horizontal portion extends inwardly. 
     The construction of the pallet is also be seen in FIGS. 8-11 generally. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the transverse members  18  and  20 , and the longitudinal frame members  26  and  28  generally can be seen. The roller assembly  30  is seen positioned at the front end of the pallet. The side rails and peripheral arms  40 ,  56 ,  54  and  52  are seen. The hold down brackets  72  and  74  are seen as well as angle iron  78 . The pallet  12  and tine receiving side pockets are seen from FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     Referring back to FIGS. 5 and 5 a  at each corner there is a roller assembly such as  60 . The roller assembly  60  is mounted to the peripheral arm  40  and includes an internal roller carrying tube member or bushing  86  and an external roller  88 . The internal tube is welded to the lower lip of the arm  40  and to the upper wall of the arm  40 . The roller  88 , which extends about the inner tube or bushing  86 , is mostly external of the arm  40  although portion of the roller  88  is within the arm  40 . Grease is applied between the bushing  86  and roller  88  inner and out members so as to enhance a rolling of roller  88  on the bushing. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 lading  14   a  is loaded on to the pallet and is sufficiently narrow (4′×16′) to be supported by the longitudinal pallet members  26  and  28 . Wooden spacers in the form of 4′×4′s such as  90 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98  are positioned between the pallet and the lading so that the lading is in effect spaced above the pallet top surface. In this case, the 4×4 spacers can be supported on the frame or the horizontal portion of the angle irons. Hold down straps extend from the tie down brackets  66 ,  68  and  70  over the lading and to the other tie down brackets such as  72 ,  74 , and  76 . The straps such as  100 ,  102 , and  104  extend from a bracket, such as  66 , over the lading and to the bracket  72 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, if the width of lading  14   b  is greater than the distance between the longitudinal frame members  26  and  28  as for example a 6′×14′sheet, the lading is supported by 4′×4′wooden members such as  106  and  108  which are positioned on the pallet and between the pallet and the lading. The straps such as  110  and  112  grasp the outer peripheral rails such as  50  and  56  and extend over the lading. Thus, the straps are held on the peripheral rails such as  50  and  52  and hold the lading down against the wooden spacers  106  and  108  and the pallet itself. 
     At the front end of the pallet just behind the roller assembly  30 , there is provided a bulkhead  114  which is to restrain the movement of the lading in a forward direction as when the truck carrying the load slows. The bulkhead  114  is held in the vertical position by a chain system such as  116  which extends from the bulkhead to a tie down bracket such as  118  on a longitudinal frame member and then back around the peripheral arm  40  behind the bulk head  114  and to it&#39;s beginning. Thus, the chain provides a triangular restraint to hold the bulkhead in the vertical position. 
     In operation, the sheets are laid on wooden 4×4 spacers which span the longitudinal members  26  and  28  and are generally transverse to the length of the pallet. Straps such as  100 ,  102 , and  104  are used to tie down the lading and hold it against the spacer and pallet. If the load is wide, then straps such as  110  and  112  are used to hold the lading against the spacers by grasping the peripheral side edges of the pallet. At the destination, the pallet is removed by reversing the operation shown in FIG.  1 . The forklift tines grasp the back of the pallet and lift it, then the pallet is rolled out of the container and the lading  14  is removed. 
     The empty pallets  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  and  128  are stacked one on the other for return. It is to be noted that the L-shaped angle irons such as  130  and  132  rise above the surface of the pallet and help in locating the pallet just above. This provides for nesting of the pallets. The stacked pallets can be loaded on a flat bed trailer such as  134  by grasping the lowest pallet in the stack at the side and inserting the forklift tines such as  136  and  138  into the tine receiving pockets in the transverse member, lifting the pallets and placing them on the flatbed. 
     In the alternative the pallets can be stacked and then rolled into a container  140  as shown in FIG.  15 . Of course the pallets are then lowered into position and are shipped back with a plurality of pallets having been loaded one on top of the other. 
     Numerous modifications and changes and can be made to the embodiment described herein without the scope of this invention.