Abstract:
A paper pallet comprises an upper side and an underside, the upper side having a front end and a rear end. A pair of wheel-receiving compartments is defined in each of the front end and the rear end of the paper pallet for receiving wheels of a four-wheeled motorcycle such that removal of the wheels of the four-wheeled motorcycle during transport is not required.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a paper pallet for a four-wheeled motorcycle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A four-wheeled motorcycle such as a four-wheeled beach motorcycle or a four-wheeled motorcycle for off-road use is provided for special surfaces. The wheels of the motorcycles of this type are wider and larger than ordinary ones. In transport, the motorcycle is placed on a planar pallet and then packaged. A forklift is then used to move the packaged pallet and pile it on another packaged pallet. Since the wheels are comparatively wide and large, the pallet may sway and thus impact objects during transport. Further, the wheels are resilient and thus may cause swaying of the motorcycle. Thus, the wheels of the motorcycle are usually removed during transport for reducing the overall height, avoiding the risk of damage and injury. However, removal of the wheels before transport and reassembly of the wheels after arrival in the destination are troublesome. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a paper pallet having four wheel-receiving compartments for receptively receiving four wheels of a four-wheeled motorcycle such that the motorcycle can be transported without removing the wheels. 
     A paper pallet in accordance with the present invention comprises an upper side and an underside, the upper side having a front end and a rear end. A pair of wheel-receiving compartments is defined in each of the front end and the rear end of the paper pallet for receiving wheels of a four-wheeled motorcycle. 
    
    
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper pallet in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating use of the paper pallet in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the paper pallet in accordance with the present invention, wherein a lower plate of the paper pallet is flattened. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a modified embodiment of the paper pallet in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another modified embodiment of the paper pallet in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a paper pallet  1  in accordance with the present invention is provided for supporting a four-wheeled motorcycle and generally comprises an upper side  110  and an underside  120 . At least one through-hole  13  (two in this embodiment) is defined between the upper side  110  and the underside  120  and extends along a longitudinal direction or a lateral direction of the paper pallet  1 . A pair of wheel-receiving compartments  15  is formed in a front end of the paper pallet  1 , and another pair of wheel-receiving compartments  15  is formed in a rear end of the paper pallet  1 . Thus, the paper pallet  1  can be used for supporting a four-wheeled motorcycle  2  with the four wheels of the motorcycle  2  being received in the wheel-receiving compartments  15 , best shown in FIG.  2 . The through-holes  13  of the paper pallet  1  allow the forks (not shown) of a forklift to extend therethrough, allowing the forklift to move the paper pallet  1  to a desired location. The upper side  110  of the paper pallet  1  may include at least one slot  111  (two in this embodiment) or a support member  112 . The slots  111  may receive the protruded portion of the four-wheeled motorcycle  2 , and the support member  112  may retain a lower portion of the four-wheeled motorcycle  2 , thereby securely retaining the four-wheeled motorcycle  2  in place. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the paper pallet  1  comprises an upper plate  11 , a lower plate  12 , and a plurality of support members  16  sandwiched between the upper plate  11  and the lower plate  12 . FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the paper pallet in accordance with the present invention, wherein the lower plate  12  of the paper pallet  1  is flattened. 
     The upper plate  11  includes four cutouts  13  in each of four corners thereof, the cutouts  13  corresponding to the wheel-receiving compartments  15 . Each support member  16  is preferably a rectangular tubular member to thereby define at least one through-hole  13  between the upper side  110  and the underside  120 . 
     The lower plate  2  includes two pairs of flaps  17  in four corners thereof, each flap  17  extending from an associated one of four wheel-receiving sections  170  that delimit the wheel-receiving compartments  15 . An enveloping piece  18  is provided between each pair of the flaps  17 . Each flap  17  includes three folding lines  171 , thereby forming a first enveloping section  172 , a second enveloping section  173 , and a third enveloping section  174 . The first enveloping section  172  is superimposed on the wheel-receiving section  170 , the second enveloping section  173  is superimposed on a side wall  162  of the associated support member  16 , and the third enveloping section  174  is superimposed on an upper side  164  of the associated support member  16 . 
     Each enveloping piece  18  includes a folding line  181 , thereby forming a first enveloping section  182  and a second enveloping section  183 . The first enveloping section  182  includes at least one slot  184  and is superimposed on a side wall  166  of an associated support member  16 , with the slot  184  being aligned with the through-hole  13  of the associated support member  16 . The second enveloping section  183  is superimposed on an upper side  168  of the associated support member  16 . 
     In assembly, the support members  16  are mounted on the supper side of the lower plate  12 , leaving four wheel-receiving compartments  15 . The upper plate  11  is then placed on the support members  16 . Next, the flaps  17  and the enveloping pieces  18  are folded along the folding lines  171  and  181  to form a paper pallet  1 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention, wherein the support members are in the form of spaced blocks  16 ′ that define at least one through-hole  13  extending along a longitudinal direction or a lateral direction of the paper pallet  1 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates another modified embodiment of the invention, wherein the support members (now designated by  16 ″) are arranged in a different manner to define at least one through-hole  13  extending along a lateral direction of the paper pallet  1  and at least one through-hole  14  extending along a longitudinal direction of the paper pallet  1 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.