Abstract:
A pallet skirt useful for covering a pallet to improve aesthetics and reduce the risk of tripping over the pallet includes an elongate piece of material for surrounding at least a portion of the pallet and fasteners which fasten the elongate piece of material to the pallet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates a pallet skirt for encircling a pallet. More particularly, the present invention relates to an elongate member which wraps around a pallet used for carrying merchandise, etc., so that the elongate member improves the appearance of the pallet and decreases the risk of accidental injuries caused by the pallet. 
     2. State of the Art 
     Pallets have been used for decades to hold and transport merchandise. Typically a pallet includes a generally planar upper surface upon which merchandise is stacked, and a support frame disposed beneath the planar upper surface. The support structure is typically formed to provide openings into which the prongs of a fork lift can slide. The fork lift is thus able to engage the pallet and carry the pallet and its load to a desired location. 
     For many years pallets were used for storage and transport, but not for commercial display. When the product on the pallet was needed, it was removed from the pallet and placed on shelves, etc. While transferring the product was time consuming, a more pleasing commercial impression was provided. 
     The rapid increase in the popularity of “discount” and “warehouse” stores has brought a major increase in the use of pallets. Because pallets can hold a substantial amount of product and can be moved rapidly, many discount and warehouse stores have turned to using simply using a pallet as the base of a display. The pallet full of product can be brought into the store and left at the end of an aisle without the considerable amount of time consumed in transferring the product onto shelves, etc. 
     The use of pallets as part of a display has two major drawbacks. First, pallets are generally formed from low grade pieces of wood and often endure considerable abuse during transport. Thus, the pallet is generally not aesthetically pleasing and can be quite an eyesore. 
     Second, as mentioned above, the pallets typically have openings designed for receiving the prongs of a forklift. Unfortunately, the human foot is slightly thinner than the prong of a forklift. If is not uncommon for customers and even store employees to accidentally catch their foot on the pallet while walking past. In most cases, this is merely an irritant and results in a sore toe. A fall caused by accidentally catching the pallet, however, can cause serious injuries and presents significant liability concerns for the stores. 
     To alleviate some of the aesthetics concerns, some companies have prepared special displays in which part of the display covers at least a portion of the pallet to provide a more attractive image. Such displays, however, must be specially prepared and generally relate to the product originally loaded on the pallet. If another product is later loaded onto the pallet, the display is unlikely to be consistent with the product. Also, such displays are often designed for use on a particular size of pallet. 
     In light of these concerns, there is a need for an improve apparatus and method for use with pallets. Such an apparatus and method should improve the aesthetics associated with use of the pallet. Such an apparatus and method should also minimize the risks associated with use of the pallet. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which covers a pallet to improve the aesthetics associated with the display of products on a pallet. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for improving the aesthetics associated with the display of products on a pallet. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which covers portions of a pallet to minimize accidents caused by people catching their feet in the openings of a pallet. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for minimize accidents caused by people catching their feet in the openings of a pallet. 
     The above and other objects of the invention are realized in specific illustrated embodiments of a pallet skirt including generally an elongate piece of material, and an attachment mechanism for securing the elongate piece of material to the pallet. The elongate piece of material may be secured to the pallet and wrapped around the pallet to cover the perimeter of the pallet and thereby keep it from being visible to consumers, etc. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the elongate piece of material is formed from a flexible piece of material which can be wrapped around the perimeter of the pallet. When provided with an adjustable fastening mechanism, the elongate piece of flexible material may be used with pallets having differing peripheral dimensions. In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment, the elongate flexible material is formed from a plastic-like material which provides a small amount of resiliency so that the flexible material tends to tighten slightly against the pallet after it has been secured. 
     It accordance with another aspect of the invention, an adjustable fastening mechanism can be used to hold the end of the elongate material to a central portion of the elongate material to facilitate use on pallets of a number of different sizes. The presently preferred attachment means is hook and loop fastener, such as VELCRO, but other adjustable fastening mechanisms may be used. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pallet holding product in accordance with the use of pallets in accordance with the teachings of the prior art; 
     FIG. 2 shows a pallet skirt formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention being wrapped around a conventional pallet; 
     FIG. 3 shows a top view of the pallet skirt of FIG. 2 wrapped around the exterior of a pallet; 
     FIG. 4A shows a fragmented view of a pallet skirt made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a pallet skirt formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4C shows a close-up view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B; 
     FIG. 4D shows a top view of yet another embodiment of a pallet skirt formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a pallet skirt wrapped around a pallet in accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings in which the various elements of the present invention will be given numeral designations and in which the invention will be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to be understood that the following description is only exemplary of the principles of the present invention, and should not be viewed as narrowing the pending claims. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a pallet, generally indicated at  10 , which is well known in the prior art. The pallet  10  includes an upper surface  14  which is generally planar and which commonly is formed by a plurality of boards  18 . In other configurations, the upper surface may be formed of a continuous piece of plastic or wood. 
     Disposed beneath the boards  18  forming the planar surface  18 , is a frame  22 . The frame  22  is formed by a plurality of boards  26  in such a manner that a pair of openings  30  are formed in the pallet  10 . To transport the pallet and any product, etc., placed thereon, the prongs of the fork lift are slid into the openings  30  and then the pallet and its contents are lifted by the fork lift. 
     Unfortunately, in addition to the lack of aesthetic appeal associated with using a beat-up pallet inside a store, using the pallet  10  to hold products on display presents a tripping hazzard. It is not uncommon for a person walking past a pallet to catch his or her foot in the opening of the pallet. Because most stores have tile or concrete floors, the injuries resulting from the fall can be severe. Thus, use of the pallet  10  can also present a liability concern for the store. 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a pallet skirt, generally indicated at  50 , formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The pallet skirt  50  is being wrapped around the conventional pallet  10  so as to cover the perimeter of the pallet to improve aesthetics and safety. 
     The pallet skirt  50  is preferably formed of an elongate piece of material  52  which has a first end  54  which typically has a fastener  58  configured for engaging the frame  22  of the pallet  10 . As shown in FIG. 2, the fastener is a U-shaped bracket which is approximately 1.5 inches wide so that it can securely engage the ‘2×4’  26   a  which forms part of the frame  22 . 
     An opposing second end  62  of the pallet skirt  50  has a fastener  66  attached thereto to enable the second end of the pallet skirt to be attached to a mid-portion  70  of the pallet skirt and thereby secure the second end. As shown in FIG. 2, the fastener  66  on the second end  62  is hook and loop fastener, commonly referred to as VELCRO. Matching pieces of hook and loop fastener  74  are disposed along the mid-portion  70  of the pallet skirt  50  for securing the second end  62 . By providing a plurality of pieces of the matching hook and loop fastener  74 , the pallet skirt becomes adjustable so that it can be used with different sized pallets. 
     FIG. 3 shows a top view of the pallet skirt  50  of FIG. 2 wrapped around the exterior of the pallet  10 . The first end  54  of the pallet skirt is held to the frame  22  of the pallet  10  by the fastener  58 . The mid-portion  70  of the pallet skirt  50  has been wrapped around the pallet so as to cover all four sides, and especially the openings (not shown in FIG. 3) at either end of the pallet. The second end  62  is secured to the mid-portion  70  by the fasteners  66  and  74 . In such a configuration, the pallet skirt  50  surrounds the perimeter of the pallet  10  to improve aesthetics, while at the same time substantially reducing the risk that a customer or employee may trip over the pallet. 
     In order to facilitate use of the pallet skirt  50  with pallets of different sizes, it is preferred that the entire mid-portion be made of a flexible material. One material which works well is the rubber-like material used for “rubber” baseboards for walls. This material is desirable because it is flexible and slightly resilient. As it is wrapped firmly around the pallet  10 , it tends to mold to the corners and does not extend outwardly any significant distance. It is also strong enough to help prevent a foot entering the opening it covers. 
     Turning now to FIG. 4A, there is shown a fragmented view of a pallet skirt, generally indicated at  100 , made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The pallet skirt  100  formed of a piece of elongate material  102  which includes a first end  104  which is configured with a fastener  108  configured for attachment to a pallet. The elongate material  102  also have an opposing second end  112  with a fastener  116 . As shown in FIG. 4A, the fastener  116  comprises an outwardly extending nub. The nub  116  can be placed in any one of a number of holes  120  formed in the midportion  124  of the elongate piece of material  102 . 
     The plurality of holes  120  provide an adjustment feature so that the pallet skirt  100  may be used with pallets of different sizes. The first end  104  of the pallet skirt  100  is anchored to the pallet by the fastener  102  in a similar manner as that shown in FIG.  2 . The mid-portion  124  is then wrapped around the pallet until the second end  112  passes over the first end  104  and the fastening nub  116  fits into a corresponding hole  120  on the mid-portion  124 . On larger pallets, the fastening nub  116  will nest in a hole closer to the first end  104 , and on a smaller pallet, it will nest in a hole closer to the second end  112 . 
     FIGS. 4B and 4C show another embodiment of a pallet skirt, generally indicated at  150  wrapped around a pallet  10 . The pallet skirt  150  is formed of an elongate piece of material  152 . At a first end,  154 , the material is preferably secured to the pallet  10  by a fastener (not shown). At an opposing second end  162 , a biased pin  166  is used to fasten the second end to the mid-portion  170  of the pallet skirt  150 . In this regard, the pin  166  will typically having an open channel which is slightly smaller than the mid-portion  170  and second end  162  combined. Thus, when the two are slid into the channel, the pin will squeeze the two together and fasten the second end. 
     Turning now to FIG. 4D, there is shown yet another embodiment of a pallet skirt, generally indicated at  200 . While the previously disclosed embodiments are preferred in that they surround the perimeter of the pallet to cover the openings on both sides of the pallet, the pallet skirt  200  can be used in situations in which one side of the pallet is disposed against the end of an aisle, etc., so that the opening at one end will not be exposed. 
     The pallet skirt  200  is formed of an elongate piece of material  202  having a first end  204  configured for attachment to a pallet. As shown in FIG. 4D, the first end has a fastener  208  in the form of a bracket sized to engage the frame of the pallet (not shown). An opposing second end  212  also has a fastener  216  which is configured to attach to the pallet. Typically the fastener  216  will be formed from a bracket similar to that used at the first end. 
     The elongate material  202  also has a mid-portion which is disposed between the first end  204  and the second end  212 . The mid-portion  220  covers those portions of the perimeter of the pallet which are exposed and which may either by aesthetically displeasing or which pose a tripping hazzard. While the fasteners shown in FIG. 4D are not adjustable to accommodate for different sized pallets, those skilled in the art will appreciate the adjustable fasteners could be used in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown a pallet having its perimeter covered by a pallet skirt  250  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The pallet skirt  250  covers the pallet in such a manner that the pallet is not visible, and in such a manner that the risk of tripping over the pallet is reduced. Thus aesthetics and safety are increased. 
     In addition to the above, however, the pallet skirt  250  can also have writing or logos  254  placed on the mid-portion  260  or the second end  264 . Thus, the pallet skirt  250  also serves as an advertising medium. If desired, the message on the pallet skirt  250  could be tied to the goods which are disposed on the pallet. In the alternative, it could relate to the store which is selling the product. 
     Thus there is disclosed a pallet skirt which improves aesthetics and safety, while providing an additional medium for advertising. Those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications which can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, other fasteners could be used to secure the pallet skirt to the pallet, such as releasable adhesives, etc. Likewise, materials other than the preferred materials disclosed herein could be used for the elongate piece of material. The appended claims are intended to cover such modifications.