Patent Publication Number: US-10322848-B2

Title: Customizable pallet

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to pallets for handling and storage of goods and more particularly, to a customizable pallet adapted to be configured into various shapes per user&#39;s requirement. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Package handling and storing is one of the tedious and time taking tasks in various industries. Goods to be handled include raw material required for manufacturing or production as well finished products. Production area and warehouses implement various methods and techniques for handling and storing the goods such as overhead transportation systems, conveyors, metal or wood frame structures and the like. 
     The current systems used for storing and handling goods involve fabricated structures generally of fixed shapes and sizes. These structures occupy large space and they cannot be dissembled when not in use. Various attempts have been made to develop user friendly and less rigid systems for storing and handling goods. For example U.S. Pat. No. 9,206,827 discloses a wall mount organization system that includes horizontal slots, drawers, hooks and like. The system including listed features may be detachably mounted on the wall. Another patent application number EP2869582A1 discloses a transelevator for handling pallets, and goods storage system. The system includes fixed frames rotatable in X and Y planes and movable in Z axis plane. These frames are moved and rotated by geared motors. The frames and structures for storing and handling goods cited in the prior art are of fixed shape and sizes. These structures though are movable and detachable cannot be assembled or dissembled in the shapes and sizes as per the user&#39;s need. The frames occupy large storing space even when not in use and involve transportation cost while carried back to the shipping stations from delivery stations. It also involves man power in addition with automation for management of such structures. 
     Accordingly there is need of structures that can be easily assembled at destination and dissembled when not in use as per user&#39;s requirement and reusable facilitating cost saving of transportation and manufacturing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a customizable pallet adapted to be formed in various shapes such as square, triangle, trapezoidal and the like. The customizable pallet mainly includes a plurality of length members and a plurality of width members. The length and width members of the present invention respectively have various sizes in order to facilitate various shapes to the customizable pallet. 
     The length member has a plurality of circular projections extending from a top surface thereof up to a predefined height. In addition, the circular projections inwardly extend within the length member up to a bottom surface thereof. Each of the circular projections has a first circular holder positioned therein at a predefined distance from the bottom surface thereof. The first circular holder includes a circular groove defined therein. 
     The width member has a plurality of circular grooves inwardly extending between a top surface and a bottom surface thereof. Each of the circular grooves has a second circular holder positioned therein at a predefined distance from top surface thereof. The second circular holder includes a circular projection defined therein. It is understood here that the number of projections and grooves may vary per dimensions of the length and width members respectively. The position of projections and grooves may substantially vary per the dimensions of length and width members in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a customizable pallet, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the customizable pallet of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the customizable pallet of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4-9  show perspective views of different length members of the customizable pallet, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 10-13  show perspective views of different width members of the customizable pallet, in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  shows a top perspective view of a customizable pallet, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Although specific terms are used in the following description for sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention. 
     References in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” members that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1-3 , a customizable pallet ( 100 ) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this preferred embodiment, the customizable pallet ( 100 ) includes a plurality of length members ( 40 ) (hereinafter “the length members ( 40 )”) and a plurality of width members ( 80 ) (hereinafter “the length members ( 80 )”). The length and width members ( 40 ,  80 ) of the present invention respectively have various sizes in order to facilitate various shapes to the customizable pallet ( 100 ). In this one embodiment, the customizable pallet ( 100 ) is adapted to form square shape. However, it is understood that the customizable pallet ( 100 ) may be adapted to get configured into various shapes such as triangle, trapezoidal and the like per user&#39;s requirement. 
     Each length member ( 40 ) has a plurality of circular projections ( 10 ) extending from a top surface ( 171 ) thereof up to a predefined height. In addition, the circular projections ( 10 ) inwardly extend within the length member ( 40 ) up to a bottom surface ( 173 ) thereof. Each of the circular projections ( 10 ) has a first circular holder ( 113 ) positioned therein at a predefined distance (D 1 ) from the bottom surface ( 173 ) thereof. The first circular holder ( 113 ) includes a circular groove ( 117 ) defined therein. 
     Each width member ( 80 ) has a plurality of circular grooves ( 50 ) inwardly extending between a top surface ( 177 ) and a bottom surface ( 175 ) thereof. Each of the circular grooves has a second circular holder ( 115 ) positioned therein at a predefined distance (D 2 ) from top surface ( 177 ) thereof. The second circular holder ( 115 ) includes a circular projection ( 119 ) defined therein. The width members ( 80 ) are positioned on the length members ( 40 ) in such a way that the plurality of circular projections ( 10 ) of the length members ( 40 ) gets inserted into plurality of circular grooves ( 50 ) of the width members ( 80 ) thereby allowing alignment of the first holder ( 113 ) on the second holder  015 ). The length members ( 40 ) and the width members ( 80 ) are fixed in position using connecting members such as a bolted connection formed out of nuts and bolts so as to form smooth top surface ( 171 ,  177 ) of the customizable pallet ( 100 ) that facilitates carrying of the goods without any obstructions. 
     Each of the length members ( 40 ) has a predefined length L 1 . Each of the width members ( 80 ) has a predefined length L 2 . It is understood however that the predefined lengths L 1  and L 2  may vary per customization requirement of the pallet. The predefined length L 1  of the length member ( 40 ) is selected from 350 mm, 750 mm, 1350 mm, 1900 mm, 2500 mm and 3000 mm. The predefined length L 2  of the width member ( 80 ) is selected from 486 mm, 846 mm, 1334 mm and 1686 mm. 
     It is understood here that the number of projections and grooves may vary per dimensions of the length and width members respectively. The position of projections and grooves may substantially vary per the dimensions of length and width members in accordance with the present invention. 
     Various embodiments of the length and width members ( 40 ,  80 ) are described hereinafter 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the length member ( 40 ), having predefined length L 1  of 350 mm, preferably includes two projections ( 410 ,  412 ) such that each projection ( 410 ,  412 ) is spaced apart at a fixed distance from centre of the length member ( 40 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the length member ( 40 ), having predefined length L 1  of 750 mm, preferably includes three projections ( 510 ,  512  and  514 ) such that one of the projections ( 512 ) is centrally located along the length member ( 40 ) and remaining two projections ( 510 ,  514 ) are equally spaced apart at a predefined distance from said central projection ( 512 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the length member, having predefined length L 1  of 1350 mm, preferably includes five projections ( 610 ,  612 ,  614 ,  616  and  618 ) such that one of the projections ( 614 ) is centrally located along the length member ( 40 ) and remaining four projections ( 610   612 ,  616  and  618 ) are equally spaced apart from said central projection ( 614 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the length member ( 40 ), having predefined length L 1  of 1900 mm, preferably includes seven projections ( 710 ,  712 ,  714 ,  716 ,  718 ,  720  and  722 ) such that one of the projections ( 716 ) is centrally located along the length member ( 40 ) and remaining six projections ( 710 ,  712 ,  714 ,  718 ,  720  and  722 ) are equally spaced apart from said central projection ( 716 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 8 , the length member ( 40 ), having predefined length L 1  of 2500 mm, preferably includes nine projections ( 810 ,  812 ,  814 ,  816 ,  818 ,  820 ,  822 ,  824  and  826 ) such that one of the projections ( 818 ) is centrally located along the length member ( 40 ) and remaining eight projections ( 810 ,  812 ,  814 ,  816 ,  820 ,  822 ,  824  and  826 ) are equally spaced apart from said central projection ( 818 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the length member ( 40 ), having predefined length L 1  of 3000 mm, preferably includes eleven projections ( 910 ,  912 ,  914 ,  916 ,  918 ,  920 ,  922 ,  924 ,  926 ,  928  and  930 ) such that one of the projections ( 920 ) is centrally located along the length member ( 40 ) and remaining ten projections ( 910 ,  912 ,  914 ,  916 ,  918 ,  922 ,  924 ,  926 ,  928  and  930 ) are equally spaced apart from said central projection ( 920 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 10 , the width member ( 80 ), having predefined length L 2  of 486 mm, preferably includes six grooves ( 1010 ,  1012 ,  1014 ,  1016 ,  1018  and  1020 ) defined in form of two sets of ( 1022   a,    1022   b ) grooves such that each set of grooves ( 1022   a,    1022   b ) preferably includes three grooves. The grooves in each set of grooves ( 1022   a,    1022   b ) are equally spaced apart from each other. The two sets of grooves ( 1022   a,    1022   b ) are equally spaced apart from a center of the width member ( 80 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 11 , the width member, having predefined length L 2  of 846 mm, preferably includes seven grooves ( 1110 ,  1112 ,  1114 ,  1116 ,  1118 ,  1120  and  1122 ) defined in form of one central groove ( 1116 ) and two sets of grooves ( 1124   a,    1124   b ) . The central groove is located ( 1116 ) at a center of the width member ( 80 ). Each set of grooves ( 1124   a,    1124   b ) preferably includes three grooves. The grooves in each set ( 1124   a,    1124   b ) are equally spaced apart from each other. The two sets of grooves ( 1124   a,    1124   b ) are equally spaced apart from the central groove ( 1116 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 12 , the width member ( 80 ), having predefined length L 2  of 1334 mm, preferably includes eleven grooves ( 1210 ,  1212 ,  1214 ,  1216 ,  1218 ,  1220 ,  1222 ,  1224 ,  1226 ,  1228  and  1230 ) defined in form of one central groove ( 1220 ), two adjacent grooves ( 1218 ,  1222 ) and two sets of grooves ( 1232   a,    1232   b ) . The central groove ( 1220 ) is located at a center of the width member ( 80 ). Each adjacent groove ( 1218 ,  1222 ) is equally spaced apart from the central groove ( 1220 ). Each set of grooves ( 1234   a,    1234   b ) preferably includes four grooves. The grooves in each set ( 1234   a,    1234   b ) are equally spaced apart from each other. The two sets of grooves ( 1234   a,    1234   b ) are equally spaced apart from the two adjacent grooves ( 1218 ,  1222 ) respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 13 , the width member ( 80 ), having predefined length L 2  of 1686 mm, preferably includes eleven grooves ( 1310 ,  1312 ,  1314 ,  1316 ,  1318 ,  1320 ,  1322 ,  1324 ,  1326 ,  1328  and  1330 ) defined in form of one central groove ( 1320 ), four adjacent grooves ( 1316 ,  1318 ,  1322 ,  1324 ) and two sets of grooves ( 1332   a,    1332   b ) . The central groove ( 1320 ) is located at a center of the width member ( 80 ). Each two adjacent grooves ( 1316 ,  1318  and  1322 ,  1324 ) are equally spaced apart from the central groove ( 1320 ). Each set of grooves ( 1332   a,    1332   b ) preferably includes three grooves. The grooves in each set ( 1332   a,    1332   b ) are equally spaced apart from each other. The two sets of grooves ( 1332   a,    1332   b ) are equally spaced apart from the outermost adjacent grooves respectively. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 14 , a customizable pallet ( 200 ) in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this another embodiment, the customizable pallet ( 200 ) includes a plurality of length members ( 140 ) (hereinafter “the length members ( 140 )”) and a plurality of width members ( 180 ) (hereinafter “the length members ( 180 )”). The length and width members ( 140 ,  180 ) of the present invention respectively have various sizes in order to facilitate various shapes to the customizable pallet ( 200 ). In this one embodiment, the plurality of width members is positioned on the plurality of length members such as to form a trapezoidal shape of the customizable pallet ( 200 ). However, it is understood that the customizable pallet ( 100 ) may be adapted to get configured into various shapes such as square, triangle and the like per user&#39;s requirement. 
     Each length member ( 140 ) has a plurality of circular projections ( 110 ) extending from a top surface ( 1171 ) thereof up to a predefined height. In addition, the circular projections ( 110 ) inwardly extend within the length member ( 140 ) up to a bottom surface ( 1173 ) thereof. Each of the circular projections ( 110 ) has a first circular holder (not shown) positioned therein at a predefined distance from the bottom surface ( 1173 ) thereof. The first circular holder includes a circular groove not shown) defined therein. 
     Each width member ( 180 ) has a plurality of circular grooves ( 150 ) inwardly extending between a top surface ( 1177 ) and a bottom surface ( 1175 ) thereof. Each of the circular grooves ( 150 ) has a second circular holder (not shown) positioned therein at a predefined distance from top surface ( 1177 ) thereof. The second circular holder includes a circular projection (not shown) defined therein. In this one embodiment the length members ( 140 ) are placed in gradually decreasing length. The width members ( 180 ) are positioned on the length members ( 140 ) in such a way that the plurality of circular projections ( 110 ) of the length members ( 140 ) gets inserted into plurality of circular grooves ( 150 ) of the width members ( 180 ) thereby allowing alignment of the first circular holder on the second circular holder. The length members ( 140 ) and the width members ( 180 ) are fixed in position using connecting members such as nuts and bolts so as to form smooth top surface ( 1171 ,  1177 ) of the customizable pallet ( 200 ) that facilitates carrying of the goods without any obstructions. 
     ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     
         
         
           
             1) The customizable pallet ( 100 ) allows dismantling and reassembly of the members thereby reducing space required as well as transportation cost. 
             2) The customizable pallet ( 100 ) facilitates different combinations of the length and width members to adjust size of the pallet depending on requirement. 
           
         
       
    
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others, skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.