Modular pallet and bulk bag combination incorporating same

Abstract

The present invention provides a modular pallet having a guide channel-defining portion configured for defining at least one guide channel. A bottom wall at least partially defines the guide channel and includes at least one opening therethrough. The opening is adapted to receive therein a corresponding lift strap of a bulk bag such that the lift strap defines a loop in at least one guide channel. The modular pallet further comprises an insert member configured to be inserted into at least one guide channel for engaging the loop of the lift strap thereby fastening the bulk bag to the modular pallet for forming a bulk bag combination. The insert member is configured for engagement by a lifting device for lifting and maneuvering the bulk bag combination.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A modular pallet comprising: 
 a top wall;    a bottom wall;    a guide channel defining portion configured for defining at least one guide channel at least partially between the top wall and the bottom wall;    at least one opening in the bottom wall, wherein the opening being adapted to receive a corresponding lift strap of a bulk bag so that the lift strap defines a loop in the at least one guide channel; and    an insert member configured to be inserted into at least one guide channel for engaging the loop of a lift strap received in at least one opening to thereby fasten the bulk bag to the modular pallet for forming a bulk bag combination, wherein the insert member being configured for engagement by a lifting device for lifting and maneuvering the bulk bag combination.    
     
     
         2 . The modular pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert member is removable from the guide channel for disengaging a corresponding lift strap from the guide channel to thereby dismantle the bulk bag combination.  
     
     
         3 . The modular pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel defining portion has a flat top surface comprising a bottom surface of the top wall, and a flat bottom surface comprising a top surface of the bottom wall.  
     
     
         4 . The modular pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide channel defining portion comprises cardboard.  
     
     
         5 . The modular pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall is adapted to be securely fastened to the top wall, and the pallet further comprises: 
 at least one spacing element adapted to be securely fastened between the top wall and the bottom wall for creating a horizontal space between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the guide channel being defined in the horizontal space.    
     
     
         6 . The modular pallet according to  claim 5 , further comprising a bonding agent for securely fastening the top wall and the bottom wall to one another.  
     
     
         7 . The modular pallet according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the top wall and the bottom wall are made of corrugated cardboard; and    corrugations of the top wall run in a direction perpendicular to corrugations of the bottom wall.    
     
     
         8 . The modular pallet according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one spacing element comprises a plurality of spacing elements.  
     
     
         9 . The modular pallet according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one spacing element comprises a hollow tubular element.  
     
     
         10 . The modular pallet according to  claim 8 , wherein the spacing elements are disposed such that, when the top wall and the bottom wall are securely fastened to one another, the spacing elements laterally delimit the at least one channel.  
     
     
         11 . The modular channel according to  claim 10 , wherein the spacing elements are disposed in at least one pair of parallel rows.  
     
     
         12 . The modular pallet according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one spacing element is made of cardboard.  
     
     
         13 . The modular pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide channel comprises a plurality of guide channels.  
     
     
         14 . The modular pallet according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of guide channels comprises two guide channels, each being laterally delimited by rows of spacing elements.  
     
     
         15 . The modular pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings.  
     
     
         16 . The modular pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one opening is positioned directly below a corresponding guide channel of at least one guide channel.  
     
     
         17 . The modular pallet according to  claim 5 , wherein the top wall defines at least one opening therein adapted to be placed in registration with a corresponding opening of the at least one opening in the bottom wall when the top wall and the bottom wall are securely fastened to one another.  
     
     
         18 . The modular pallet according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 at least one opening comprises four rectangular openings disposed at four respective corners of the bottom wall.    
     
     
         19 . The modular pallet according to  claim 18 , wherein the top wall defines four rectangular openings disposed at four respective corners thereof such that, when the top wall and the bottom wall are securely fastened to one another, each of the four rectangular openings in the top wall is placed in registration with a corresponding one of the four rectangular openings in the bottom wall.  
     
     
         20 . The modular pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert member comprises at least one tubular member adapted to receive therein a tine of a lifting device for lifting and maneuvering the bulk bag combination.  
     
     
         21 . The modular pallet according to  claim 20 , wherein at least one tubular member comprises a pair of tubular members adapted to receive therein a pair of tines of a forklift adapted to lift and maneuver the bulk bag combination.  
     
     
         22 . The modular pallet according to  claim 21 , wherein each of the tubular members defines a chamfered end.  
     
     
         23 . The modular pallet according to  claim 21 , wherein each of the tubular members have an open end and a lip portion at said open end.  
     
     
         24 . The modular pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said top wall and said bottom wall comprises at least one waterproof surface.  
     
     
         25 . A bulk bag combination comprising the modular pallet according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a bulk bag having at least one lift strap, the lift strap being inserted into a corresponding opening of at least one opening and forming a loop in a corresponding guide channel of at least one guide channel, wherein the insert member is inserted into at least one guide channel for engaging the loop of at least one lift strap thereby fastening the bulk bag to the modular pallet and forming the bulk bag combination.  
     
     
         26 . A bulk bag combination according to  claim 25 , wherein: 
 at least one guide channel comprises two guide channels;    the insert member comprises a pair of tubular members;    the at least one opening comprises four openings;    the at least one lift strap comprises four lift straps;    each of the four lift straps is inserted into a corresponding one of the four openings such that the four lift straps define a pair of loops in each of the two guide channels; and    each of the tubular members is inserted into a corresponding one of the two guide channels thereby engaging a corresponding pair of loops to thereby fasten the bulk bag to the modular pallet and form the bulk bag combination.    
     
     
         27 . A method of forming a bulk bag combination, the method comprising the steps of providing a modular pallet comprising: 
 a top wall;    a bottom wall;    a guide channel-defining portion configured for defining at least one guide channel at least partially between the top wall and the bottom wall;    at least one opening in the bottom wall, wherein the at least one opening being adapted to receive a corresponding lift strap of a bulk bag so that the lift strap defines a loop in the at least one guide channel; and    an insert member configured to be inserted into the at least one guide channel for engaging the loop of a lift strap received in the at least one opening to thereby fasten the bulk bag to the modular pallet for forming a bulk bag combination, with the insert member being configured for engagement by a lifting device for lifting and maneuvering the bulk bag combination;    inserting at least one lift strap of a bulk bag into a corresponding opening of the at least one opening for forming a loop in a corresponding guide channel of the at least one guide channel;    and inserting the insert member into the at least one guide channel for engaging the loop of the at least one lift strap thereby fastening the bulk bag to the modular pallet and forming a bulk bag combination.    
     
     
         28 . A modular pallet comprising: 
 a top wall;    a bottom wall;    guide channel-defining means at least partially positioned between said top wall and said bottom wall, and defining at least one guide channel; and    insert means adapted to be inserted into the guide channel-defining means for engaging a lift strap of a bulk bag inserted into a guide channel of the at least one guide channel to thereby fasten the bulk bag to the modular pallet for forming a bulk bag combination with the insert means being adapted to be engaged by a lifting means for lifting and maneuvering the bulk bag combination.