Corrugated cardboard pallets

Abstract

A corrugated cardboard pallet comprising a top sheet ( 28 ), a base sheet ( 29 ) and at least one connecting member ( 30 - 38 ) )between said top and said base sheets, the connecting member being moveable to shift the pallet between a relatively flat and a relatively erect form. Each connecting member comprises two substantially parallel opposing main body panels ( 18, 20 ) and two pairs of opposing side walls (X, Y) wherein each of one pair of opposing side walls are formed from two interlocking parts ( 11, 14, 22, 25 ).

1 . A corrugated cardboard pallet comprising a top sheet, a base sheet and at least one connecting member between said top and base sheets, the connecting member being moveable to shift the pallet between a relatively flat and a relatively erect form characterized in that each connecting member comprises two substantially parallel opposing main body panels and two pairs of opposing side walls wherein each of one pair of opposing side walls is formed from at least two interlockable parts to enable each member to be moveable from a flattened or collapsed state to an erect state.  
   
   
       2 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each support is constructed from a blank comprising two main body forming panels, a middle panel between said body forming panels and at least one end flap, each main body forming panel and middle panel having opposing side flaps, each side flap of the main body panels being provided with an indent  
   
   
       3 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the side flaps of the main body panels are secured to the side flaps of the middle panel, the end flap is folded over the secured to the main panel and the side flaps of the main body panels are not secured to each other.  
   
   
       4 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 2  wherein opposing side flaps of each main body panel are a mirror image of one another.  
   
   
       5 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 4  wherein adjacent side flaps of adjacent main body panels are identical.  
   
   
       6 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 5  wherein an end flap is provided at the end of each main body forming panel.  
   
   
       7 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 6  wherein one of the end flaps is provided with side flaps.  
   
   
       8 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 7  wherein a tab is provided on each of the side flaps of the main body forming panels for attachment to side flaps of the end flap and the middle flap in the constructed support.  
   
   
       9 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 8  wherein each tab is provided at the remote end of the indented region of each side flap.  
   
   
       10 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 9  wherein fluting is formed in the longitudinal direction of the blank.  
   
   
       11 . A corrugated cardboard panel as claimed in  claim 10  wherein an end flap of each main body forming panel is substantially the same length as the middle panel.  
   
   
       12 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 11  wherein at least  4  connecting members are provided between the top sheet ( 28 ) and the base sheet ( 29 ).  
   
   
       13 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 12  wherein between  9  and  12  members are provided between the top sheet and the base sheet.  
   
   
       14 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the connecting members are arranged at each comer of the sheets, with at least one member positioned centrally between the comer members along each side thereof and a further member being provided in the centre between the sheets.  
   
   
       15 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the central connecting member is the largest size of member and the members provided at the corners are the smallest in size.  
   
   
       16 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the base sheet is provided with regions that are relieved of material to provide access points from below the pallet.  
   
   
       17 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the base sheet, top sheet and at least one connecting member are all secured together by means of adhesive only.  
   
   
       18 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 17  wherein a varnish is applied to the top sheet, base sheet and/or at least one connecting member.  
   
   
       19 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 18  wherein at least one additional sheet is secured to the top and/or base sheet.  
   
   
       20 . A corrugated cardboard pallet as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the additional sheet is a cross ply board.  
   
   
       21 . A corrugated car(board pallet as claimed in  claim 20  wherein fluting of the additional sheet lies at 90 degrees to the direction of fluting on the sheet to which it is applied.  
   
   
       22 . A method of manufacturing a corrugated cardboard pallet comprising the steps of passing a top sheet along a conveyor, feeding at least one connecting member on to the top sheet and securing a base sheet to the connecting member, characterized in that the connecting member is moveable between a flattened and an erect state and is applied to the top sheet in its flattened state.  
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein adhesive is applied to the connecting member prior to feeding it on to the top sheet.  
   
   
       24 . A method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein a plurality of connecting members are fed onto different locations on the top sheet.  
   
   
       25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the connecting members are fed from hoppers.