Pallet for Storing and Transporting Goods

Abstract

A pallet for storing and transporting goods by a load platform ( 2 ) supported by parallel supports ( 4 ), characterised in that:—the load platform ( 2 ) comprises a plurality of continuous parallel grooves ( 6 ),—the supports ( 4 ) are tubular and comprise parallel continuous grooves ( 16, 18 ) in their side walls ( 6 ) and base ( 14 ), in the upper edge of the side walls ( 16 ) they comprising recesses ( 20 ) complementary to the grooves ( 6 ) of the platform ( 2 ), the axis of said supports ( 4 ) being perpendicular to the grooves ( 6 ) of the load platform ( 2 ),—the supports ( 4 ) are provided with a plurality of internal baffles ( 26, 32 ),—cut-out holes ( 22 ) are provided in the side walls ( 12 ) of the tubular supports ( 4 ) for the passage of a fork of a lifting means, each cut-out hole being bounded lowerly and upperly by strips of the support side wall ( 12 ),—the lower surface of the platform ( 2 ) is provided with reinforcement elements positioned between said supports ( 4 ) and said platform ( 2 ) at said cut-out holes ( 22 ).

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . A pallet for storing and transporting goods comprising
 a load platform supported by parallel supports,   a plurality of continuous parallel grooves in the load platform,   the supports are tubular with a base and side walls and having parallel continuous grooves in the base,   the axis of said supports being perpendicular to the grooves of the load platform,   a plurality of internal baffles in the supports,   recesses complementary to the grooves of the platform in the upper edge of the side walls,   cut-out holes in the side walls of the tubular supports for the passage of a fork of a lifting means, each cut-out hole being at least upperly bounded by strips of the support side wall,   the lower surface of the platform is provided with reinforcement elements positioned between said supports and said platform at said cut-out holes.   
   
   
       42 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the supports also comprise parallel continuous grooves in said side walls. 
   
   
       43 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein each cut-out hole is also lowerly bounded by strips of the support side wall. 
   
   
       44 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the pallet is formed of sheet metal. 
   
   
       45 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the pallet is formed of plastic material. 
   
   
       46 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the platform and the two outer supports are formed from a single sheet of bent sheet metal. 
   
   
       47 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the pallet is totally formed from a single sheet of bent sheet metal. 
   
   
       48 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein anti-slip material is applied to the outer surface of the base of the supports. 
   
   
       49 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the outer surface of the base of the supports is rough. 
   
   
       50 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the upper surface of the platform is rough. 
   
   
       51 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein edges of the platform parallel to the grooves provided therein are at least partially bent downwards. 
   
   
       52 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein edges of the platform parallel to the grooves provided therein are at least partially bent upwards. 
   
   
       53 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said reinforcement elements are formed by bending inwards those sheet metal portions corresponding to the cut-out holes of each tubular support so that they adhere to the lower surface of the platform. 
   
   
       54 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said reinforcement elements comprise the edges of the cut-out holes, bent into the interior of the support. 
   
   
       55 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the crest of the ribs provided in the base of the supports lies at a level not less than that that of the lower edge of the cut-out holes. 
   
   
       56 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein said reinforcement elements are formed from the edges of the cut-out holes, which are drawn, bent over and fixed to the lower surface of the platform. 
   
   
       57 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the platform is formed in several parts fixed to the tubular supports. 
   
   
       58 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the platform is formed in several parts seam-joined together. 
   
   
       59 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the constituent parts of the platform are riveted to the supports. 
   
   
       60 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the constituent parts of the platform are welded together and/or to the tubular supports. 
   
   
       61 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the constituent parts of the platform are adhesive-bonded together and/or to the tubular supports. 
   
   
       62 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the constituent parts of the platform are crimped together and/or to the tubular supports. 
   
   
       63 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the surface of the platform is provided with a plurality of projections for centering containers. 
   
   
       64 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 63 , wherein said centering projections comprise ribs disposed in a circular pattern. 
   
   
       65 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 63 , wherein said centering projections comprise ribs disposed to form squares. 
   
   
       66 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the terminal baffles of said tubular supports comprise portions of the constituent sheet metal of the platform and/or of the support bent towards the interior of the support. 
   
   
       67 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the base of the tubular supports is provided with reinforcement elements at said cut-out holes. 
   
   
       68 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the ends of the base of the supports are provided with a bevel. 
   
   
       69 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , further comprising a connection element between the lower edge of each cut-out hole and the facing rib provided in the base of the tubular support. 
   
   
       70 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 69 , wherein the connection elements provided at each cut-out hole comprise portions of sheet metal corresponding to the cut-out holes, which are drawn and bent over against said base of said tubular supports. 
   
   
       71 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the internal baffles consist of sheet metal elements fixed to the inner walls of said tubular supports. 
   
   
       72 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein at least a fraction of said internal baffles consist of sheet metal elements bent into several parts along vertical lines. 
   
   
       73 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein the internal baffles of the supports are provided in their horizontal edges with recesses for passage of the grooves present in the platform and of the ribs present in the base of each support. 
   
   
       74 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 73 , wherein the recesses provided in the lower horizontal edge of the internal baffles of the supports have greater dimensions than the corresponding ribs of the supports. 
   
   
       75 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 63 , wherein said projections consist of deep-drawn parts of the platform. 
   
   
       76 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 63 , wherein said projections are formed separately from the platform and are applied to it. 
   
   
       77 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 41 , further comprising reinforcement ties connecting adjacent tubular supports together. 
   
   
       78 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 77 , wherein said reinforcement ties are applied to the base of said tubular supports. 
   
   
       79 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 77 , wherein said reinforcement ties are permanently applied to said tubular supports. 
   
   
       80 . A pallet as claimed in  claim 77 , wherein said reinforcement ties are removably applied to said tubular supports.