Pallet Having Reinforcing Members and Movable Covers for Access Openings for Rollers

Abstract

A pallet has a generally planar weight bearing floor of generally square or rectangular plan, at least two reinforcing parallel members extending transversely beneath the floor at locations on opposite sides of and generally parallel to a line bisecting the floor, the reinforcing parallel members providing a box section. The pallet also has an opening for two of the at least two reinforcing parallel members provided in the vicinity of an edge of the pallet to allow access of a tyne of a forklift into the box section, and locomotion means beneath the floor extending to a level below the box section, the locomotion means adapted to facilitate movement of the pallet over a surface.

1 . A pallet comprising,
 a generally planar weight bearing floor of generally square or rectangular plan,   at least two reinforcing parallel members extending transversely beneath the floor at locations on opposite sides of and generally parallel to a line bisecting the floor, the reinforcing parallel members providing a box section,   an opening for two of the at least two reinforcing parallel members provided in the vicinity of an edge of the pallet to allow access of a tyne of a forklift into the box section, and   locomotion means beneath the floor extending to a level below the box section, the locomotion means being adapted to facilitate movement of the pallet over a surface.   
   
   
       2 . The pallet according to  claim 1  having a length between 5,800 mm and 5,900 mm and a breadth between 2,300 mm and 2,400 mm. 
   
   
       3 . The pallet according to  claim 2  wherein the floor comprises sheet steel having a stippled surface. 
   
   
       4 . The pallet according to  claim 1  wherein the locomotion means comprise a plurality of rollers mounted beneath the floor, the axes of rotation of the rollers being generally parallel to the line bisecting the floor. 
   
   
       5 . The pallet according to  claim 4  wherein there are at least six rollers. 
   
   
       6 . The pallet according to  claim 4  wherein the floor comprises an access opening above each roller. 
   
   
       7 . The pallet according to  claim 6  comprising a removable cover for each access opening. 
   
   
       8 . The pallet according to  claim 6  wherein the access openings are arranged to receive rollers of an identical pallet stacked thereon. 
   
   
       9 . The pallet according to  claim 1  comprising a reinforcing perimeter beam provided along each of the four edges of the pallet. 
   
   
       10 . The pallet according to  claim 9  wherein the perimeter beam comprises at least one of a channel shaped member, an L-shaped member and a box section. 
   
   
       11 . The pallet according to  claim 9  comprising additional pairs of access openings for receiving the tynes of a forklift. 
   
   
       12 . The pallet according to  claim 1  comprising an alignment wheel mounted at each of the four corners of the pallet, each alignment wheel extending beyond the corners of the pallet and being rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the floor. 
   
   
       13 . The pallet according to  claim 1  comprising adjustable positioning means for adjusting the length of the pallet so that it is located substantially in abutment with opposite walls of a shipping container. 
   
   
       14 . The pallet according to  claim 1  comprising a foldable towing assembly provided at one end of the pallet. 
   
   
       15 . The pallet according to  claim 14  wherein the towing assembly comprises a pair of draw bars foldable into registry with the one end of the pallet. 
   
   
       16 . The pallet according to  claim 1  comprising four wall panels attachable about the perimeter of the pallet. 
   
   
       17 . (canceled)