Pallet system

Abstract

A pallet system for use in the transportation and/or storage of elongate or extruded products which is mountable and demountable without the use of tools is disclosed. The pallet system including a plurality of base members, each having interlockable elements on at least one end and which are adapted to engage and interlock with a similarly configured adjacent base member such that an elongate base structure can be formed from the base members, and wherein each of the base members is also adapted to support a plurality of upright members.

1 . A pallet system, mountable and demountable without the use of tools, which is adapted to securely transport and/or store elongate or extruded products, the pallet system including a plurality of base members, each base member including interlockable elements on at least one end which are adapted to engage and interlock with a similarly configured adjacent base member such that an elongate base structure can be formed from the base members, and wherein each of the base members is also adapted to support a plurality of upright members, a plurality of upright members adapted to engage and interlock with each of said base members and one or more cap members, the pallet system being further characterised in that it comprises one or more cap members which are adapted to engage with said one or more upright members. 
   
   
       2 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each base member includes the interlockable elements on both ends. 
   
   
       3 . A pallet system as claimed in claimed in  claim 1  wherein the interlockable elements include one or more fingers adapted to interlock with corresponding fingers or recesses of an adjacent base member. 
   
   
       4 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the fingers have a substantially “C” shaped cross section. 
   
   
       5 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the interlockable elements are adapted to receive fasteners to further secure any joint between interlocked base members. 
   
   
       6 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the interlockable elements of each base member are adapted to snap lock with the corresponding interlockable elements of an adjacent base member. 
   
   
       7 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each base member is engaged with an adjacent base member using one or more joining members. 
   
   
       8 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein each joining member is adapted to engage with one or more first sockets or pins provided on each base member. 
   
   
       9 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein each joining member fits into each base member with an interference or a snap fit. 
   
   
       10 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 1  having a joint between each of the base members and wherein the joint between adjacent base members provides a recess or recesses adapted to accommodate or retain a packaging strap. 
   
   
       11 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each base member further includes one or more base sockets, or a part of one or more sockets, adapted to support an upright member. 
   
   
       12 . A pallet system according to  claim 11  wherein the one or more cap members has at least one recess or channels sufficient to accommodate or retain packaging strap material. 
   
   
       13 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each base member has a generally rectangular or square shape when viewed from above. 
   
   
       14 . A pallet system as claimed in  claim 1  having one or more legs which extend below a body section of each base member adapted to accommodate a lifting means. 
   
   
       15 . A method of palletising elongate or extruded products without the use of tools including the steps of:
 (i) engaging two or more pallet bases to form a generally elongate single pallet base, each pallet base having a plurality of sockets adapted to accommodate a plurality of upright members and one or more recesses located at or about the join between each pallet base,   (ii) engaging a plurality of upright members into the sockets provided in the pallet base   (iii) loading the pallet base with elongate or extruded products,   (iv) placing one or more cap members over the elongate or extruded products and engaging the cap members with the upright members to enclose the elongate or extruded products, and   (v) applying a packaging strap about the loaded pallet at least at each location where a base member is joined to an adjacent base member.   
   
   
       16 . (canceled)