Pallet for bagged materials

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to pallet structures for supporting a flexible intermediate bulk container with interchangeable, recyclable and replaceable components. Where the pallet structure is composed of a substantially planar base that may be fabricated from a material such as a sheet of corrugated plastic; runners that may be composed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC); straps and strap fasteners to secure the runners to upper the upper surface of the base so that a flexible intermediate bulk container placed on the pallet structure conforms to a the shape of the runners.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet for bagged material comprising:
 a base having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, and a plurality of securing parts;   a plurality of runners on the upper surface of the base, the plurality of runners adapted to accommodate the fork tines of a forklift vehicle;   at least one connecting part having at least one elongated component; and   at least one securing component attached to the at least one elongated component, the at least one connecting part coupled with at least one securing part to secure the plurality of runners to the base.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet for bagged material of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one securing part is a pair of slots extending the thickness of said base. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet for bagged material of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one connecting part is one or more of the group of a strap, a wire, a belt, and a tie. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet for bagged materials of  claim 1 , wherein at one of the connecting parts is wrapped at least partially around at least one runner. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet for bagged material of  claim 1 , wherein at one of the connecting part passes through at least one runner. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet for bagged material of  claim 1 , wherein said base, said plurality of runners, and said at least one connecting part are each individually removable in a nondestructive manner. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet for bagged material of  claim 1 , wherein said base is substantially planar. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet for bagged material of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of runners are composed of one or more of the group of: paper, cardboard, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet for bagged material of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of runners are of a semi-circular construction. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet for bagged material of  claim 1 , wherein said securing component is a hook-and-loop type fastener. 
     
     
         11 . A system for storing bagged material comprising:
 a pallet structure including, a base having an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness, and a plurality of securing parts; a plurality of runners located on the upper surface of the base, the plurality of runners adapted to accommodate the fork tines of a forklift vehicle to allow the pallet structure to be lifted by the forklift vehicle; at least one connecting part having at least one elongated component, a securing component attached to the at least one elongated component, the at least one connecting part coupled with the plurality of securing parts to secure the plurality of runners to the base; and   wherein the system provides for a first flexible bag being located upon a supporting surface, wherein the pallet structure is adapted to be located upon the top of the first bag, wherein the pallet structure is adapted to provide for a second bag being located upon the pallet structure with a bottom portion of the second bag partially conformed to the shape of the plurality of runners and with the bottom portion of the bag in at least partial contact with the base of said pallet structure.   
     
     
         12 . The system for transporting bagged materials of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of runners are rigid thermoplastic tubes or pipes. 
     
     
         13 . The system for transporting bagged materials of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the group of: said base, said plurality of runners, and said connecting, part are replaceable parts adapted to be removed from the pallet structure in a nondestructive manner. 
     
     
         14 . A pallet for flexible material comprising:
 a base with a generally planer upper surface and a general planer lower surface;   two or more runners located on the upper surface of the base and extending upward from the upper surface of the base;   connector parts adapted to attach the two or more runners to the base; and   
       wherein the two or more runners and are adapted to allow a bag of material to be placed on top of the two or more runners so that the bag of material at least partial conforms to the shape of the two or more runners. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet of  claim 14 , wherein the two or more runners are adapted to receive the fork tines of a forklift vehicle to allow the pallet to be lifted by the forklift vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet of  claim 14 , wherein the two or more runners further comprise:
 a cross-section that is at least 50 percent annular in shape.   
     
     
         17 . The pallet of  claim 14 , wherein the connector parts further comprise:
 a plurality of straps, wherein the base thither comprises:   a plurality of pairs of elongated slots passing from the planar upper surface to the planer lower surface of the base, wherein the straps pass through pairs of elongate slots to wrap around the runners and to wrap around material between pairs of elongated slots to attach the two or more runners to the base.   
     
     
         18 . The pallet of  claim 17 , further wherein each of the straps wrap around the runners and the material between adjacent donated slots at least two times. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet of  claim 14 , wherein the two or more runners have a rough texture on an outer surface of the two or more runners adapted to provide a higher coefficient of friction than if the two or more runners did not have the rough texture. 
     
     
         20 . The pallet of  claim 18 , wherein the base is generally rigid but having some flexibility.