SPILL PALLET

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/701,369 , filed Apr. 15, 2024, now U.S. Pat. No. 12,545,473B2 , which was a U.S. National Stage of International App. No. PCT/US 2022/047206, filed Oct. 20, 2022, and which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. Ser. No. 63/270,410 filed Oct. 21, 2021.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to spill pallets. More particularly, the present inventions relates to spill pallets made of structural foam that are capable of supporting up to four drums and are configured to be liftable using fork lifts and pallet jacks.

Brief Description of Related Art

Spill pallets have been in use for many years. One popular example is the ENPAC Poly Slim-Line—4 Drum Spill Pallet (SKU: 5400-YE-D).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved spill pallet that comprises a continuous, unitary, liftable base that defines a sump, and at least one drum-supporting grate that rests on the base. In a preferred embodiment, the entire spill pallet is made of structural foam, and is a capable of supporting up to four 55-gallon (˜208 liter) drums. The bases of the spill pallets are nestable for compact storage and transportation. In a preferred embodiment, a base having a height of about 12.25″ (˜31.75 cm) that is nested onto a lower identical base only takes up only an additional 1.75″ (˜4.5 cm) or so of vertical space above the base into which it is nested. This allows a minimum of fifteen bases to be nested in a stack that can be accommodated in a truck or trailer. The lateral dimensions of the bases also preferably allow for side-by-side stack loading capability in a truck or trailer.

In a preferred embodiment, spill pallets according to the invention include fork channels that are wider than current spill pallet products available in the market. The wider fork channels allow the spill pallets to be liftable using pallet jacks with fixed, standard fork spacing, in addition to forklifts with adjustable fork spacing.

Spill pallets according to the invention can optionally include a drain on one or more of the lifting sides for easy draining. The sump capacity is preferably at least 66 gallons (˜250 liters).

The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described below, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the present invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a spill pallet according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the spill pallet shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the base of the spill pallet shown in FIG. 1, with the grates removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base of the spill pallet shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the spill pallet shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a section view in the direction of the arrows taken through the line A-A in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a right side plan view of the spill pallet shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a stack containing fifteen bases nested together on a wooden pallets for shipping and/or storage (an additional wooden pallet is shown on top of the stack to show that a second stack can be placed atop the stack).

FIG. 9 is a front plan view of the stack shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a section view in the direction of the arrows taken through the line B-B in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 9 within circle C.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 9 within circle D.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of four stacks, each containing fifteen bases nested together on wooden pallets, placed side-by-side and one atop another within a semi-trailer for shipping.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a spill pallet 10 according to the invention comprises a continuous, unitary, liftable sump-defining base 20 and one or more drum-supporting grates 30. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two grates 30 are provided. The grates are perforated to permit the passage of fluid that may leak or spill from drums or other containers supported on the grates 30.

The bases 20 and the grates 30 are both preferably formed of structural foam. In a preferred embodiment, the structural foam is thermoplastic structural foam, and comprises a high-density polyethylene resin into which a gas such as nitrogen has been introduced. The bases 20 and grates 30 are preferably formed by thermoplastic injection molding. The bases have a nominal wall thickness of about 0.25″ (˜0.64 cm). The grates 30 have a nominal thickness of about 1.5″ (˜3.8 cm). In a preferred embodiment, the spill pallet 10 weighs about 45 pounds (˜20.4 kg).

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the spill pallet 10 shown in FIG. 1. The two grates 30 are supported by the base 20 and thereby provide a flat surface above a sump, which can retain fluid that may leak or spill from the drums. In the illustrated embodiment, the two grates 30 can support up to four 55 gallon (˜208 liter) drums. It will be appreciated that fluid-containing drums other than 55 gallon (˜208 liter) can be supported on the grates 30.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a top plan view and a perspective view, respectively, of the base 20 of the spill pallet 10 shown in FIG. 1 with the grates 30 removed. The base 20 includes a bottom wall 40 and a plurality of risers 50, which extend upwardly from the bottom wall 40 and include a grate-supporting surface 60. In the preferred embodiment, four risers 50 are provided, and each includes a grate-supporting surface 60 that is in the shape of a Greek cross. In addition to the risers 50, a plurality of additional support structures 70 extend upwardly from the bottom wall 40. In the preferred embodiment, two additional support structures 70 are provided, and each includes a grate-supporting surface 80 that is rectangular in shape.

Corner pillars 90 are provided at each corner of the base 20. The corner pillars 90 each include a grate-supporting surface 100. In addition, side pillars 110 are provided in the sidewalls 120 of the base 20. The side pillars 110 also include a grate-supporting surface 130.

The base 20 also includes a rim 140, which is situated just below the upper edge 150 of the base 20. The rim 140 also serves as a grate-supporting surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the base has a sump cavity with at least a 66 gallon (˜250 liter) capacity. In another embodiment, the capacity of the sump cavity is about 73 gallons (˜276 liters).

The total load capacity on the drum supporting grates is preferably at least 3,000 pounds (˜1,361 kg). Regrind polymer can be used to achieve this load capacity. More preferably, the total load capacity on the drum supporting grates is preferably at least 6,000 pounds (˜2,722 kg). Virgin resins are usually required to obtain higher load capacities. Due to the high strength of structural foam material and the spacing of the risers, it is also possible for the total load capacity on the drum supporting grates to be 10,000 pounds (˜4,536 kg) or more.

FIG. 5 shows a front plan view of the spill pallet 10 shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the base 20 has a front width W between 46″ (˜117 cm) and 48″ (˜122 cm). In the presently most preferred embodiment, the front width W of the base 20 is about 47.50″ (˜119.4 cm). A drain 160, which is closed with a threaded plug 170 for shipping, can be provided in the base 20, if desired. It will be appreciated that multiple drains 160 can be provided, if desired.

FIG. 6 is a section view in the direction of the arrows taken through the line A-A in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 shows that the grate 30 is supported by the rim 140 and grate-supporting surfaces 80 and 130 (the grate 30 is also supported by grate-supporting surfaces 60 and 100, which are not clearly visible in FIG. 6).

FIG. 7 shows a right side plan view of the spill pallet 10 shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the base 20 has a side length L between 45″ (˜114 cm) and 52″ (˜132 cm), and more preferably about 48″ (˜122 cm) to 50″ (˜127 cm) and most preferably about 49″ (˜125 cm).

As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the base 20 preferably has an overall height H of between 10″ (˜25 cm) and 14″ (˜35.6 cm), and more preferably about 12.25″ (˜31.1 cm). The upper edge 150 of the base 20 preferably terminates slightly less than about 1.5″ (˜3.8 cm) above the rim 140 and thus the top drum-supporting surface of the grates 30 are about 0.25″ (˜6.5 mm) above the upper edge 150. Ribs 180 are provided below the rim on the outside 190 of the base 20. The ribs 180 allow air to enter between bases 20 that are stacked one atop another in a nested configuration, which allows for easier separation.

FIGS. 5 and 7 also show fork channels 200 that are accessible from the front side and the right side of the base 20. The fork channels 200 each preferably have a fork cavity height FCH of about 3″ (˜8 cm) to about 3.5″ (˜8.9 cm), and a fork cavity width FCW of about 9″ (˜22.9 cm) to about 10.5″ (˜27 cm), and are separated by a center support having a center support width CSW of about 10″ (25.4 cm) to about 12.5″ (˜32 cm). In the most preferred embodiment, the fork cavity height FCH is about 3.25″ (˜8.3 cm), a fork cavity width FCW of about 9.3″ (˜23.6 cm) and a center support width CSW of about 11.5″ (˜29.2 cm). The centers of the fork channels 200 are preferably about 21.6″ (˜54.9 cm) from each other.

The fork channel dimensions advantageously permit the spill pallet 10 to be lifted not only by a standard fork lift truck, but also by a standard pallet jack. In prior art spill pallets, the spacing and size of the fork cavities in the base did not accommodate a pallet jack, meaning that stacks of spill pallets or spill pallets supporting drums could only be moved using a forklift.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spill pallet 10 is a four-way spill pallet, meaning that the forks of either pallet jacks or forklifts can approach and be received within the fork channels 200 on all four sides. It will be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment (i.e., as illustrated in the priority application, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety), the spill pallet could be configured to be a two-way spill pallet, meaning that that the forks of either pallet jacks or forklifts can approach and be received within the fork channels on only two opposing sides, but not on the other two opposing sides. In yet another alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the spill pallet can be configured to be a modified four-way spill pallet, meaning that the forks of forklifts can approach and be received within the fork channels on either of two opposed sides, and the forks of a pallet jack can approach and be received within the fork channels on either of the other two opposed sides.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a stack 210 containing fifteen bases nested together on a wooden pallet 220 for shipping and/or storage. An additional wooden pallet 220 is shown on top of the stack 210 to show that a second stack (see FIG. 13) can be placed atop the stack 210. FIG. 9 is a front plan view of the stack shown in FIG. 8. There are fifteen (15) bases 20 in the stack 210. FIG. 10 is a section view in the direction of the arrows taken through the line B-B in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 9 within circle C. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 9 within circle D.

As best shown in FIG. 13, the front width W dimension of the bases 20 preferably allows two stacks 210 of stacked/nested bases to be placed side-by-side in within the interior width of a trailer 230 to form a partial load. This minimizes shipping costs by maximizing the number of spill pallets 10 that can be shipped in a single load. As shown in FIG. 13, two stacks 210 of bases 20 can also be stacked one atop another within the trailer 230. As shown in FIG. 1, the grates 30 are flat, and thus can be shipped in one or more separate stacks that takes up very little shipping space.

In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the total height of the stack 210, including the wooden pallets 210, is about 42.25″ (˜107.3 cm), which allows them to be stacked two high. Thus, a single semi-trailer can carry a load consisting of 780 units (52 stacks). The number of spill pallets 210 that can be included within a stack 210 for shipping or storage is preferably between eight and twenty-four.

It will be appreciated that the dimensions of the spill pallet 10 can be adjusted, as desired, to maximize the amount of spill pallets that can be shipped in trucks or international shipping containers.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.