TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a pallet rim and a pallet rim system comprising at least two pallet rims.

BACKGROUND

A pallet rim generally consists of four pallet rim boards arranged standing up and interconnected at their short sides by pallet rim mountings thereby accomplishing a box structure without bottom. The pallet rim mountings may have a hinge function such that the pallet rim may be folded together when not in use.

Pallet rims are today used for positioning on top of loading pallets, thereby

accomplishing a box on the loading pallet in which different details may be placed that are to be stored in the loading pallet or to be distributed by means of the loading pallet to for example subcontractors or end customers.

In certain cases, the user of pallet rims would like to have the flexibility to be able to build a box that has higher vertical sides than only one standard pallet rim. This may be achieved by producing pallet rims with different heights. However, it may be costly to produce many different variants of pallet rims that have mutually different heights. To solve this problem pallet rims may be piled up on top of each other such that a box with a desired height can be built, as required. For being able to pile up traditionally built pallet rims on top of each other such that they form a solid and stable box, the thickness of the pallet rim boards must be rather large, which results in a rather high

manufacturing cost for the pallet rim.

SUBSTITUTE SHEE It is therefore desirable to accomplish a pallet rim that is cheap to produce, that is inexpensive to pile up on top of another pallet rim and that ,at the same time, it creates a solid and stable box when a plurality of pallet rims are piled up on top of each other. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is thus to accomplish a pallet rim that is possible to pile up on top of another pallet rim, that is inexpensive to produce and/or is easy to pile up on top of another pallet rim and/or constitutes a stable box when a plurality of pallet rims are piled up on top of each other.

This object is achieved according to a first aspect of the invention by a pallet rim comprising at least four pallet rim boards and at least four pallet rim mountings, wherein the pallet rim mountings are attached to the short sides of the pallet rim boards such that they connect the pallet rim boards with each other. The upper side of the pallet rim boards has an upper cross-sectional profile and the underside of the pallet rim boards has an under cross-sectional profile that is form fitted with the upper cross-sectional profile, whereby the upper cross-sectional profile and the under cross-sectional profile change extension direction, either continuously or in steps.

The under cross-sectional profile being form fitted with the upper cross-sectional profile signifies that the upper and under cross-sectional profiles have forms that are adapted for positioning or locking two pallet rims that bear on each other, when the under cross- sectional profile of one pallet rim bears against the upper cross-sectional profile of the other pallet rim. According to some embodiments, the under cross-sectional profile and the upper cross-sectional profile are complementary.

The extension direction of the cross-sectional profiles signifies the direction that is achieved if, in every point of the cross-sectional profile, for example a ruler is put on top of the profile. In other words, the extension direction is defined as the tangent in every point. If the profile has a first straight step from the inner side of the pallet rim, where the profile rises, then a second step where the profile is horizontal and a third step where the profile falls towards the outside of the pallet rim, the extension direction of the cross- sectional profile has changed in three steps. If the profile is rounded, it changes extension direction continuously. A straight, horizontal profile, on the other hand, does not change extension direction. In other words, it may be said that the concept that the upper cross-sectional profile and the under cross-sectional profile changes extension direction implies that the upper cross-sectional profile and the under cross-sectional profile each has a height, or level, that varies from the inside of the pallet rim board to its outside. By designing the pallet rim boards with upper and under cross-sectional profiles that are form fitted to each other and that change extension direction, two pallet rims may easily be piled up on each other to achieve a stable box after the piling. Consequently, the profiles will fit into each other and hold two on each other standing pallet rims in position after the piling. In addition, thanks to this embodiment of upper and under cross-sectional profiles, the thickness of the pallet rim boards may be decreased compared to a pallet rim with a straight, horizontal cross-sectional profile, and yet a stable box may be achieved of pallet rims piled upon each other . When the thickness is decreased, also the material consumption is decreased and thus the cost for the pallet rim. When the thickness is decreased, also the weight of the pallet rim is decreased, which makes the pallet rim easier to handle.

According to the invention, the upper cross-sectional profile and the under cross- sectional profile are designed such that they change extension direction, either continuously or in steps that are less than 90 degrees. Wood, of which pallet rims are normally built, may have some problems with form stability. I.e. over time the shape may not be kept exactly, or more or less exactly the same as it was when the pallet rim was produced. If the pallet rim has a profile with angles of 90 degrees or more, it may be a problem to pile the pallet rims on top of each other. By having under and upper cross- sectional profiles that change extension direction, either continuously or in steps that are less than 90 degrees a smoother profile is achieved compared to a profile with angles of 90 degrees or more, such as tongues. This makes it easier to pile the pallet rims on top of each other, since greater tolerances are obtained at mounting and also at production. That is, even if the measures between two pallet rims that are to be piled upon each other diverge a bit, the piling will be easy to pursue and a stable box will be obtained.

According to a second aspect, the invention concerns a pallet rim system comprising at least a first pallet rim and a second pallet rim, each being designed according to the first aspect of the invention, and these pallet rims are intended to be piled upon each other such that the underside of the pallet rim boards of the second pallet rim fits into the upper side of the pallet rim boards of the first pallet rim. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by means of examples, referring to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a pallet rim in a perspective view, and figs. 2a-2f are cross-sectional views of pallet rim boards, taken from section II-II of figure 1, according to different embodiments. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a pallet rim 10 according to an embodiment of the invention, made up of four pallet rim boards 1 1 and four pallet rim mountings 12. The pallet rim mountings 12 are attached to the short sides of the pallet rim boards, in other words to end areas of the pallet rim boards in the longitudinal direction of the pallet rim boards, such that the pallet rim mountings connect the pallet rim boards with each other. In this way a frame is created, also called a pallet rim. The pallet rim mountings may advantageously by formed in the shape of hinges such that the pallet rim can be folded into a rather flat, oblong condition when it is not used. The pallet rim mountings may have any possible form as long as they interconnect the pallet rim boards with each other. Figures 2a-2f show different embodiments of pallet rim boards in cross-section. The pallet rim boards have an upper side having an upper cross-sectional profile 11a and an underside having an under cross-sectional profile 1 lb. By shaping the under cross- sectional profile and the upper cross-sectional profile such that they are form fitted with each other, and such that the upper cross-sectional profile and the under cross-sectional profile change extension direction, either continuously or in steps, a pileable pallet rim is obtained. That is, it will be easy to pile a first pallet rim on top of a second pallet rim since the under cross-sectional profile of the first pallet rim is form fitted to the upper cross-sectional profile of the second pallet rim. In addition, a stable construction is obtained, since the cross-sectional profiles change extension direction, that is, since the cross-sectional profiles change height along their extension. In other words, the cross- sectional profiles are not plane, i.e. horizontal.

The pallet rim boards also have an inside 11c and an outside l id when they form a pallet rim. The inside 11c signifies the side that is directed inwards towards the middle of the pallet rim. The outside 1 Id signifies the side that is directed outwards, away from the pallet rim. The extension direction of the cross-sectional profiles signifies a direction from the inside of the pallet rim board to its outside, or vice versa. The upper side of the pallet rim boards signifies the side that is directed upwards, from a ground on which the pallet rim is placed, at regular use of the pallet rim, for example when the pallet rim is placed on a loading pallet. The underside of the pallet rim boards signifies the side that is directed downwards towards a ground on which the pallet rim is placed, at regular use of the pallet rim. Figures 2a-2f also show, with a dash dotted line, how a corresponding pallet rim board 21 of a second pallet rim intended to be piled on top of the pallet rim 10 would be positioned on top of the pallet rim 10 to obtain a stable box of two on each other piled pallet rims. Figure 2a shows a first embodiment where the upper cross-sectional profile 11a, from its inside 11c towards its outside l id has a first straight, horizontal part, followed by a rounded part that has its highest point in the middle, followed by a second straight horizontal part, on the same height as the first horizontal part. The under cross-sectional profile l ib has a corresponding form, complementary with the upper cross-sectional profile. In figure 2a, also a suitable measure on the pallet rim board is denoted, wherein the height h of the pallet rim board is 190 - 195 mm, and the thickness t of the pallet rim board is 14 mm. The height of the under and the upper cross-sectional profile is 4 - 5 mm. The measures of the thickness t and the height h, respectively, may suitably be in the interval t = 13 - 15 mm and h = 180 - 210 mm. This thickness t is less than for traditional pallet rims with straight horizontal cross-sectional profiles, where the thickness is around 20 mm.

Figure 2b shows a second embodiment where the upper cross-sectional profile 1 la has from the inside 1 lc of the pallet rim board towards its outside 1 Id a first, straight, horizontal part, followed by a straight relatively steep part directed upwards, having an inclination of around 60-75 degrees in relation to a horizontal line, followed by a straight part directed upwards having an inclination of around 30 - 45 degrees, followed by a straight horizontal middle part that is located highest of the different parts, followed by a straight part directed downwards having an inclination of around 30 - 45 degrees, followed by a straight part directed downwards having an inclination of around 60 - 75 degrees, followed by a second straight horizontal part on substantially the same height as the first horizontal part. The under cross-sectional profile l ib has a corresponding form, complementary to the upper cross-sectional profile.

Figure 2c shows a third embodiment where the upper cross-sectional profile 1 la has from the inside 1 lc of the pallet rim board towards its outside 1 Id, a first, straight, horizontal part, followed by a straight part directed upwards, followed by a straight horizontal middle part that is located highest of the different parts, followed by a straight part directed downwards, followed by a second straight horizontal part on substantially the same height as the first horizontal part. The under cross-sectional profile l ib has a corresponding form, that may be complementary to the upper cross-sectional profile. The parts directed upwards and downwards, respectively, may have an angle towards the straight horizontal parts that are around 30 - 60 degrees, or around 45 degrees. Figure 2d shows a fourth embodiment where the upper cross-sectional profile 11a from the inside 1 lc of the pallet rim board towards its outside l id has a rounded form that has its highest point in the middle. The under cross-sectional profile 1 lb has a corresponding form, complementary to the upper cross-sectional profile.

Figure 2e shows a fifth embodiment where the upper cross-sectional profile 11a from the inside 1 lc of the pallet rim board towards its outside l id has a form corresponding to the form described in figure 2c but where the horizontal parts closest to the inside and the outside, respectively, of the pallet rim board is missing. The under cross-sectional profile l ib has a corresponding form, complementary to the upper cross-sectional profile.

Figure 2f shows a sixth embodiment where the upper cross-sectional profile 1 la, as opposed to the embodiments shown in figures 2a - 2e, has a concave form, i.e. where the middle point of the cross-sectional profile is lowest, in other words, where the lowest point of the cross-sectional profile is in the middle of the cross-sectional profile. This profile may be said to have the same form as the profile of fig. 2a, but turned upside down. In all embodiments shown in figures 2a - 2f the under cross-sectional profile is complementary with the upper cross-sectional profile. However, it is not absolutely necessary that it is complementary, it is enough that the under cross-sectional profile is form fitted to the upper cross-sectional profile such that these may be positioned in each other and thereby achieve a stable piling.

In all embodiments shown in figures 2a - 2f, the upper cross-sectional profile 11a and the under cross-sectional profile l ib changes extension direction either continuously or in steps that are smaller than 90 degrees. Thereby, a smoother profile is achieved compared to a profile with angles of 90 degrees, such as tongues. This makes it easier to pile the pallet rims on top of each other, since greater tolerances are obtained at mounting and also at production.

Ηΐ«οτΐτΠΤΕ SHEET (RULbj ^Q l According to an alternative embodiment, a pallet rim board may comprise two board parts arranged to each other by being joined longitudinally. In this case, the pallet rim mountings may be connected with the short sides of the board parts such that they interconnect the short sides of the board parts with each other. I.e., the pallet rim mountings extend over two along each other arranged board parts such that they interconnect these board parts vertically, in addition to interconnecting two adjacent pallet rim boards.

According to an embodiment, the material of the boards is wood, preferably pine or spruce.

The solutions above have been described referring to specific embodiments. However, the description is not to be interpreted such as limiting the scope of the invention, but should be seen as a possible way of illustrating the idea of the invention.

si iRRTITUTE SHEET (RULt tj)