Field of the Invention

[1] This invention relates generally to loading and storage pallets. More particularly, this invention relates to pallets for spools.

Background of the Invention

[2] Wooden forklift pallets are typically utilised for the transportation of consumer goods, industrial items and the like.

[3] However, we found that such conventional pallets are ill suited for industrial cable spools and reels for several reasons, including being difficult to adequately secure the spools to the pallets and the efficient space usage thereof.

[4] The present invention seeks to provide a pallet for spools, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[5] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[6] There is provided herein a pallet specifically configured for cable spools and reels.

[7] The pallet comprises a substantially planar decking and supports extending from beneath the decking. The configuration of the pallet allows the pallet to be configurable in a surface resting configuration wherein the pallet is able to rest on a ground surface on the supports.

[8] Furthermore, the pallet may be configured for a stacked configuration wherein the supports are configured for engaging a spool underneath.

[9] Furthermore, the pallet may be configurable in a stowed configuration wherein each support is hollow, upper open ended through an upper surface of the decking and comprising a decreasing cross-section away from the decking for vertically engageable accommodation of supports of a pallet above or below.

[10] In yet further embodiments, the pallet is configured for engaging spools of differing sizes when in the stacked configuration. For example, for larger spools having a diameter of 550 mm for example the supports are configured for engaging the flange from above wherein, in embodiments, the supports have an undersurface profile comprising accommodations for the circumferential ribbing of the flange of the spools. For smaller spools having a diameter of 450 mm for example, the profiles are configured for engaging around the flange of the spool. [11] In embodiments, the pallet is configured for engaging even smaller spools wherein the pallet comprises a central hub extending from beneath the decking which engages within the central bore of the even smaller spool.

[12] In further embodiments, the pallet may be configured for horizontal interlocking with other pallets utilising a horizontally operative interlocking mechanism.

[13] As can be appreciated from the above, the pallet provided herein provides much greater ability for the loading, storage and transportation of spools as compared to prior art arrangements wherein spools may be conveniently stacked vertically such as up to three high, stacked spools may be adjacently located on interlocked panels such as on a 4x4 horizontal interlocking matrix and differing sized spools such of 550, 450 and 400 mm diameter may be secured engaged by the pallets.

[14] As such, with the foregoing in mind, in accordance with one aspect, there is provided a pallet for spools, the pallet comprising: substantially planar decking; and supports extending from beneath the decking, wherein the pallet is configurable in: a surface resting configuration wherein the supports are configured for resting on a surface; a stacked configuration wherein the supports are configured for engaging a spool underneath; and a stowed configuration wherein each support is hollow, upper open ended through an upper surface of the decking and comprising a decreasing cross-section away from the decking for vertically engageable accommodation supports of a pallet above.

[15] The decking may comprise a central hub and wherein the central hub stands proud of the upper surface of the decking for engaging an axial bore of a spool above when in the surface resting or stacked configuration.

[16] The hub may comprise an outer diameter of 56 mm.

[17] The central hub may stand proud of the upper surface of the decking by approximately 5 mm.

[18] The central hub may extend from beneath a lower surface of the decking for engaging an axial bore of a spool below when in the stacked configuration.

[19] The central hub may extend from beneath a lower surface of the decking by approximately 5 mm.

[20] The pallet may be configurable in a non-spool supporting configuration wherein the central hub may be disengageable from the decking such that an upper surface of the decking may be entirely planar.

[21] In the stacked configuration, the supports may be configured for: a spool flange atop engaging configuration wherein the supports may be configured for engaging atop a flange of a spool of a first diameter; and a spool flange around engaging configuration wherein the supports may be configured for engaging around the flange of a spool of a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter. [22] The first diameter may be 550 mm.

[23] The supports may comprise an underside profile comprising horizontal facing for resting on the surface when in the surface resting configuration and comprising flange accommodations for accommodating the flange of the spool of the first diameter when in the spool flange atop engaging configuration.

[24] The flange accommodations may comprise cutouts for vertically accommodating circumferential ribbing of the flange.

[25] The cutouts may be configured for vertically accommodating the outer and penultimate circumferential ribbing of the flange.

[26] The second diameter may be 450 mm.

[27] Inner edges of opposite supports may be spaced apart by 450 mm.

[28] The supports may comprise four supports and wherein the supports may be rectangular in cross-section.

[29] The pallet may be further configurable in an adjacently interlocking configuration wherein edges of the decking comprise interlocks for engaging with adjacent pallets in use.

[30] The interlocks may comprise interlocks that may be vertically engageable and horizontally non-disengageable for engagement with corresponding interlocks of the adjacent pallets in use.

[31] The interlocks may comprise a locking mechanism for locking with the corresponding interlocks.

[32] The locking mechanism may comprise a deflectable tab comprising a catch configured for receipt within a corresponding recess.

[33] The deflectable tab may be upper surface accessible for selective deflection for unlocking.

[34] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[35] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[36] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pallet for engaging a spool in accordance with an embodiment;

[37] Figure 2 shows the utilisation of the pallet in a stacked configuration for stacking a plurality of spools in accordance with an embodiment;

[38] Figure 3 shows horizontally operative interlocks for horizontally engaging adjacent pallets in accordance with an embodiment; [39] Figure 4 shows the atop engagement of a flange of a spool beneath by the support accordance with an embodiment;

[40] Figure 5 and 6 show the undersurface profile of the support in further detail;

[41] Figure 7 and 8 show the utilisation of the pallet in a stacked configuration for a spool having a medium-sized flange diameter, such as 450 mm in accordance with an embodiment;

[42] Figure 9 and 10 shows the utilisation of the pallet in a stacked configuration for a spool having a larger sized flange diameter such as 550 mm in accordance with an embodiment; and

[43] Figures 11 - 13 show exemplary dimensions of the party in accordance with an embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

[44] Figure 1 shows a pallet 1 for spools 2. In the embodiments described herein, the pallet 1 is generally configured for loading, transportation and storage of industrial cable spools but potentially also other types of spools in applications.

[45] As can be seen from figure 1, the industrial spool comprises a barrel 4 and flange 3 at either end. The flange 3 may be reinforced with ribbing which may comprise radial ribbing 5 and circumferential ribbing 20 defining interstices 6 therebetween.

[46] As is also shown in figure 1, the pallet 1 comprises a decking 18 having a substantially planar upper surface with a plurality of supports 7 extending from beneath the decking 18. In a preferred embodiment shown, the pallet 1 comprises four supports 7 at corners of the decking.

[47] The embodiment shown in figure 1 is referred to herein as the surface resting configuration wherein the pallet 1 is able to rest on a ground surface. In the surface resting configuration, the pallet

1 is also able to support and, in embodiments, engage a pallet 2 above.

[48] As is shown in figure 1, a spool 2 may be loaded onto the surface of the horizontal planar decking 18 of the pallet 1.

[49] In embodiments, the horizontal decking 18 comprises a central hub 9 which stands proud slightly above the upper surface of the decking 118 to be received within the axial bore 10 of the spool 2. As is shown from the exemplary dimensions of figure 12, the hub 9 may stand proud of the upper surface of the decking 18 by approximately 5 mm so as to horizontal engage the spool 2 so as to substantially prevent the horizontal sliding of the spool 2 from the surface of the decking 18.

[50] In embodiments, the hub 9 may be removed so as to present a substantially planar upper surface for the decking 18 so as to be suited for supporting other types of loads as opposed to spools

2 if required, referred to herein as a non-spool supporting configuration. As is also illustrated in figure 12, the hub 9 may similarly extend beneath the undersurface of the decking 18 to engage spools 2 there underneath in embodiments. [51] In a preferred embodiment, each support 7 is substantially hollow and comprising an upper open-ended opening 19 through the upper surface of the decking 18. Furthermore, each support 7 may comprising a decreasing cross-section down away from the decking 18. As such, the supports 7 allow for vertical engageable accommodation of other supports 7 of a pallet 1 above or below such that the pallets 1 can be configured in a stowed configuration when not in use.

[52] The underside of the support 7 may comprise a profile shaped for engaging a flange 3 of the spool 2 thereunderneath when in the stacked configuration. Specifically, figure 2 shows the utilisation of a pair of pallets 1 in a stacked configuration comprising a lower pallet 1 and an upper pallet 1 respectively supporting lower and upper spools 2.

[53] As can be seen, the lower pallet 1 rests on the ground whereas the upper pallet 1 engages the lower spool 2 thereunderneath.

[54] Figure 5 shows the underside profile of the supports 7 in further detail.

[55] As can be seen, the undersurface profile of each support 7 comprises horizontal planar facing

16 so as to be suited for resting flat on the ground in the surface resting configuration. In a preferred embodiment shown, the horizontal facing 16 occupies a substantial cross-sectional undersurface area of each support 7 so as to increase the load-bearing properties for each support 7.

[56] Cut out from the horizontal planar faces 16 are channels 17 configured for accommodating the flange 3, such as the circumferential ribbing 20 of the flange 3.

[57] The horizontal planar facing 16 may comprise one or more apertures to release liquid collected therein.

[58] Figure 7 and 8 show an application wherein two pallets 1 are used in the stacked configurations for medium sized spools 2, such as for spools 2 having a flange diameter of 450 mm (or less). In this embodiment, the supports 7 are configured for engaging around the outer edges of the upper flange 3.

[59] In the embodiment shown, the lower spool 2 may be horizontally engaged by the central hub 9 of the lower pallet 1. An upper pallet 1 is then loaded onto the lower spool 2 wherein, as can be seen from figure 8, the flange 3 of the lower spool 2 fits between the supports 7. As such, the inner corners of the support 7 may be spaced 225 mm away from the central hub 9 so as to diametrically span the flange 3 by 450 mm. As such, the flange 3 of the lower spool 2 is horizontally retained by the inner corners of the supports 7. As can also be seen, the inclined angle of the supports 7 (such as at an angle of 5° as is shown in figure 12) naturally guide the flanges 3 towards the centre when lowered over the flanges 3. [60] As alluded to above, for even smaller spools 2 such as having a flange 3 diameter of 400mm may also be accommodated by such an arrangement wherein the spool 2 would be engaged solely by the hub 9 extended beneath from the pallet 1 above.

[61] Figure 9 and 10 shows an embodiment wherein the pallet 1 is utilised for stacking spools 2 of greater diameter, such as 550 mm for example.

[62] As can be seen, the lower spool 2 is yet engaged by the central hub 9 of the lower pallet 1. However, the upper pallet 1 engages atop the flange 3. In a preferred embodiment, the supports 7 engage within the interstices 6 of the upper flange of the lower spool 2.

[63] Figure 4 shows a magnified view of such an engagement wherein, as can be seen, the channels 17 described in figure 5 accommodate the circumferential ribs 20, specifically the outermost and penultimate circumferential ribs 20.

[64] In an embodiment, the pallet 1 is configured for adjacent interlocking with other pallets 1.

[65] Figure 3 illustrates the interlocking arrangement in further detail wherein, as can be seen, lateral edges of the decking 18 comprise male interlocks 12 for vertical engagement within corresponding female interlocks 31. As can be seen from figure 3, the interlocks comprise corresponding semi-triangle cross-sections so as to prevent horizontal disengagement yet while allowing vertical disengagement.

[66] The interlocks 12, 13 may further comprise interlocking tabs 14 comprising a male catch 15 for a corresponding female recess 21.

[67] When sliding the male interlock 12 vertically into the female interlock 13 the tab 14 deflects so as to allow the catch 5 to pass into the recess 21.

[68] The upper edge of the tab 14 may be accessible at the upper surface of the decking 18 so as to allow unlocking by manual deflection, such as utilising one's finger to deflect the tab 14.

[69] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.