Title:

Paper pallet for a motorcycle

United States Patent Application 20030172851

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

A paper pallet for a bicycle comprises a bottom plate made of paper, a reinforcing rib, two side reinforcing rib assemblies, and a top plate made of at least two laminated corrugated paper sheets. The reinforcing rib extends on a middle of the bottom plate. The side reinforcing rib assemblies are mounted on both sides of the reinforcing rib, defining a channel between each side reinforcing rib assembly and the reinforcing rib. Each side reinforcing rib assembly defines a compartment for receiving an associated one of a front wheel and a rear wheel of a motorcycle. Extending directions of the laminated corrugated paper sheets are perpendicular to each other. The top plate includes a front wheel slot and a rear wheel slot. The top plate includes two sides each having two openings respectively aligned with the channels.

Inventors:

Chen, Wei-bin (Taipei, TW)

Application Number:

10/097577

Publication Date:

09/18/2003

Filing Date:

03/15/2002

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Assignee:

CHEN WEI-BIN

Primary Class:

108/51.3

Other Classes:

108/51.11, 108/56.3

International Classes:

B65D19/00; B65D85/68; (IPC1-7): B65D19/00

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20030172851

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Primary Examiner:

WILKENS, JANET MARIE

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE (ELLICOTT CITY, MD, US)

Claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A paper pallet for a bicycle, comprising: a bottom plate made of paper; a reinforcing rib made of paper and extending on a middle of the bottom plate along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the bottom plate; two side reinforcing rib assemblies made of paper and mounted on both sides of the reinforcing rib and located on two ends of the bottom plate, defining a channel between each said side reinforcing rib assembly and the reinforcing rib, each said side reinforcing rib assembly defining a compartment for receiving an associated one of a front wheel and a rear wheel of a motorcycle; and a top plate made of at least two laminated corrugated paper sheets, extending directions of said at least two laminated corrugated paper sheets being perpendicular to each other, the top plate including a front wheel slot in a first end thereof for holding the front wheel of the motorcycle and a rear wheel slot in a second end thereof for holding the rear wheel of the motorcycle, the top plate including two sides each having two openings respectively aligned with the channels.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a paper pallet for reducing the cost for transporting a motorcycle.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Motorcycles are widely used around the world as having the advantages of convenience, maneuverability, easy handling, and small volume when compared to four-wheeled vehicles. A pallet is used to fix a motorcycle in place during transport. The pallet is made of wood, and the cost is increased due to dramatic decrease in the forests. It is, therefore, a need for a pallet made of a material other than wood in view of reducing the cost for transport as well as environmental protection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a paper pallet for reducing the cost for transporting a motorcycle.

[0006] A paper pallet for a bicycle in accordance with the present invention comprises a bottom plate made of paper, a reinforcing rib made of paper, two side reinforcing rib assemblies made of paper, and a top plate made of at least two laminated corrugated paper sheets. The reinforcing rib extends on a middle of the bottom plate along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the bottom plate. The side reinforcing rib assemblies are mounted on both sides of the reinforcing rib and located on two ends of the bottom plate, defining a channel between each side reinforcing rib assembly and the reinforcing rib. Each side reinforcing rib assembly defines a compartment for receiving an associated one of a front wheel and a rear wheel of a motorcycle. Extending directions of the laminated corrugated paper sheets are perpendicular to each other. The top plate includes a front wheel slot in a first end thereof for holding the front wheel of the motorcycle and a rear wheel slot in a second end thereof for holding the rear wheel of the motorcycle. The top plate includes two sides each having two openings respectively aligned with the channels.

[0007] Since the extending directions of the corrugated paper sheets forming the top plate are perpendicular to each other, the structure of the top plate is improved. Further, the pallet is thoroughly made of paper and thus saves the cost. The corrugated paper sheets can be recycled and are thus friendly to the environment.

[0008] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper pallet for a motorcycle in accordance with the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the paper pallet in accordance with the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a top plate of the paper pallet in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a paper pallet for a motorcycle in accordance with the present invention generally comprises a top plate 10 and a bottom plate 20.

[0013] The bottom plate 20 is a corrugated paper sheet. Extending on a middle of the bottom plate 20 along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the bottom plate 20 is a reinforcing rib 30. Two side reinforcing rib assemblies are provided on both sides of the reinforcing rib 30 and located on two ends of the bottom plate 20. A channel 60 is defined between each side reinforcing rib assemblies and the reinforcing rib 30.

[0014] Each reinforcing rib assembly includes three reinforcing ribs 40 that are arranged to represent a U-shaped structure defining a compartment 50. The reinforcing ribs 30 and 40 are made by means of bonding corrugated paper sheets. It is noted that the corrugated paper sheets extend in an upright direction with respect to the bottom plate 20 located in a horizontal plane.

[0015] The top plate 10 is formed by laminating two or more corrugated paper sheets along a vertical direction. In addition, the extending directions of the corrugated paper sheets forming the top plate 10 are perpendicular to each other, as shown in FIG. 3. The top plate 10 includes a front wheel slot 11 in an end thereof for holding a front wheel (not shown) of a motorcycle (not shown) and a rear wheel slot 12 in the other end thereof for holding a rear wheel (not shown) of the motorcycle. Further, the top plate 10 includes three side wings 13 on both sides thereof. Two openings 14 are defined in the side wings 13 on each side of the top plate 10, best shown in FIG. 2.

[0016] In assembly, the top plate 10 is mounted on top of the reinforcing ribs 30 and 40 and the wings 13 are bent down to the sides of the reinforcing ribs 30 and 40. Finally, staplers are used to fix the wings 13 to the reinforcing ribs 30 and 40. The front wheel slot 11 and the rear wheel slot 12 are communicated with the compartments 50, respectively. Further, the openings 14 are aligned with the channels 60, respectively.

[0017] In use, the front wheel of the motorcycle is placed into the front wheel slot 11 and the rear wheel of the motorcycle is placed into the rear wheel slot 12. Two forks (not shown) of a fork lift (not shown) may extend through the channels 60 for lifting the paper pallet together with the motorcycle. Since the extending directions of the corrugated paper sheets forming the top plate 10 are perpendicular to each other, the structure of the top plate 10 is improved. Further, the pallet is thoroughly made of paper and thus saves the cost. The corrugated paper sheets can be recycled and are thus friendly to the environment.

[0018] At Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

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