«2 United States Patent Sostmann USO11S84563B2 (10) Patent No.: 4s) Date of Patent US 11,584,563 B2 Feb. 21, 2023 (3) PLASTIC PALLET WITH PROTECTED. RUNNERS, oy (2) Inventor: Ridiger Sostmann, Lingen (DE) (73) Assignee: Georg Utz Holding AG, Bremgarten cy (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 USC. 154() by 22 days. ay Appl.Noz 1791432 (22) PCT Filed: Now. 72019 (86) PCT No, $371 (eX), (2) Date PCT/IB2019/059569 May 5, 2021 PCT Pub, No WO2020/099994 PCT Pub, Date: May 22, 2020 @ 6s) Prior Publication Data US 202210002027 AL Jan, 6, 2022 US 202210315280.A9 Cet. 6, 2022 G0) Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 15, 2018 (CH) ouaisiis (SI) Inc. Bos 1900 (200501) (2) Us.CL ce BOSD 19/0026 (2013.01): BASD. 2519/0034 (2013.01); B6SD 2519/00069 (201301) (Continved) (58) Field of Classification Seareh cre BOSD 19/06, BOSD 19/0026; BOSD 2519/0084; BOSD 2519/0060: 6S 2519/0273, (Consinved) 66) References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS. 3664271 A+ S972 Wolder Bos 19.0012 1087.1 ATSISEA 41986 Hemary (Continued) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 85519 AS 1995 murs A? 82011, (Continved) (OTHER PUBLICATIONS International Search Report for ltemtionl Application No. PCT 152019059869 dated Jan 23, 2020. Primary Esaminer —Jose V Chea (74) Autornes, Agent, or Firm — McCormick, Paulding & Huber PLLC 6 ABSTRACT “The invention relates to a plastic pallet comprising an upper part, which is provided with outer and central female foot parts, and runners, which are provide with outer ancl central nale foot pars. When plugged together withthe female foot pars, the male foot parts form foot elements, and the female Toot pars of the upper part and the male foot parts of the runners can be secured by means of snap-fit connection. “The female foot parts have an outer wall Which surrounds their respective male foot parts. The outer wall ofthe outer ‘emale foot part extends over the entre height ofthe outer male foot part such that the outer male foot parts of the runners can be completely slid into the outer female foot parts of the upper part in such a manner that the outer wall (Continved)US 11,584,563 B2 Page 2 ‘ofthe outer female foot part together with the runner Forms 6504725 B2* 52003 Hae 6s 190012 8 suppor sure, 1087.28 7279.368 B2* 82010 Donnell Je B6SD 190016 12 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets 10856 8770418 B2* 72014 Appe es 19.0008 1087.25 20090061974 AL* 42003. Smysts esp 19.0012 1087.33 esp 251900273 (2013.01) Rasp MBO AL® 72003 Sayer. sp 9012 2519100288 (2013.01); BOSD 2519100323 par o1s6825 A1* 82007 Kuo B6sD 19.0038 (2013.01); BOSD 2519/00833 2013.01); B6sD 1086.3 2519/00407 (2013.01); BOSD 251900412 2909021204 4182009 Anke (2013.01); BoSD 2519700867 2013.01): BOSD oi o2sy249 A1* 102011 Osta 6s 190038 2519/00796 (2013.01) 1087.33 (58) Fleld of Classitication Search 2OIMOISTTIS AL* $2014 Plattner 16s 19.001 usPc’ 108/S7.25, $1.26, $6.3 1087.26 See application file For complete search hisior 1009672 AL* Shava B6sD 1938 56) References Cited FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS, DE 10502491 AL 82004 DE 202008 011 418 OL 12009 £493.80 A 11996 Chiisie P TITS? AL * 92007... BOSD 190016 SUBS A> 22000 Letmude BOSD IUOIZ EP 2708 AL 52014 op Danio A 72006 628.08 B1e 92001 Apps * cited by examinerU.S. Patent Feb. 21, 2023 Sheet 1 of 8 US 11,584,563 B2U.S. Patent Feb. 21, 2023 Sheet 2 of 8 US 11,584,563 B2U.S. Patent Feb. 21, 2023 Sheet 3 of 8 US 11,584,563 B2 Fig. 2U.S. Patent Feb. 21, 2023 Sheet 4 of 8 US 11,584,563 B2U.S. Patent Feb. 21, 2023 Sheet 5 of 8 US 11,584,563 B2 Fig. 4U.S. Patent Feb. 21, 2023 Sheet 6 of 8 US 11,584,563 B2US 11,584,563 B2 Sheet 7 of 8 Feb. 21, 2023 U.S. Patent Fig. 5C Fig. 5DU.S. Patent Feb. 21, 2023 Sheet 8 of 8 US 11,584,563 B2 Fig. 5EUS 11,584,563 B2 1 PLASTIC PALLET WITH PROTECTED RUNNERS: (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED [APPLICATIONS ‘This application is National Sage application of Inter- national Patent Application No. PCT/IB2019/050569, filed ‘on Nov. 7, 2019, which claims priority to Swiss Patent Application No, CH O1413/18, filed on Nov. 15, 2018, each ‘of which i hereby incorporated by reference init entirety ‘TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention reates to a plastic pallet having an upper part and three or more runners BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pallets are used for storage and transportation of goods “The pallets keep the goods olf the grouad so that they can be lifted and transported by a lift trick. They usually consist of a flat upper part ang, in the ease of 1200x800 mm pallets, of three runners which ean be manufactured in one piece by injection molding or in several parts. Mul-part plastic pallets ae easier and cheaper to produce and consist, for ‘eximple, of an upper part and a lower part, whieh are Jnterlocked and joined together. The lower part usually has three runners and nine fet "The upper part and dhe lower part, or the runners respec tively, can be joined together by welding, as described in ‘CHH702628 oF CH68S549. When the upper pat is welded to the lower par, bead is formed which must be removed with a milling operation so that the pallet has a smooth surface, This is time-consuming and expensive, Furthermore, the plurality of parts ean be connected (0 ‘each other via snap locks, 2421939 diseloses a plastic pallet with a lat upper part and a at lower part as well as nine separate feet by means of which the upper and lower pars are connected to one another, with both ends of the fest being fastened to the upper and lover parts of the pallet by means of snap-fit. US. Pat, No, 5,483,899 discloses a pallet having lower part and an upper part which can be slic into one another, wherein the lower part of the pallet has ribs wih snap ‘element which is arranged atthe upper end of each eb, By ‘means of this snp elemient at the upper end of the eis ofthe lower part of the pallet, the snap-fit connection with the upper partis effected ‘X plastic pallet is known from EP2733084 having. an upper part anda lower part, wherein the fot elements ofthe "upper part and the lower part ean be pushed completely into ‘one another and locked by means of snap-fit connections The outer area ofthe foot elements formed by the runners, The well-known multi-part plastic pallets have the disad vantage that the connection between the various parts ea Joosen under eontiauous load and the upper part Separates from the foot or runners SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘The present invention is now based on the object of providing 2 multi-part plastic pallet which allows a connee- tion between the upper part and the runners, wherein this ‘connection withstands the load ofthe impact of the pallets o 2 {during transport and the pallet thus hasan increase impact resistance and a longer service life. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE, INVENTION This object is solved by a plastic pallet having an upper part and inners, wherein the upper partis provided with ‘outer and middle female foot parts and the runners are provided with outer and middle male foot pars. Preferably, {he plastic pallet has thre runners, each with two outer male Toot parts and one middle male foot par. In this eas, the male foot parts joined to the female foot pars form foot elements, and the female foot parts ofthe upper part and the ‘male foot pars ofthe runners ean be attached to each other bby means of a snap-fit connection. The female foot parts hhave an outer wall which encloses the male foot part in each case, The outer wall of the outer female foot part extends ‘over substantially the entire height of the outer male foot Parl, so thatthe outer mae foot pars of the sinners ca be pushed completely into the onter female foot parts of the Upper part, in such a way that the outer wall of the outer {emale foot part together with the underside of the runner orm a support surface The outer wall ofthe female foot parts encloses the male foot parts in such a way thatthe male outer foot parts are {ully protected in the event of an impact. The outer wall extends over the entire height of the outer female foot part preferably substantially around the entire foot element. The entite height means thatthe outer wall of the outer female oot parts extends from the upper side of the pallet to the underside ofthe runner, which ean be placed oa support surface. Preferably, the otter wall extends around the entre oot element except for arecess fora connecting piece ofthe rnners which connects the outer male foot parts t the ‘middle male foot part. Thus, when the pallet is assembled, the outer wall extends on atleast three sides of the outer female foot parts from the upper side of the pallet ro the underside of the runner Te outer wall of the outer female foot part forms a support surface together with the rimner. The underside of the outer wall of the outer female foot par is fush with the underside of the runner Preferably, the plastic pallet aeconding to the invention thas three runners, preferably tree longitudinal runners. This is the case, for example, with plastic pallets of the standard size of 1200800 mm, In this case, the outer male oot parts fare inseried into the outer female foot pans an! Form outer ‘oot elements, which are provided on the short transverse side of the plastic pallet. The middle female and male foot paris, which form the middle foot elements ae preferably provided in the middle ofthe pallet aeross the long side. Tn another embodiment, the plastic pallet has more than three runners, for example five or six runes. For example, five or six runners are prefered for pallets of size 1200x800 ‘am. For example, pallet of this type is possible with five inners, of which toe runners extend i one direction and ‘wo runners extend in the transverse direction along the sides of the pallet. In another embodiment, the pallet com- priv six runners, three Jongitwdins! muaners and three ‘eansverse inners. In this embodiment, preferably all outer cight foot elements have outer walls which extend at lest on the outer side ofthe foot elements, ie. on the side whieh is Jocated atthe perimeter of the plastic pallet, over the entre Deight of the outer female foot parts. “The upper part of the plastic pallet prefembly has a Ast ‘upper surlace Ina preferred embodiment, the upper side hasUS 11,584,563 B2 3 ‘4 continyous closed surface. In a rer embodiment, the Upper part comprises reinforcing tubes which alitoally reinforce the upper side of the plastic pallet. none embodiment, the female foot pats and the male foot parts have plurality of ribs extending over the eatice hat af each foot port. The ribs may have dient cross sections and may’ be, for example, Pshaped, angle, or rectangular eosssection. The ribs ofthe female fot parts and the is ofthe mae foot pars canbe pushed completely into ach other Preferably te male fo pars ofthe runners ave aninner wall with ibs which serve as spacers between the inner wall tnd the outer wall These ibs also serve on the one hand as ‘eauide when the runners ure fited together withthe upper part of the pallet and on the otber hand they form gap betwen the inner wall and the outer Wall, which serves as sxktional impact protection. Whea the past pallet hits an ‘objet, the ribs can bend slightly and the distnes bosween the inner and outer walls which absorbs the impact Depending on the desied strength of the connection between the to parts ofthe pallet, the fot elements may have mliple apelit connections. In one embodiment of the invention, each foot element has one or more pairs of snap-fit connection elements, preferably one or two pairs. In ‘one embodiment, the foot elements may also have four pairs ‘of snap-fit connection elements and thus four snap-fit con= nections, preferably inthe ease ofthe outer foot elements of the central runner. The one oF more shap-fit connections Jarher increase and sooure the strength ofthe oot elements AA snap-fit connection is a positive connection and is formed by a female and a male snap-fit connection clement, whick Tormed as counterparts. Preferably, the eounterpants are qTormed by s male soap-fit connection element provided with ‘one or two hooks and a female snap-fit eonneetion element ‘with recess to be connected thereto, which snap into each, ‘other when they are joined together. Such a snap-fit con= nection has the avantage thatthe connection i pressed into ‘each other when loaded, which further strengthens the ‘connection. In addition, this snap-fit connection has a resil- feat property wader load Ina preferred embodiment, the male foot pats ofa single runner ean be pushed into the foot parts of the upper part separately from the male foot parts of the other runners. Tins, the three runners are individually insertable into the ‘upper part and the plastic pallet is producible from four pieces. However, iis also possible thatthe three runners are ‘connected fo each other and consist of one piece, so that the plastic pallet cam be assembled rom two picees, the upper Part and # lower part provided with runners "The Toot parts of tke upper part aad the foot pars ofthe runners are preferably integrated in one piece with the upper part and the runner, respectively, This design, together with the snap-fit connection, makos it possible io assomble @ pallet from only two or four parts, respectively, and without the use of took. ‘When the upperparts brought toyether withthe runners, the male foot pars with the ribs are pusied completely into the female foot parts with the outer wall and ribs, s0 that their ribs are pushed completely into each other and are ‘arranged parallel 10 each other over their entire length, ‘herein the foot elements of the pallet are formed and the inner walls of the male foot part and the outer walls of the Female foot part form double walls ofthe foot elements. The double walls increase the strength of the foot elements so be reduced for a short time, 2 4 ‘hat they are more robust and ean withstand iaypacts i orkit truck or other objets and can therefore be used for a longer period of time ‘The ribbed design ofthe fot elements allows fareasy and quick assembly ofthe two parts of the pallet, and the snap. connection clements allow for ecient locking without the need for a tool ‘The arrangement ofthe pallet according (othe invention results inthe male foot parts of the runners being protected by the female foot parts ofthe upper part. During transport, {or example on conveyor belts or during transport by forklift tnucks, the short transverse sides of the pallet with longi inal runners frequcally collide with objects end must be robust against impaets, The outer Toot elements in particular fare exposed to strong forces. The outer wall of the outer female foot parts, which extends over the entire height ofthe ‘outer male foot parts, protects the male foot parts of the runners. Whea the outer foot elements collide with objects, sheae forces are generated which are amplified by the weight ‘of the transported goods on the upper side of the pallet. la the pallet according to the invention, these forces are rected into the ground via the upper side ofthe pallet and the female foot parts. In this case, the foot elements of the ‘upper part are loaded and not the foot elements of the rinners. Asa result, the sap-fit connection withstands even strong, impacts and does not Joosen even under continuous Toad. ‘In contrast thereto, in conventional multi-part plastic pallets, the foot elements of the runners are loaded on ‘impact, as described for example In EP 27330841. The ‘weight of the transported poods on the upper part ereates shear forces during impact which act on the connection between the upper part and the foot elements ofthe inners nd which push the upper part away’ rom the fot elements fof the runners. With repeated loading, the connection between the upper part and the runners loosens Funber advantages of the invention follow from the following description, in which the invention is explained in mone detail by means of exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS “The drassings show as follows: FIG. 1 shows a plastic pallet having an upper part and three runners in perspective view from oblique above with separate view ofthe upper part and the three runners, FIG. IB shows the plastie pallet of FIG. LA with only one FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the upper part fom agonally below 10 the underside of the upper par FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the plastic pallet according tothe invention in the assembled state from an ‘oblique top view of the upperside of the pale, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the plastic pallet according to the invention in the assembled state obliquely trom below onto the underside of the pallet, FIG. SA shows the plastic pallet of FIG. 4 in botiom view of the underside, 'FIG. 8B shows a eros-secton through the axis along ine A-Aof FIG. 5A, FIG. SC shows a detailed view ofthe eross-seetion ofthe {oot element Ve of FIG. $2, FIG. SD shows a detsiled view of the emss-scction ofthe {oot element Vd of FIG. $B,US 11,584,563 B2 5 FIG. SE shows a detailed perspective view from obliquely below of the underside of a foot element and the support surface ofthe rianer of FIG. 4 FIG. SF shows a detailed bottom view ofthe underside of 4 foot element and the support surface ofthe runner of FIG, 5A, In te figures, the same reference numerals are used for the same olements in each case, and explanations of @ particular reference numeral apply wo sll figures unless Explicitly stated otherwise, DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS, FIG. 1A shows the upper part 2, the two outer runners 3 ‘andthe midle runner 3 ofthe plastic pallet seconding tothe invention. The upper part 2 and the runners 3,3" are shown jn @ separate and undssembled stale. The upper part 2 has ‘outer female foot parts 4, four shown here, and middle Temale foot parts 4", one visible here. The outer female Zoot parts 4 have a recess for rinners 14, The runners are each provided with 10 outer male foot parts § and one middle tale foot part. The male foot parts §.5° have male snap-fit ‘connection elements with hooks 65, The outer male Toot parts 5 of the outer manners 3 have two pairs of snapefit ‘connection elements with hooks 6B, the outer male foot par 5 of the middle runners 3 have four pairs of snap-fit ‘connection elements with hooks 6, and the middle male oot parts §'of the outer runners 3 have one pair of snap-fit ‘connestion elements with hooks 6b. The male foot pars 5, 5 have an inner wall I with ribs 12 which serve as spacers between the inner wall 1 and the outer wall 7 of the female foot pars 4, 4 and as guides when the runners are fitted together with the upper part ofthe pallet The male fot pats §,$ are connected to each other by connecting pieces 13 and form the eunner 3, 3. TFIG. IB shows the parts ofthe plastic pallet described in FIG. TA, with only one runner 3 shown in addition to tie upper part 2 i Tn FIG. 2, the upper part 2 ofthe plastic pallet is shown “with view ofthe underside of the upper part 2. The upper part 2 has nine female foot parts 4, 4 Here, the six outer Female foot parts 4 are amanged along the transverse side of the plastic pale, snd three middle female foot parts 4 are ‘range along the centerline transverse to the longitudinal side of the paot. The six onter female foot parts 4 have an ‘outer Wall 7 which extends in the outer region of the Toot parts 4 over the entire eight of the foot elements in the fssembled stale. The outer area of the Toot pars 4 is "understood tobe the entire area which encloses the foot parts 44. withthe exception ofa recess 14 which serves to receive the connecting pieces of the runners in the assembled state “The outer wall 7 ofthe middle female oot parts 4 does 201 ‘extend over the entire height of the foot elements and does not tovel the Boor when the pallet is used inthe assembled state. The female foot parts 4, 4° have female snap-fit ‘connection elements 62, each with two recesses for receiv ing hooks. In this exemplary embodiment, the outer female Toot parts 4 in the four corners ofthe pale and the middle famale foot part 4 in the middle of the pallet have two snap-fit connection elements with recess 64, the outer female foot pars 4 seranged in the middle of the transverse side ofthe pallet have four snap-fit connection elements with recess 6a, and the middle female foot parts 4 arranged in the middle othe longitndinal side of the pallet have one snap-fit ‘conncetion element with revess 6a. The upper part 2 has ribbed struts 12' on the underside for einforeing the pallet. 0 o 6 The Female foot parts 4, 4" have one oF more ribs extending ‘over the entire height ofeach foot section, The ribs may have ilerent cross-sections and may be, for example, Tshaped, Angular or rectangular in cross-section, The ribs of the ‘female foot parts and the ribs of the male foot parts ean be pushed completely into each other FIG. 3 shows the paste pallet 1 acconting tothe inven tion in the assembled, plugged-together state, in which the three runners 3 (here only the connecting pieves 13 of one runner 3are visible) are plugged into the upper pat 2. In this case, the tines 3, ¥ shown in FIG, 1A are inserted via the male foot parts 8,5 jato dhe female foot pars 4, 4 (shown in FIG. 2), so thatthe male foot parts , 8 plugged together ‘ith the female foot parts 4,4 form foot elements 8,8 and so thatthe female foot parts 4, 4 ofthe upper part ‘and the nale Toot parts 8,8 of the runners can be Tastened to cach other by means of a snap-fit eoanection 6 (not visible). The snap-fit connection is formed by the female snap-fit con- ‘ection elements with reess (6a, not visible, shown in FIG. 4) and the male snap-fit connection elements with hook (Gb, not visible, shown in FIG. 84). The plastic pallet 1 has six outer female foot parts 4 and six outer male foot pats 8 ‘which are arranged along the twa short transverse sides of the pallet and which together form the six outer foot ele- meats 8 The outer wall 7 of the outer female foot parts 4 extends ‘over the entire height of the outer male foot elements 8, 0 that the outer male foot elements § of the runners 3 ean be pushed completely into the outer Female foot pars 4 of the ‘upper par, Foot elements 8 pushed together in this way have the great advantage that they remain stable in the eveat of ‘impact against an objet and the snap-fit conneetions do not ‘become detached fom one another, a FIG. 4, the plastic pallet ¥ aeconding tothe invention described in FIG. 3 is shown in the assembled state in perspective view of the underside of the pallet, The outer ‘wall 7 of the outer female foot part 4 forms, together with the ninner 3, 3, a support surface 9 which ean come into contact with the ground, for example with the Boor or & conveyor belt, on whieh the plastic pallet I ean be placed ‘during transport or storage. The connecting pieces 13 ofthe runner 3 have oa the underside, for example, honeycomb- like grid structure which serves as reinforcement of the FIG. 8A shows the underside of the assembled plastic pallet 1 with a view of the underside ofthe onter runners 3 fand the middle rinner 3" and of the underside ofthe upper part 2 with the ibs 12, Also shovsn is the underside of the Snapefit connections 6 and the connecting pieces 13 of the runners 3,3. The underside ofthe outer Wall 7 ofthe outer female foot part together with the underside of the male foot part § and the runner 3,3" form a support surface 8, which fs deseribed in more detail in FIG. SF. FIG. SB shows a eros-secton through the axis along ine A-AofFIG. SA through the snap-fit connections ofthe outer female foot parts 4 and the outer male foot parts 5. in particular, the female snap-fit connection elements 6a and the male snap-fit connection elements 6b are disclosed, whieh engage with each other whea the upper part 2 is plugged together with the runners and lock the upper part 2 {o the runners. The upper part 2 has circular eoesses 18 on the upperside of the foot elements, which recesses corre- spond! In shape and size to a reinforcing tube, so that the recesses can accommodate a tube. The reinforcing tubes ‘additionally reinforce the upperside of the plastic pallet. FIG. SC shows a detailed view of the eross-scction ofthe ‘outer foot element 8 of FIG. SB, which is amanged in aUS 11,584,563 B2 1 ‘comer ofthe pallet The male snap-fit connection element with hooks 6B is inserted into the female snap-fit connection ‘element With recess 6a, wherein the hooks engage in the recess and form a snap-fit connection 6, thus locking the Upper part 2 tothe male Foot elements §, The outer Wall 7 of the otter female foot part 4 encloses the outer male foot part 5 withthe inner wall IL. Also shown in ths erss-seeton are the ribs 12 of the outer female foot part 4. Due tothe outer ‘wall 7nd the ianer wall 1, the foot element 8 has a double wal, which bas the effect of reinforcing the foot elements Damage tothe foot elements dv to impacts fom a forklift truck or due to falling down is thus largely avoided FIG, SD shows a cross-section through an outer foot ‘element of FIG. 8B us deseribed in FIG. SC, wherein aa ‘outer foot element i shown which is aranged in the middle of the transverse side of the plastic pallet. In this crosse section, two shapeft connections are shown with four male ‘snap-fit connection elements with hooks 6b andl two female snap-fit connection elements with two recesses 6a each, In FIG, SB, a section of FIG, 4 is shown on the underside ‘of foot clement 8, which is arranged in the comer of & plastic pallet. The underside 10 of the outer wall 7 of the ‘outer Semale foot part 4 together with the underside ofthe ‘outer female foot part § of the runner 3, forms © support > surface 9, The outer female foot part has @ recess 14 for runners 3. Wit the exception of the recess 14, the outer wall 7 of the outer female foot part 4 completely encloses the ‘outer male oot part 5. On the underside of the foot element 8, the underside 10 of the outer wall 7 has a U-shape, Thus, the outer wall 7 protets the foot element & on ail three sides Which would come into contact with the forks of the lif truck during transport by a forklift truck. In particular, dhe ‘entire foot element & is protected by the outer wal 7 TFIG. SF shows a soction of FIG. $A, a8 described in FIG. SE, onto the underside ofa comer foot element 8, showing the underside 10 of the outer wall 7, which forms a support surface 9 with the underside ofthe outer male foot part Sand the connecting piece 13 of the runner 3. Also shown are the ribs 12' ofthe upper part 2 and the view from below of the snapefit connections 6. FIGS. 1-8 show a possible embodiment ofthe invention, ‘wherein this embodiment as tree longitudinal eines and the outer foot elements are arranged along the shor rans- verse side of the plastic palle. Within the terms of the ‘invention, other embodiments are also conceivable with ‘more than three runners in various arrangements. Foe ‘example, a plastic pallet having five or six runners is possible, wherein each runner has two outer male foot parts fd one middle male foot part, For example, pallet of this type is possible with five runners, of whieh three runners ‘extend in one direction and only two runners extend in the transverse direction along the sides ofthe pallet. Or, a pallet with Six runners is possible, with the runners arranged as thre transverse runners and three longittdinal ranners, 30 that the forklift truck can transport the pallet from both the Jongitudinal side and the transverse side. Also conceivable is ‘aplastic pallet with three transverse runners, in which case the outer foot elements are arranged along the long longi- tudinal side. In addition, each foot element can have any number of snap-fit connections in diferent arrangements ‘Although varions embodiments of the present invention have been described and shown, the invention isnot restricted thereto, but may also be embodied in other ways ‘within the scope ofthe subject-matter defined in the fallow 8 ‘What is claimed is 1. A plastic pallet having an upper part provided with ‘outer and middle foot parts and runners provided with outer ‘and middle foot parts, whercin the foot parts of the upper Parl and the foot pars of the runers ean he fastened 9 one another by means ofa snap-fit connection, wherein the outer and mide foot parts of the upper part are designed as omale foot parts and the outer and middle foot parts of the runners are designed as male foot parts, wherein the male ‘oot parts plugged together with the female foot parts fo toot elements, wherein the female foot parts have an outer wall which in each cate encloses the male foot pars, ‘wherein in cach case the outer wal ofthe outer female foot paris extends over the entire height of the outer male foot pars, so thatthe outer male foot parts ofthe runners can be pushed completely to the onter female foot pars of the ‘upper part, wherein the underside of the outer wal of the ‘outer female foot paris is fhish with the underside of the runaers, such that the outer Wall of the outer female foot parts forms a support surface together wth the ruers, and wherein the female foot pars and the male foot parts comprise ribs which extend over the entire height of the Temale foot parts and the male foot parts, such that the female foot parts and the male fot parts are pushed com pletely info one another by means of ther ibs, and thus the ribs of the female foot parts and the ribs of the male foot parts are arranged parallel to one another over the entire Tength ofthe ribs. 2. The plastic pallet acconting to claim 1, wherein the male foot parts of the runners have an inner wall with ribs whieh serve as spacers between the inner wall of the male {oot pars and the outer wall of the female foot pas, 3. The plastic pallet according to claim 2, wherein cach of the foot elements has one or two pairs of snap-fit connection elements ‘4. The plastic pallet according to claim 2, wherein the ‘amale foot parts of the upper part ae integrated in one piece with the upper part andthe male fot parts are integrated! ia ‘one pioce with the runners 'S. The plastic pallet according to claim 2, whercin the male foot pars ofa single runner can be pushed separately from the male foot parts ofthe other runners into the fem oot parts of the upper part 6. The plastic pallet according to claim 2, wherein the ‘outer male foot parts and the mide male foot part of the rinner are conneeted {0 each other via a connecting piece ‘with a honeyeombslike grid structure 7. The plastic pallet according to claim 4, wherein each of the foot elements has one of two pairs of stapeft connection clements 8. The plastic pallet acconting to claim 7, wherein the Female foot parts of the upper part ae integrated in one pice ‘with the epper par and the male foot parts are integrated in ‘one piece with the runners '. The plastic pallet according to claim 7, wherein the ‘outer male foot parts and the middle male foot part of the runner are connected to each other via a connecting piece with a honeycomb-lke ged structure. 10, The plastic pallet according to claim 1, wherein the amale foot parts of the upper part are integrated in one piece ‘with the upper par and the male foot parts are integrated in ‘one pioce with the rners I. The plastic pallet acconding to claim 1, wherein the male foot parts ofa single runner ean be pushed separately from the male foot arts ofthe other runners into the female Toot parts oF the upper partUS 11,584,563 B2 9 10 12. The plastic pallet according to claim 1, wherein the ‘outer male foot pars and the mile male foot part of the runner are connected 10 exch other via a connecting pice ‘with a honeycomb-lke grid structure