Plastic pallet with support blocks having inner and outer blocks and associated methods
First Claim
1. A pallet comprising:
- a top deck;
a bottom deck; and
a plurality of spaced apart support blocks coupled between said top and bottom decks and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member, each support block comprisingan outer block having an open top surface exposing an inner block receiving area therein, and comprising a bottom surface, first and second pairs of opposing outer block side surfaces between carried by said bottom surface, with each opposing outer block side surface having a pocket opening therein for also exposing the inner block receiving area, andan inner block inserted into the inner block receiving area of said outer block, and comprising first and second pairs of opposing inner block side surfaces, with each opposing inner block side surface aligned with the pocket opening in a corresponding outer block side surface so as to form the pocket by covering the pocket opening.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pallet includes a top deck, a bottom deck, and spaced apart support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks. Each support block includes an inner block and an outer block joined together. The outer block has an open top surface exposing an inner block receiving area therein, and includes a bottom surface, and first and second pairs of opposing outer block side surfaces between carried by the bottom surface. Each opposing outer block side surface has a pocket opening therein for also exposing the inner block receiving area. The inner block is inserted into the inner block receiving area of the outer block, and includes first and second pairs of opposing inner block side surfaces. Each opposing inner block side surface is aligned with a pocket opening in a corresponding outer block side surface so as to form a pocket by covering the pocket opening.
41 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A pallet comprising:
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a top deck; a bottom deck; and a plurality of spaced apart support blocks coupled between said top and bottom decks and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member, each support block comprising an outer block having an open top surface exposing an inner block receiving area therein, and comprising a bottom surface, first and second pairs of opposing outer block side surfaces between carried by said bottom surface, with each opposing outer block side surface having a pocket opening therein for also exposing the inner block receiving area, and an inner block inserted into the inner block receiving area of said outer block, and comprising first and second pairs of opposing inner block side surfaces, with each opposing inner block side surface aligned with the pocket opening in a corresponding outer block side surface so as to form the pocket by covering the pocket opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A plastic pallet comprising:
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a top deck having spaced apart upper and lower surfaces, with the lower surface having a plurality of upper tower openings therein; a bottom deck; and a plurality of spaced apart support blocks coupled between said top and bottom decks and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member, each support block comprising an outer block having an open top surface exposing an inner block receiving area therein, and comprising a bottom surface, first and second pairs of opposing outer block side surfaces between carried by said bottom surface, with each opposing outer block side surface having a pocket opening therein for also exposing the inner block receiving area, and an inner block inserted into the inner block receiving area of said outer block, and comprising first and second pairs of opposing inner block side surfaces enclosing a center area, with each opposing inner block side surface aligned with the pocket opening in a corresponding outer block side surface so as to form the pocket by covering the pocket opening, a core structure having a rectangular shape within the center area, and an upper tower extending outwards from said core structure and into a corresponding upper tower opening in said top deck so as to provide a shear load transfer during impact with the lifting member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for making a pallet comprising:
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forming a top deck; forming bottom deck; and coupling a plurality of spaced apart support blocks coupled between the top and bottom decks and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member, each support block comprising an outer block having an open top surface exposing an inner block receiving area therein, and comprising a bottom surface, first and second pairs of opposing outer block side surfaces between carried by the bottom surface, with each opposing outer block side surface having a pocket opening therein for also exposing the inner block receiving area, and an inner block inserted into the inner block receiving area of the outer block, and comprising first and second pairs of opposing inner block side surfaces, with each opposing inner block side surface aligned with the pocket opening in a corresponding outer block side surface so as to form the pocket by covering the pocket opening. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification