Collapsible plastic pallet design

• US 20050103237A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Swistak, Ronald P. Brochu, Roy E. Moore Jr
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Swistak, Ronald P. Brochu, Roy E. Moore Jr
• Inventors: Moore, Roy E. Jr., Swistak, Daniel J., Brochu, Ronald P.
• Application Number:
  US10/729,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20050103237A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/57.250
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00024 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00029 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00044 Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00079 Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00099 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00104 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00114 Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00129 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00134 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00139 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00149 Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00278 the load supporting surface and the base surface being identical
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00293 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00303 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00308 grid type, e.g. perforated plate
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00363 : grid type, e.g. perforated plate
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00373 : whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00378 : whereby at least one spacer is made of two or more pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 : on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00432 : Non-integral, e.g. inserts B65D2519/00462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00437 : on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00447 : on the non-integral separating spacer
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00462 : Applied in mold, e.g. bi-injection molded reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00467 : on or in the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00472 : on or in the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 : without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 : chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00567 : mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/008 : Drainage means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00835 : Integral
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0086 : Protection against environmental hazards, e.g. humidity, bacteria, fire

Abstract

In one embodiment, a collapsible pallet comprises: an upper deck, a foot member disposed on the upper deck, and a lower deck comprising the second foot half. The foot member comprises a first foot half disposed on the upper deck, the first foot half having a pin disposed thereon, and a second foot half, the second foot half having a hole disposed therein for receiving the pin.

Claims

1. A collapsible pallet, comprising:

an upper deck;

a foot member disposed on said upper deck, said foot member comprising,

a first foot half disposed on said upper deck, said first foot half having a pin disposed thereon, and

a second foot half, said second foot half having a hole disposed therein for receiving said pin; and

a lower deck comprising said second foot half.

2. The collapsible pallet of claim 1, wherein said pin is slidably disposed in said hole.

3. The collapsible pallet of claim 1, wherein said hole is defined by a wider opening on one end and a narrower opening on an opposing end to define a keyhole shape.

4. The collapsible pallet of claim 3, wherein said pin includes a retaining member disposed thereon and is configured to be received in said wider opening and slidingly received in said narrower opening, thereby causing said pin to be retained in said narrower.

5. The collapsible pallet of claim 1, wherein said foot halves further comprise a frusto-pyramidical shape.

6. The collapsible pallet of claim 1, wherein at least one of said foot halves further comprise a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood, fiberglass, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.

7. The collapsible pallet of claim 1, wherein said foot halves further comprise foam.

8. The collapsible pallet of claim 7, wherein said foam is a urethane-based foam.

9. The collapsible pallet of claim 1 having a weight per unit area based on an upper deck dimension of less than or equal to about 4.5 lb/ft².

10. The collapsible pallet of claim 9, wherein the weight per unit area based on the upper deck dimension is about 2.5 lb/ft² to about 4.5 lb/ft².