Fire-collaspible cross-beamed pallet
First Claim
1. A thermoplastic pallet, useful for transporting goods by means of forklift devices, the pallet storable in a rack having opposing side rails, by resting opposing lengthwise edges of the pallet on the rails, the pallet comprising:
- a plastic portion configured to span the distance between the rails of the rack, wherein at least one cross beam is secured on or within said plastic portion, the cross beam and plastic portion configured such that said cross beam and plastic portion will structurally fail upon exposure to heat from a fire.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plastic pallet has reinforcing beams which fail during a fire due to the effects of heat, so the pallet prematurely collapses and thus the rate of heat evolution is diminished, sufficient to meet fire standards. In one embodiment metal beams embedded in the plastic of the pallet have lengths which are shorter than the span between the rails of a pallet rack. They drop down and cause pallet collapse, when the surrounding plastic softens or melts. In another embodiment, the beam is a metal, fiberglass or graphite reinforced composite thermoplastic, which loses strength when the matrix softens or otherwise fails. In another embodiment, a metal beam has two parts which are connected by a thermoplastic fitting which softens and the fails during a fire.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thermoplastic pallet, useful for transporting goods by means of forklift devices, the pallet storable in a rack having opposing side rails, by resting opposing lengthwise edges of the pallet on the rails, the pallet comprising:
a plastic portion configured to span the distance between the rails of the rack, wherein at least one cross beam is secured on or within said plastic portion, the cross beam and plastic portion configured such that said cross beam and plastic portion will structurally fail upon exposure to heat from a fire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of reducing the rate of evolution from a thermoplastic pallet during a fire, wherein the pallet is stored in a rack, the opposing lengthwise edges of the pallet resting on opposing side rails of the rack;
- wherein the pallet has at least one cross beam provided in the pallet and running at least partially between said opposing sides to provide strength to the pallet, wherein said at least one cross beam is configured to fail relative to a remainder of the pallet upon exposure to heat from a fire.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification