PALLETS

• US 20100218705A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALX Pallet Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: ALX Pallet Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Mani, Ayyakannu
• Granted Patent: US 8,336,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/57.170
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0073 and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00024 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00059 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00094 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• 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 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00358 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00373 whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00388 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00417 on the non-integral separating spacer
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0086 Protection against environmental hazards, e.g. humidity, bacteria, fire

Abstract

The present invention provides enhanced pallets. The pallets may be aluminum extruded pallets having a plurality of hollow blocks and a plurality of hollow cross members. The blocks and cross members are welded together to form a pallet. The blocks and cross members may have internal wall structures which, form one or more crush cells or crush zones. The crush cells or crush zones deform in a controlled manner on impact to reduce impact damage to the pallets. The pallets have a high load strength supporting capability and allow the pallets to withstand repeated or severe impacts while remaining functional.

Claims

1. A pallet, comprising:

hollow corner blocks;

cross members connected to the hollow corner blocks;

ladder cross members at a top side of the pallet; and

a crush cell at an outer corner portion of at least one of the hollow corner blocks.

2. The pallet of claim 1, wherein at least one hollow corner block has a plurality of crush cells.

3. The pallet of claim 2, wherein the plurality of crush cells are arranged sequentially from the outer corner portion of the at least one hollow corner block toward an inner corner portion of the at least one hollow corner block.

4. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the crush cell comprises an internal wall structure of the hollow corner block.

5. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the crush cell has a generally cylindrical shape.

6. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the crush cell is a first crush cell arranged at the outer corner of the hollow corner block, and the pallet further comprising a second crush cell arranged sequentially from the first crush cell toward an inner corner portion of at least one hollow corner block.

7. The pallet of claim 6, further comprising a third crush cell arranged sequentially from the second crush cell toward the inner corner portion of the at least one hollow corner block.

8. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the hollow corner blocks comprise a wall having a groove which changes shape during a crush mode of the corner block.

9. The pallet of claim 1, wherein a cross member at an outer perimeter of the pallet has different portions which have different wall thicknesses.

10. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the hollow corner blocks, the cross members, and the ladder cross members are extruded aluminum.

11. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the hollow corner blocks, the cross members, and the ladder cross members are constructed of metal.

12. An extruded aluminum pallet having a plurality of hollow blocks and a plurality of hollow cross members connected together.

13. The extruded aluminum pallet of claim 12, wherein at least some of the plurality of hollow blocks and at least some of the plurality of hollow cross members have internal walls forming internal cells.

14. The extruded aluminum pallet of claim 13, wherein at least one of the internal cells of a corner block of the plurality of hollow blocks is a crush cell which intentionally deforms during impact and absorbs energy.

15. The extruded aluminum pallet of claim 12, wherein the plurality of hollow blocks comprises corner blocks having a plurality of internal crush cells arranged sequentially.

16. A metallic pallet having a plurality of hollow blocks and a plurality of hollow cross members connected together.

17. The metallic pallet of claim 16, wherein the plurality of hollow blocks comprises corner blocks having a plurality of internal crush cells arranged sequentially.

18. A pallet, comprising:

hollow corner blocks;

cross members connected to the hollow corner blocks;

ladder cross members at a top side of the pallet; and

an elastic bumper at an outer corner portion the hollow corner blocks;

the hollow corner blocks having a crush cell positioned inward of the bumper.

19. A pallet, comprising:

hollow blocks;

cross members connected to the hollow blocks; and

ladder cross members at a top side of the pallet;

the hollow blocks having a torque tower portion at the connection to the cross members.

20. The pallet of claim 19, wherein the torque towers comprise a notch in an outer wall of the hollow block and an internal wall structure connected to the outer wail by the notch.