PALLET

• US 3,757,704 A
• Filed: 06/21/1972
• Issued: 09/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Owens-Illinois Glass Container, Inc. (O-I Glass, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Guy H. Allgeyer, James B. Foote
• Inventors: Foote, James B., Allgeyer, Guy H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US05/264,845
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 108/51-58
• US Class Current: 108/57.26
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0016 and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00104 Plastic
• 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 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00343 contact surface being substantially in the form of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00373 whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00437 on the load supporting 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: Y10S 108/901 Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

A pallet is provided for supporting loads thereon. The pallet includes an upper member formed of thermoplastic material for receiving loads thereon, a plurality of rows of supporting elements for supporting said upper member in an elevated position to permit the entry of lifting forks thereunder, and a reinforcing member positioned between the supporting elements and the upper sheet to bridge a load positioned on the upper sheet between the respective supporting elements. The reinforcing member has spaced apart upper and lower portions which are interconnected together to permit the reinforcing member to function as a flexural member.

Claims

1. A pallet compriSing a lower sheet of thermoplastic material, a plurality of rows of supporting elements extending upwardly from the lowermost portion of said lower sheet, said supporting elements supporting thereon a reinforcing member, said reinforcing member including a pair of facing sheets having a filler element and an upper sheet of thermoplastic material engaging said reinforcing member and serving as a support member for loads positioned thereon, and wherein said lower sheet of the thermoplastic material is bonded to said upper sheet, a reinforcing element positioned in cooperative relationship with each of said supporting elements.

2. The pallet as defined in claim 1 further including a plurality of upstanding annular flanges formed integrally with said first sheet of thermoplastic material, said flanges positioned to receive and retain the lower end of said columns.

3. The pallet as defined in claim 1 wherein said columns are formed in a third sheet of thermoplastic material, said third sheet having a major planar portion on which said reinforcing member rests.

4. The pallet as defined in claim 1 wherein said columns are defined by cup-shaped pockets formed in third and fourth sheets of thermoplastic material, said third and fourth sheets being joined together with the cup-shaped pockets of one aligned with the cup-shaped pockets of the other.