One-piece pallet

• US 5,168,817 A
• Filed: 05/08/1991
• Issued: 12/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: INCA Presswood-Pallets Ltd.
• Original Assignee: INCA Presswood-Pallets Ltd.
• Inventors: Hart, Dale R., Nulle, Henner, Munk, Edmund
• Primary Examiner(s): ASCHENBRENNER, PETER
• Application Number:
  US07/697,934
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 108/51.1, 108/901, 108/53.1, 108/53.3
• US Class Current: 108/57.29
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/004 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/00 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00029 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00039 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00064 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00074 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00268 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00407 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/008 Drainage means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0094 nestable
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00061 Special configuration of the stack
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/0096 the dimensions of the supports corresponding to the periphery of the load, e.g. pallets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

An improved pallet is provided that has a support surface sloped from the outside edges or perimeter to the center of the pallet so that boxes stacked on the pallet will tend to lean toward the center of the pallet. The pallet also is provided with ventilation holes arranged in the surface of the pallet to be aligned with ventilation holes in fruit and vegetable boxes stacked thereon so that cooling air may be circulated through the bottom of the pallet and up through the boxes. Racking members are also provided on the underside of the pallet to offer structural integrity when the pallet is resting on racks.

Claims

1. A pallet comprising:

a support surface that is generally smooth and slightly inclined from its perimeter to its center such that the perimeter is higher than the center of the pallet;

reinforcement ribs formed in the surface;

a plurality of ventilation openings formed in the surface; and

the pallet being made of one-piece presswood construction.