Shipment pallet for heavy and sensitive equipment

• US 5,195,439 A
• Filed: 03/24/1992
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Melvin S. Harder
• Original Assignee: Melvin S. Harder
• Inventors: Harder, Melvin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US07/856,745
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 108/51.1, 108/51.3, 108/55.5, 108/55.1, 108/56.1
• US Class Current: 108/57.12
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0026 and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00029 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00064 Wood
• 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 2519/00288 made of 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 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• 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 2519/00388 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00572 with separate auxiliary element, e.g. screws, nails, bayonets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/107 using blocks of shock-absorbing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

A cushioned pallet which combines the shock absorbing characteristics of lower density foam cushions with the vibration damping characteristics of higher density foam cushions. In particular, an inventive packaging pallet which utilizes a load bearing tri-pod arrangement with different density cushions strategically located to produce the desired effect of reducing both shock and vibration force inputs with one pallet design.

Claims

1. A shipment pallet for heavy and sensitive equipment, comprising:

(a) a first deck board, and

(b) a first, a second, and a third stringer affixed to the said first deck board, the said second stringer being disposed between the said first and the said third stringer, and

(c) a first foam cushion comprised of 2 pounds per cubic foot density polyethylene affixed to the top of the said first stringer as a means for absorbing shock, and

(d) a second foam cushion comprised of 9 pounds per cubic foot density polyethylene affixed to the top of the said second stringer as a means for damping vibration, and

(e) a third foam cushion comprised of 2 pounds per cubic foot density polyethylene affixed to the top of the said third stringer as a means for absorbing shock, and

(f) a second deck affixed to the said first cushion, the said second cushion and the said third cushion, wherein the density of the second cushion is greater than the density of the first cushion and the density of the third cushion, and

(g) the densities of the first cushion and the third cushion arc the same, and

(h) the said first stringer, said second stringer, and said third stringer are parallel to each other, and

(i) the first stringer and the third stringer are placed equidistant from the second stringer, whereby the tri pod construction with a denser, stiffer cushion centrally located underneath the second deck board, parallel to and equidistant from two less dense, softer cushions, produces the desired effect of reducing shock forces without the associated increase in vibration forces.

2. The pallet of claim 1 wherein the first deck is attached to the first stringer, the first stringer is attached to the first cushion and the first cushion is attached to the second deck, all with two, vertically inserted, 3/8 inch bolts equally spaced along the length of the first stringer.

3. The pallet of claim 1 wherein the first deck is attached to the second stringer, the second stringer is attached to the second cushion and the second cushion is attached to the second deck, all with two, vertically inserted, 3/8 inch bolts equally spaced along the length of the second stringer.

4. The pallet of claim 1 wherein the first deck is attached to the third stringer, the third stringer is attached to the third cushion and the third cushion is attached to the second deck, all with two, vertically inserted, 3/8 inch bolts equally spaced along the length of the third stringer.