Interlocking spill pallet system

• US 5,579,700 A
• Filed: 08/07/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enpac LLC
• Original Assignee: Enpac LLC
• Inventors: DeBord, David G., Nuechterlein, David J., Taylor, Darel, Onders, James P., Heintz, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/511,934
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 108/51.1, 108/55.1, 108/56.1, 108/54.1
• US Class Current: 108/55.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0002 Platforms, i.e. load supporting devices without provision for handling by a forklift

Abstract

A spill pallet for supporting a plurality of fluid containing vessels. The pallet has a bottom and a series of vertically oriented side walls which cooperate to form an open-topped box structure. The side walls have a peripheral rim defining portion which includes an inwardly extending lip portion substantially parallel to the bottom wall. A plurality of pillar supports are provided between the bottom wall and the lip portion to support the lip portion. The bottom wall has a central support member defining an upper surface which is substantially co-planar with the lip portion. A grate is mounted on the central support member and has edges which are supported by the lip portion. Interlocking member are provided to attach pallets together and those interlocking members are also adapted to attach loading ramps to the pallet.

Claims

1. A pallet for supporting a plurality of fluid containing vessels, said pallet having a bottom wall and a series of vertically oriented side walls, said bottom wall cooperating with said side walls to define an open-topped box structure, each of said side walls having a peripheral rim defining portion which includes an inwardly extending lip portion substantially parallel to said bottom wall, a plurality of pillar supports between said bottom wall and said lip portion, each pillar support being defined by a pocket formed at a juncture of said bottom wall and said side wall which includes side support walls extending between said bottom wall and said lip portion, a front wall joining said side support walls and which includes a top wall beneath said lip portion joining said side support wall said front wall, said bottom wall having a central support member defining an upper surface which is substantially co-planar with said lip portion, and a grate mounted on said central support member and having edges supported by said lip portion.

2. A pallet assembly according to claim 1 wherein said vertically oriented side walls diverge outwardly from said bottom wall, said peripheral rim defining portion comprising a vertical extension of said side walls, a parallel wall extending upwardly from said lip portion and being joined to said vertical extension by a horizontal wall.

3. A pallet according to claim 2 wherein lateral shifting of said grate is resisted by said parallel wall.

4. A pallet according to claim 2 wherein said top wall of at least one of said pillar supports defines a socket projecting upwardly into a pocket defined by said vertical extension, said parallel wall and said horizontal wall.

5. A pallet according to claim 4, including a connector block having a first portion positioned within said pocket, said first portion of said connector block having a first upwardly extending projection received in said socket, a second portion of said connecting block projecting from said pocket and having a second upwardly extending projection adapted to cooperate with a socket of an adjacent pallet.

6. A pallet assembly according to claim 5 including a second pallet having one of its upwardly extending sockets receiving said second upwardly extending projection of said connecting block.

7. A pallet assembly according to claim 6, including a wedge shaped loading ramp for said pallet, said loading ramp having an end wall provided with a connector having an upwardly extending projection received in said socket to securely interlock said ramp with said pallet.