Stackable pallet

• US 5,606,921 A
• Filed: 02/06/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snyder Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Stratis Corporation (Tank Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Skinner, William J., Elder, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/383,893
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 108/51.1, 108/53.1, 108/53.3, 108/53.5, 108/901
• US Class Current: 108/53.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0018 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/004 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• 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 2519/0096 when empty
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

A pallet includes a planar portion for supporting articles and feet extending from the bottom of the planar portion. The upper surface of the planar portion includes recesses formed therein having center islands extending upward even with the supporting surface. The feet include bottoms having a center recess and rim extending around the recess. The rim of the feet extend into the recess on the upper surface when the empty pallets are stacked and the center islands extend into the bottom recess of the foot to provide nesting and to prevent lateral sliding of the pallets.

Claims

1. A pallet, comprising:

a support portion having a substantially planar upper supporting surface including a plurality of channels formed therein extending across the pallet;

a plurality of support members extending from the support portion;

wherein each of said support members include a rectangular central portion projecting substantially to the planar upper supporting surface and defining a recess around the central portion extending to a depth no greater than the channels, wherein each support member defines a bottom recess aligning with the central portion.

2. A pallet according to claim 1, wherein the bottom recess is selectively configured to receive the central portion of a corresponding support member on a second pallet when the pallets are stacked while empty.

3. A pallet according to claim 1, wherein the bottom recess and central portion are selectively configured to nest the pallets when stacked while empty.

4. A pallet according to claim 1, wherein the pallet is made of plastic, wood, metal, or resin-fiber composite.

5. A pallet according to claim 1, wherein the pallet includes nine support members extending from the planar supporting surface.

6. A pallet according to claim 1, further comprising handles molded into an underside of the support portion.

7. A pallet, comprising:

a support portion having a substantially planar upper supporting surface including a plurality of channels formed therein extending across the pallet;

a plurality of support members extending from the support portion;

wherein each of said support members include a central portion projecting substantially to the planar upper supporting surface and defining a recess around the central portion extending to a depth no greater than the channels, wherein each support member defines a bottom recess aligning with the central portion.

8. A pallet according to claim 7, wherein the bottom recess is selectively configured to receive the central portion of a corresponding support member on a second pallet when the pallets are stacked while empty.

9. A pallet according to claim 7, wherein the bottom recess and central portion are selectively configured to nest the pallets when stacked while empty.

10. A pallet according to claim 7, wherein the pallet is made of plastic, wood, metal, or resin-fiber composite.

11. A pallet according to claim 7, wherein the pallet includes nine support members extending from the planar supporting surface.

12. A pallet according to claim 7, further comprising handles molded into an underside of the support portion.

13. A pallet according to claim 7, wherein the central portion is rectangular.