Pallet with flexible tensile reinforcement and method for making the same

• US 5,758,855 A
• Filed: 11/21/1995
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cadillac Products Incorporated (Cadillac Products Automotive Company)
• Original Assignee: Cadillac Products Incorporated (Cadillac Products Automotive Company)
• Inventors: Yestrepsky, John Edward, Jordan, Richard Alan, Brooks, Richard George, Gosnell, Raymond Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wentsler, Stephen S.
• Application Number:
  US08/561,029
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 248/346.02, 248/346.01, 248/678, 248/903, 108/51.1, 52/309.15, 52/309.16, 52/223.6, 156/212, 156/196, 156/285, 156/295, 156/308.4, 156/309.6, 156/292
• US Class Current: 248/346.01
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0026 and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0036 forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces
• 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 2519/00129 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00293 made of more than one piece
• 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 2519/00373 whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00432 Non-integral, e.g. inserts B65D2519/00462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00437 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00442 on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/903 Support reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina

Abstract

A reinforced pallet (20) and method for making the same are disclosed. The pallet (20) includes a body (28) having a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions (56) with a central span (60) extending therebetween. A flexible tensile member (26) extends between the edge portions (56) and generally beneath the central span (60). The tensile member (26) may be in the form of a mesh affixed between upper and lower decks (22,24) of the pallet (20). When the edge portions (56) of the pallet (20) are simply supported and a load is place atop the pallet (20), the central span (60) of the pallet (20) will vertically deflect in response to the load. The central span (60) will bear upon the tensile member (26) with the tensile member providing support against deflection. A method for retrofitting a pallet (200) includes adding a tensile member (210) to the pallet (200) to reduce the amount of deflection of the pallet (200) when simply supported in response to a load placed atop the pallet (200).

Claims

1. A pallet for supporting objects thereon, the pallet comprising:

a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced therefrom, a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions;

a flexible tensile member suspended in the body and extending laterally across the body; and

a tensioner cooperating with the body and the flexible tensile member so that the tension in the flexible tensile member can be adjusted;

wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.

2. The pallet of claim 1 wherein:

the body is made of a molded plastic.

3. The pallet of claim 2 wherein:

the flexible tensile member is molded within the pallet.

4. The pallet of claim 1 wherein:

the flexible tensile member is an interconnected mesh.

5. The pallet of claim 1 wherein:

the tensioner includes a threaded connection.

6. The pallet of claim 1 wherein:

the upper surface is formed on an upper sheet, the lower surface is formed on a lower sheet, the flexible tensile member being disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, the upper and lower sheets being joined at a plurality of knit points.

7. The pallet of claim 1 wherein:

the tensile member is removably affixed to the body.

8. The pallet of claim 1 wherein:

the pallet includes a plurality of flexible tensile members which are longitudinally spaced apart and extend laterally across the body.

9. The pallet of claim 1 wherein:

the tensile member includes a mesh of laterally and longitudinally extending cables.

10. The pallet of claim 1 wherein:

the flexible tensile member includes a strap made of plastic.

11. The pallet of claim 10 wherein:

the strap is thermally joined to the pallet.

12. A method for reinforcing a pallet, the method comprising:

providing a pallet having a body with an upper surface and a lower surface and having a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions;

affixing a flexible tensile member to the body with the flexible tensile member extending laterally;

providing a tensioner cooperating with the body and the flexible tensile member to adjust the tension in the flexible tensile member;

wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the tensioner includes a threaded connection.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the flexible tensile member is a plastic strap; and

affixing the flexible tensile member to the body includes heat bonding the flexible tensile member to the body.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the flexible tensile member is adhesively secured to the body.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein:

affixing the flexible tensile member to the body includes suspending the flexible tensile member in the body.

17. A pallet for supporting objects thereon, the pallet comprising:

a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced therefrom, a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; and

a flexible tensile member suspended in the body and extending laterally across the body;

wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection;

the upper surface being formed on an upper sheet, the lower surface being formed on a lower sheet, the flexible tensile member being disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, the upper and lower sheets being joined at a plurality of knit points.

18. The pallet of claim 17 further comprising:

a tensioner cooperating with the body and the flexible tensile member so that the tension in the flexible tensile member can be adjusted.

19. A method for manufacturing a pallet, the method comprising:

molding a pallet having a body with an upper surface and a lower surface and pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; and

suspending a flexible tensile member in the body with a portion of the flexible tensile member extending laterally across the central span, including placing a tensile preload along the flexible tensile member so that a preload exists across the flexible tensile member even when the pallet is free of load thereon;

wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein:

the body includes an upper deck and a lower deck; and

the suspending of the flexible tensile member in the body includes capturing the flexible tensile member between the upper deck and the lower deck during the molding of the body.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein:

the pallet includes a tensioner cooperating with the body and the flexible tensile member to adjust the tension in the flexible tensile member.

22. A pallet for supporting objects thereon, the pallet comprising:

a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced therefrom, a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; and

a flexible tensile member suspended in the body and extending laterally across the body, the flexible tensile member being removably affixed to the body;

wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.