Reinforced plastic pallet
First Claim
1. A thermoformed, plastic pallet for bearing and positioning a load, comprising a generally rectilinear body having an upper surface and a lower surface and at least one side surface, a retaining wall assembly carried by said upper surface;
- and an edge protrusion integrally formed in said upper surface having a longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its width such that the useful surface area of said upper surface is substantially unobstructed by said edge protrusion, said edge protrusion positioned approximate to at least one side surface, said edge protrusion extending upwardly from said upper surface so as to cooperate with said retaining wall assembly to position the load;
said retaining wall assembly including a wall-receiving slot in said upper surface, said slot having a profile, and a wall positioned within said slot, said wall having a profile substantially similar to said profile of said slot such that the entire profile of said wall extends into said slot between said upper surface and said lower surface.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reinforced pallet (10) includes an upper surface (11) and a pair of opposing support sides (14, 15). The pallet (10) also includes at least one reinforcing bar channel (50) and a reinforcing bar (40) received within reinforcing bar channel (50). A twin-sheet pallet (10) is formed vacuum-forming a first plastic sheet (33a) to a first mold section (30) and a second plastic sheet (33b) to a second mold sheet (31), wherein a preselected portion of the second mold section (31) is sealed such that the second plastic sheet (33b) is not vacuum-formed. The mold sections (30, 31) are then moved together and the sheets (33a, 33b) are compressed together at preselected locations. A thermoformed, plastic pallet (10) for bearing and positioning a load, also includes and a retaining wall assembly (90) carried by the upper surface (11); the retaining wall assembly (90) including a wall-receiving slot (91) in the upper surface (11) and a retaining wall (92) received and positioned within the slot (91).
183 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A thermoformed, plastic pallet for bearing and positioning a load, comprising a generally rectilinear body having an upper surface and a lower surface and at least one side surface, a retaining wall assembly carried by said upper surface;
- and an edge protrusion integrally formed in said upper surface having a longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its width such that the useful surface area of said upper surface is substantially unobstructed by said edge protrusion, said edge protrusion positioned approximate to at least one side surface, said edge protrusion extending upwardly from said upper surface so as to cooperate with said retaining wall assembly to position the load;
said retaining wall assembly including a wall-receiving slot in said upper surface, said slot having a profile, and a wall positioned within said slot, said wall having a profile substantially similar to said profile of said slot such that the entire profile of said wall extends into said slot between said upper surface and said lower surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- and an edge protrusion integrally formed in said upper surface having a longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its width such that the useful surface area of said upper surface is substantially unobstructed by said edge protrusion, said edge protrusion positioned approximate to at least one side surface, said edge protrusion extending upwardly from said upper surface so as to cooperate with said retaining wall assembly to position the load;
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9. A reinforced, thermoformed, plastic pallet for bearing a load, comprising a generally rectilinear body having an upper surface and a lower surface and a pair of opposing support sides;
- at least one reinforcing bar-receiving channel extending substantially longitudinally between said at least one pair of opposing sides;
reinforcing bar means received within said at least one reinforcing bar-receiving channel, said reinforcing bar means being of a thin-steel construction having a height dimension substantially greater than a width dimension, said bar positioned in the pallet such that said height dimension is substantially normal to said upper and lower surfaces;
a retaining wall assembly carried by said upper surface; and
at least one reinforcing protrusion extending between said upper and lower surfaces adjacent said retaining wall assembly, said upper surface and said lower surface contacting each other at said reinforcing protrusions;
said retaining wall assembly including a wall-receiving slot in said upper surface and a retaining wall positioned within said slot to extend upwardly from said upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- at least one reinforcing bar-receiving channel extending substantially longitudinally between said at least one pair of opposing sides;
Specification