Shipping pallet made of plastic

• US 5,806,436 A
• Filed: 11/21/1997
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Franz Xaver Ertl
• Original Assignee: Franz Xaver Ertl
• Inventors: Weichenrieder, Erich Sr., Weichenrieder, Erich K. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US08/975,875
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 108/52.1, 108/57.17, 108/57.2, 108/57.23, 108/57.27, 108/57.33, 108/901
• US Class Current: 108/57.23
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0016 and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0018 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 2519/00104 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-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 2519/00557 without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00567 mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted

Abstract

On a shipping pallet made of plastic, with two parallel surfaces forming its upper side and its underside respectively, whereby each surface is the outside of the base of two basic components permanently connected to one another, the bases of which are located at some distance from one another, the base of each basic component is a closed plate. The space between the bases of the basic components is bridged by a pair of strips parallel to one another and enclosing a groove between them. On both ends of each pair of strips the groove is closed by a cross member connecting the two bases to form a chamber. The space between the bases along the circumference of the pallet is closed by edge strips. The pallet is provided with feet projecting outward from a surface, and equipped with skids if necessary, and the two basic components are tightly connected to one another in the vicinity of the strips and cross member.

Claims

1. A plastic pallet, comprising:

a first basic component having a first rectangular base plate, said first base plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, said first basic component having a first edge strip surrounding said first base plate along its periphery and a first plurality of strips oriented in parallel to one another and projecting perpendicularly from said inner surface of said first base plate, said first plurality of strips and said first edge strip having approximate heights of welding lugs;

a second basic component having a second rectangular base plate, said second base plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, said second basic component having a second edge strip surrounding said second base plate along its periphery and a second plurality of strips oriented in parallel to one another and projecting perpendicularly from said inner surface of said second base plate, said first plurality of strips and said second plurality of strips are welded together, said first edge strip and said second edge strip are welded together, said second plurality of strips and said second edge strips having approximate heights corresponding to the distance between said inner surface of said first base plate and said inner surface of said second base plate, and wherein a plurality of closed chambers are formed between said inner surface of said first base plate and said inner surface of said second base plate;

at least one reinforcement element located in at least one of said chambers, said reinforcement element being entirely enclosed in said plastic pallet, and wherein said reinforcement element is inserted into said chamber prior to welds being made between said first plurality of strips and said second plurality of strips and between said first edge strip and said second edge strip; and

a plurality of feet projecting from said outer surface of said second base plate.

2. The plastic pallet of claim 1 wherein said feet extend through a plurality openings in said second rectangular base plate and contact said inner surface of said first rectangular base plate.

3. The plastic pallet of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of strips and said second plurality of strips are oriented in parallel to one another.

4. The plastic pallet of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a third plurality of strips extending perpendicularly from said inner surface of said first base plate, said strips oriented in parallel to one another and perpendicular to said first plurality of strips, and wherein said third plurality of strips and said first plurality of strips have interruptions forming a first plurality of contiguous and perpendicular grooves; and

a fourth plurality of strips extending perpendicularly from said inner surface of said second base plate, said strips oriented in parallel to one another and perpendicular to said second plurality of strips, and wherein said fourth plurality of strips and said second plurality of strips have interruptions forming a second plurality of contiguous and perpendicular grooves.

5. The plastic pallet of claim 4 further comprising a rigid, grid-like reinforcement insert located in said first and second pluralities of grooves.

6. The plastic pallet of claim 4 wherein said third plurality of strips and said fourth plurality of strips are oriented in parallel to one another.

7. The plastic pallet of claim 4 wherein said first plurality of strips and said second plurality of strips are oriented in parallel to one another.

8. The plastic pallet of claim 4 further comprising at least two skids, each skid connected to at least two of said feet at ends of said feet distal from said outer surface of said second rectangular base plate, said skids oriented in parallel to one another.

9. The plastic pallet of claim 8 wherein each of said skids has a bucket-like top portion connected to said feet and open toward the bottom of said skid, and wherein each of said skids has a bottom portion which covers said open portion of said top portion, said bottom portion connected to said top portion such that a hollow body is found in each of said skids.

10. The plastic pallet of claim 9 wherein said top portion of each of said skids is beveled on its longitudinal edges facing said feet.

11. The plastic pallet of claim 9 wherein each of said skids has a plurality of longitudinal ribs located in said top portion, said longitudinal ribs forming a plurality of chambers in said skids.

12. The plastic pallet of claim 9 wherein said bottom portion of each of said skids is a flat cover, said bottom portion having welding lugs connected to said top portion of said skids.

13. The plastic pallet of claim 12 further comprising at least one rigid reinforcement insert located in at least one of said chambers.

14. The plastic pallet of claim 9 wherein said feet are molded as frames, said feet being open on an end distal said outer surface of said second base plate, said skids have molded frames, and wherein said frames of said feet are connected to said frames of said skids to form a sealed cavity.