Reinforced plastic pallets and methods of fabrication
First Claim
1. A reinforced plastic pallet comprising:
- a molded plastic pallet body having multiple channels formed therein; and
multiple reinforcing bars comprising composite structural members of fiberglass reinforced plastic fabricated from a pultrusion process, each reinforcing bar being sized to reside within a different channel of said multiple channels formed in the molded plastic pallet body;
at least one of the multiple channels being configured such that when at least one of the multiple reinforcing bars is positioned therein, a surface of the reinforcing bar is exposed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reinforced plastic pallet construction and assembly method are presented wherein multiple reinforcing bars are employed, at least some of the reinforcing bars having an exposed surface at a top surface, underneath surface or bottom surface of the pallet. In addition to functioning as a reinforcing member, the exposed surfaces of the reinforcing bars comprise an anti-skid surface for maintaining positioning of payload on the pallet or facilitating transport of the pallet, e.g., via a forklift or automated transport system. Various techniques for retaining the reinforcing bars within channels formed in the plastic pallet body are described. The reinforcing bars preferably comprise composite structural members of fiberglass reinforced plastic fabricated from a pultrusion process.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A reinforced plastic pallet comprising:
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a molded plastic pallet body having multiple channels formed therein; and multiple reinforcing bars comprising composite structural members of fiberglass reinforced plastic fabricated from a pultrusion process, each reinforcing bar being sized to reside within a different channel of said multiple channels formed in the molded plastic pallet body; at least one of the multiple channels being configured such that when at least one of the multiple reinforcing bars is positioned therein, a surface of the reinforcing bar is exposed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for assembling a reinforced plastic pallet comprising:
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providing a molded plastic pallet body having at least one channel formed in a surface thereof; placing at least one reinforcing bar within the at least one channel formed in the molded plastic pallet body, said at least one reinforcing bar being sized and positioned in said at least one channel in a manner such that a surface of the reinforcing bar is exposed at said surface of said molded plastic pallet body; and applying a retainer to secure said at least one reinforcing bar within said at least one channel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A reinforced plastic pallet comprising:
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a molded plastic pallet body having multiple channels formed therein; and multiple reinforcing bars comprising composite structural members of fiberglass reinforced plastic fabricated from a pultrusion process, each reinforcing bar being sized to reside within a different channel of said multiple channels formed in the molded plastic pallet body; wherein at least one reinforcing bar of said multiple reinforcing bars is retained within at least one of said multiple channels, said at least one reinforcing bar being positioned in said at least one channel in a manner such that a planar surface of the reinforcing bar is exposed, the exposed planar surface being substantially parallel with an upper surface or a lower surface of the molded plastic body.
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Specification