Tubular pallet apparatus

• US 5,921,189 A
• Filed: 03/26/1998
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: I-Rock Industries, Inc. (Digi Link Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gary N. Estepp
• Inventors: Estepp, Gary N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US09/048,436
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 108/57.16, 108/57.22, 108/57.25, 108/57.26, 108/57.31, 108/51.1, 108/57.1, 108/901, 108/57.21
• US Class Current: 108/57.16
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0034 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0069 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0073 and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0095 and each contact surface having a stringer-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 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of 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 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00343 contact surface being substantially in the form of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00432 Non-integral, e.g. inserts B65D2519/00462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00796 Guiding means for fork-lift
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/008 Drainage means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00111 Arrangements of flexible binders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/20 : for incompressible or rigid rod-shaped or tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 : Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

Two or more tube structures preferably are extruded or pultruded in plastic or resin to make a pallet that is strong and durable. The tubes preferably are extruded simultaneously to create a one piece, integrated pallet. The pallet may be molded from recycled plastic. Various configurations of pallets made from several tubes are disclosed, including custom pallets for receiving particular or specially shaped items.

Claims

1. A pallet apparatus comprising at least two open-ended rectangular tubes in adjacent parallel contact, each said tube comprising a top, a bottom, and two sides, the sides of adjacent said tubes permanently adhered together in flush contact, and said tops of said at least two tubes collectively defining the top of said pallet and said top of said pallet having a periphery with a ridge on said periphery, said bottoms of said at least two tubes collectively defining the single flat bottom of said pallet, and the two most widely spaced ones of said sides defining the sides of said pallet, and further comprising panel means for closing the open ends of said tubes, and at least one drain hole penetrating said top of said pallet and in communication with one of said tubes.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tubes comprise tubes integrally extruded from plastic.