Twin sheet plastic pallet

• US 5,950,545 A
• Filed: 12/05/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lyle H. Shuert
• Original Assignee: Lyle H. Shuert
• Inventors: Shuert, Lyle H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berger, Derek J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US08/985,965
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 248/346.01, 248/346.02, 108/56.1, 108/901, 108/57.25, 108/57.27, 108/53.3, 206/386
• US Class Current: 108/53.3
• 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 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00278 the load supporting surface and the base surface being identical
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00407 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 on the base surface
• 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: Y10S 108/901 Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

A twin sheet pallet including an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion, and a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the lower sheet main body portion. The upper sheet is positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each upper sheet leg nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg and the upper sheet main body portion spaced above the lower sheet main body portion to define a twin sheet platform structure. The lower sheet further includes a tower structure extending upwardly from the lower sheet main body portion in surrounding relation to each upper sheet leg. Each tower structure comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical pins upstanding from the lower sheet main body portion in surrounding relation to the side wall of the respective upper sheet leg and each including a top wall fused to the under face of the upper sheet main body portion.

Claims

1. A twin sheet pallet including an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion at spaced locations with each leg opening in the main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall, and a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet at spaced locations with each leg of the lower set opening in the lower sheet main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall, the legs of the upper sheet corresponding in size, number, and spacing to the size, number, and spacing of the legs of the lower sheet, the upper sheet being positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each said leg of the upper sheet nestingly received in and fused to a respective said leg of the lower sheet and the upper sheet main body portion spaced above the main body portion of the lower sheet to define a twin sheet platform structure for the pallet, characterized in that:

the lower sheet further includes a plurality of annular tower structures extending upwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to an upper region of the side wall of each said leg of the upper sheet positioned between the main body portion of the lower sheet and the main body portion of the upper sheet with each tower structure including an annular top wall structure positioned against and fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet in surrounding relation to the upper region of the side wall of the respective upper sheet leg.

2. The pallet according to claim 1 wherein each tower structure comprises a plurality of spaced vertical pins upstanding from the lower sheet main body portion in surrounding relation to the upper region of the side wall of the respective upper sheet leg and each including a top wall fused to the under face of the upper sheet main body portion.

3. The pallet according to claim 2 wherein each pin is hollow and opens downwardly.

4. A twin sheet pallet comprising:

an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion at circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the main body portion with each leg opening in the main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall; and

a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet at circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the main body portion of the lower sheet with each lower sheet leg opening in the main body portion of the lower sheet and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall;

the legs of the upper sheet corresponding in size, number, and spacing to the size, number, and spacing of the legs of the upper sheet;

the upper sheet being positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each said leg of the upper sheet nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg and the main body portion of the upper sheet spaced above the main body portion of the lower sheet to define a twin sheet platform structure for the pallet;

the lower sheet further including a plurality of annular tower structure extending upwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to an upper region of the side wall of each said leg of the upper sheet positioned between the main body portion of the upper sheet and the main body portion of the lower sheet with each tower structure including an annular top wall structure positioned against and fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet in surrounding relation to the upper region of the side wall of a respective upper sheet leg;

each tower structure comprising a plurality of spaced vertical pins upstanding from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of the upper region of the respective upper sheet leg and each including a top wall fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet; and

the top walls of the vertical pins of each tower structure constituting the top wall structure of the tower structure.

5. A twin sheet pallet including:

an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion at circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the main body portion with each leg opening in the main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall; and

a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet at circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the main body portion of the lower sheet with each leg of the lower sheet leg opening in the main body portion of the lower sheet and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall;

the upper sheet being positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each said leg of the upper sheet nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg and the main body portion of the upper sheet spaced above the main body portion of the lower sheet to define a twin sheet platform structure for the pallet;

the lower sheet further including a plurality of tower structure extending upwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of each said leg of upper sheet leg with each said tower structure comprising a plurality of spaced vertical pins upstanding from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of a respective upper sheet leg;

each pin including a top wall fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet portion and an annular side wall fused to the annular side wall of the respective upper sheet leg.

6. A twin sheet pallet including an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion at spaced locations with each leg opening in the main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall, and a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet at spaced locations with each leg of the lower set opening in the main body portion of the lower sheet and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall, the upper sheet being positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each upper sheet leg nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg and the main body portion of the upper sheet spaced above the main body portion of the lower sheet to define a twin sheet platform structure for the pallet, characterized in that:

the lower sheet further includes a plurality of tower structures extending upwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of each said leg of the upper sheet with each tower structure including a top wall structure positioned against and fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of a respective upper sheet leg;

each tower structure comprises a plurality of spaced vertical pins upstanding from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of the respective upper sheet leg and each including a top wall fused to the under face of the upper sheet main body portion; and

each pin further includes an annular side wall and the annular side wall of each pin is fused to the annular side wall of the respective upper sheet leg.

7. The pallet according to claim 6 wherein each said tower structure further includes upstanding web structures interconnecting the annular side walls of at least certain of adjacent pins.

8. A twin sheet pallet including an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion at spaced locations with each leg opening in the main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall, and a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet at spaced locations with each leg of the lower sheet leg opening in the main body portion of the lower sheet and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall, the upper sheet being positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each leg of the upper sheet nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg, and the main body portion of the upper sheet spaced above the main body portion of the lower sheet to define a twin sheet platform structure for the pallet, characterized in that:

the lower sheet further includes a plurality of tower structures extending upwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of each said leg of the upper sheet leg with each tower structure including a top wall structure positioned against and fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of the respective upper sheet leg;

each tower structure comprises a plurality of spaced vertical pins upstanding from the lower sheet main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of a respective upper sheet leg and each including a top wall fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet; and

the annular side wall of each said leg of the upper sheet leg defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical columns extending downwardly from the main body portion of the upper sheet and each column positioned between and fused to two successive vertical pins of a respective lower sheet tower structure.

9. The pallet according to claim 8 wherein the annular side wall of each upper sheet leg further defines a vertical rib extending downwardly from each column and fused to the side wall of the respective lower sheet leg.

10. The plastic pallet according to claim 9 wherein the lower sheet further includes a vertical rib extending downwardly from each pin and fused to the annular side wall of the respective upper sheet leg between successive upper sheet ribs.

11. A twin sheet pallet comprising:

an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion at circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the main body portion with each leg opening in the main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall;

a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet at circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the main body portion of the lower sheet with each leg of the lower sheet leg opening in the main body portion of the lower sheet and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall;

the upper sheet being positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each said leg of the upper sheet leg nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg and the main body portion of the upper sheet spaced above the main body portion of the lower sheet to define a twin sheet platform structure for the pallet;

the lower sheet further including a plurality tower structures extending upwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of each said leg of the upper sheet leg with each said tower structure including a top wall structure positioned against and fused to the under face of the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of a respective upper sheet leg;

each said tower structure comprising a plurality of spaced vertical pins upstanding from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of the respective upper sheet leg and each including a top wall fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet;

the top walls of the vertical pins of each said tower structure constituting the top wall structure of the tower structure;

each said pin further including an annular side wall and the annular side wall of each said pin being fused to the annular side wall of the respective upper sheet leg.

12. The pallet according to claim 11 wherein each tower structure further includes upstanding web structures interconnecting the annular side walls of at least certain of adjacent pins.

13. A twin sheet pallet comprising:

an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion at circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the main body portion with each leg opening in the main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall;

a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet at circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the main body portion of the lower sheet with each lower sheet leg opening in the main body portion of the lower sheet and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall;

the upper sheet being positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each said leg of the upper sheet leg nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg and the main body portion of the upper sheet spaced above the main body portion of the lower sheet to define a twin sheet platform structure for the pallet;

the lower sheet further including a plurality of tower structures extending upwardly from the lower sheet main body portion in surrounding relation to the side wall of each said leg of the upper sheet leg with each said tower structure including a top wall structure positioned against and fused to the under face of the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of a respective upper sheet leg;

each said tower structure comprising a plurality of spaced vertical pins upstanding from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of the respective upper sheet leg and each pin including a top wall fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet;

the top walls of the vertical pins of each said tower structure constituting the top wall structure of the tower structure;

each pin being hollow and opening downwardly.

14. A twin sheet pallet comprising:

an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion at circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the main body portion with each leg opening in the main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall;

a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet at circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the main body portion of the lower sheet with each leg of the lower sheet opening in the main body portion of the lower sheet and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall;

the upper sheet being positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each said leg of the upper sheet nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg and the upper sheet main body portion spaced above the lower sheet main body portion to define a twin sheet platform structure for the pallet;

the lower sheet further including a plurality of tower structure extending upwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of each said leg of the upper sheet leg with each said tower structure including a top wall structure positioned against and fused to the under face of the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of a respective upper sheet leg;

each said tower structure comprising a plurality of spaced vertical pins upstanding from the main body portion of the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the side wall of the respective upper sheet leg and each including a top wall fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet;

the top walls of the vertical pins of each said tower structure constituting the top wall structure of the tower structure;

the annular side wall of each said leg of the upper sheet leg defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical columns extending downwardly from the main body portion of the upper sheet and each positioned between and fused to two successive vertical pins of the respective lower sheet tower structure.

15. The pallet according to claim 14 wherein the annular side wall of each upper sheet leg further defines a vertical rib extending downwardly from each column and fused to the side wall of the respective lower sheet leg.

16. The pallet according to claim 15 wherein the lower sheet further includes a vertical rib extending downwardly from each pin and fixed to the annular side wall of the respective upper sheet leg between successive upper sheet ribs.

17. A twin sheet pallet including an upper sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion at spaced locations with each leg opening in the main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall, and a lower sheet thermoformed to define a planar main body portion and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the main body portion of the lower sheet at spaced locations with each leg of the lower sheet leg opening in the lower sheet main body portion and including an annular downwardly extending side wall and a bottom wall, the upper sheet being positioned in overlying relation to the lower sheet with each said leg of the upper sheet leg nestingly received in and fused to a respective lower sheet leg and the main body portion of the upper sheet spaced above the main body portion of the lower sheet to define a twin sheet platform structure for the pallet, characterized in that:

the lower sheet further includes a plurality of spaced vertical pins upstanding from the main body portion of the lower sheet in a closed loop annular pattern and each including an annular side wall and a top wall fused to the under face of the main body portion of the upper sheet;

the upper sheet defines an annular downturned portion formed in a closed loop annular pattern corresponding to the closed loop annular pattern of the pins;

the pins and the downturned portion of the upper sheet are positioned in surrounding concentric relation with respect to each other; and

the side wall of each pin is fused to a confronting section of the downturned portion of the upper sheet to form a rigid annular structure.

18. The pallet according to claim 17 wherein:

the annular downturned portion of the upper sheet is constituted by an upper region of the annular downwardly extending side wall of one of said legs of the upper sheet; and

the pins extend upwardly from the lower sheet in surrounding relation to the upper region of the annular side wall of one of said legs of the upper sheet.