Cushioned pallet utilizing interconnecting reusable components

• US 5,970,886 A
• Filed: 12/29/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Knio, Imad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/998,645
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 108/51.12, 108/51.11, 108/56.3, 108/55.1, 248/560, 248/615, 248/636, 248/638
• US Class Current: 108/57.12
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/38 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/44 Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00029 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00064 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00203 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00238 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00696 corner posts maintained connected to pallet by means of auxiliary locking elements, e.g. spring loaded locking pins
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00711 removable lid or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00815 on the pallet
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

A cushioned pallet that includes a base support with interlocking reusable corner support assemblies. The interlocking reusable corner support assemblies are preformed and removably secure to the base. A cushioned pallet that includes a base support with interlocking reusable corner support assemblies and center support assemblies. A cushioned pallet that includes a base support with corner support assemblies, center support assemblies, vertical support members and a top cap with corner support assemblies. The various components of the cushioned pallet are preformed and removably connect to each other to reduce the number of parts, ease assembly and disassembly, and allow the cushioned pallet to be reused many times.

Claims

1. A cushioned pallet for shipping and storage of a load comprising:

a base support;

an interconnecting reusable corner support assembly removably interlocked with said base support for cushioning said load and securing said load to said base support;

a vertical support member removably secured at one end to said corner support assembly;

a top cap; and

a reusable top corner interconnecting said vertical support member and said top cap and securing said load, the reusable top corner being removably secured to said vertical support member at the other end of said vertical support member.

2. The cushioned pallet of claim 1 wherein said interconnecting reusable corner support assembly further comprises:

a bottom corner cup;

a bottom corner floor support at least partially within said bottom corner cup;

cushioning material contained at least partially within said bottom corner cup; and

a bottom corner lock plate removably interlocked with said bottom corner cup.

3. The cushioned pallet of claim 2 wherein said bottom corner cup further comprises a dowel, said dowel extending vertically upward from said bottom corner cup to a notched end, said notched end removably interlocking with said bottom corner lock plate.

4. The cushioned pallet of claim 3 wherein said bottom corner cup further comprises a vertical support lock for removably securing said vertical support member to said interconnecting reusable corner support assembly.

5. The cushioned pallet of claim 4 wherein said bottom corner lock plate further comprises a corner frame lock for removably securing said load to said base support.

6. The cushioned pallet of claim 5 wherein said base support further comprises a suitable material with positioning holes to interlock with said interlocking reusable corner support assembly.

7. The cushioned pallet of claim 1 wherein said reusable top corner further comprises:

a top dowel plate;

a top locking plate interlocked with said top dowel plate; and

a vertical support lock connected to said top dowel plate for securing said vertical support member to said reusable top corner.

8. The cushioned pallet of claim 7 wherein the top cap further comprises a sheet of suitable material with positioning holes to interlock with said reusable top corner.

9. The cushioned pallet of claim 8 wherein said vertical support member further comprises an elongated member with two ends, said elongated member notched at said ends to removably secure said vertical support member to said vertical support lock of said interconnecting reusable corner support assembly at said one end and to said vertical support lock of said reusable top corner at said other end.

10. The cushioned pallet of claim 1 wherein said base support further comprises:

a center support assembly having a center floor support;

at least partially within a bottom center cup;

cushioning material contained at least partially within said bottom center cup; and

said bottom center cup removably interlocked with a center frame lock for interlocking said center support assembly to said base support and for removably securing said load to said base support.

11. The cushioned pallet of claim 10 wherein said bottom center cup further comprises a dowel, said dowel extending vertically upward from said bottom center cup to a notched end, said notched end removably interlocking with said center frame lock.

12. An interconnecting reusable corner support assembly comprising:

a bottom corner cup comprising a dowel formed integrally with said bottom corner cup, said dowel extending vertically upward from said bottom corner cup to a notched end, said notched end removably interlocking with a bottom corner lock plate;

a corner floor support within said bottom corner cup;

cushioning material within said bottom corner cup; and

a bottom corner lock plate interlocked with said bottom corner cup.

13. The interconnecting reusable corner support assembly of claim 12 wherein said bottom corner lock plate further comprises a corner frame lock for removably securing a load to a base support.

14. The interconnecting reusable corner support assembly of claim 13 wherein said bottom corner cup has a vertical support lock for removably securing a vertical support member to said interconnecting reusable corner support assembly.

15. A cushioned pallet for shipping and storage of a load comprising:

a base support comprising a sheet of suitable material with positioning holes for interlocking with an interconnecting reusable corner support assembly;

said interconnecting reusable corner support assembly removably interlocked with said base support for providing cushioning to said load and securing said load to said base support comprising;

a bottom corner cup;

a bottom corner floor support at least partially within said bottom corner cup;

cushioning material contained at least partially within said bottom corner cup; and

a bottom lock plate removably interlocked with said bottom corner cup.

16. The cushioned pallet of claim 15 wherein said base support further comprises:

a center support assembly;

said center support assembly having a center floor support at least partially within said bottom center cup;

cushioning material contained at least partially within said bottom center cup; and

said bottom center cup removably interlocked with a center frame lock to interlock said center support assembly to said base support and help secure said load to said base support.

17. The cushioned pallet of claim 16 wherein said bottom center cup further comprises a dowel, said dowel extending vertically upward from said bottom center cup to a notched end, said notched end removably interlocking with said center frame lock.

18. The cushioned pallet of claim 18 wherein said bottom corner cup further comprises a dowel formed integrally with said bottom corner cup, said dowel extending vertically upward from said bottom corner cup to a notched end, said notched end removably interlocked with said bottom corner lock plate.

19. The cushioned pallet of claim 18 wherein said bottom corner lock plate further comprises a frame lock for removably securing said load to said base support.

20. The cushioned pallet of claim 19 wherein said bottom corner cup has a vertical support lock for removably securing a vertical support member to said interconnecting reusable corner support assembly.