Rackable molded pallet

• US 6,357,366 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Menasha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Menasha Corporation
• Inventors: Frankenberg, Jason R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/491,144
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 108/57.25, 108/57.26, 108/901, 108/902, 108/56.1, 108/56.3
• US Class Current: 108/57.25
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0026 and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/38 Details or accessories
• 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 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00293 made of more than 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 2519/00358 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00373 whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00388 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00437 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00442 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: B65D 2519/00572 with separate auxiliary element, e.g. screws, nails, bayonets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0084 Separated elements, e.g. including in-moulded elements

Abstract

A rackable pallet having improved structural integrity without adding material to increase the pallet weight. The pallet has a deck having a top and a bottom, a number of feet are formed extending downwardly from the deck, reinforcing members inserted in the deck top, and a lid having a top and bottom joined to the deck top and enclosing the reinforcing members. Ribs define an open grid pattern in the deck and lid, and hollow channels are formed in the deck and lid, which increases the strength of the pallet, without disproportionately increasing the volume or weight of material used. The hollow channels are formed at strategic locations in the lid top and the deck bottom. Foot straps mounted to the deck feet further improve the pallet structural integrity. Each foot strap is mounted to the feet with releasable shearable fasteners to simplify foot strap replacement and minimize foot strap damage.

Claims

1. A molded conveying platform, comprising:

a deck formed of a plurality of spaced ribs having upper and lower edges, wherein said rib upper edges define a deck top and said lower edges define a deck bottom;

notches having opposing side edges and a bottom edge formed in ribs of said deck as to define an elongated cavity in said deck top;

a reinforcing member disposed in said cavity between said notch side edges and supported by said notch bottom edge for strengthening said deck; and

a lid joined to said deck top enclosing said reinforcing member in said cavity.

2. A molded conveying platform as in claim 1, including hollow channels formed in said deck for strengthening said deck.

3. A molded conveying platform as in claim 2, in which said hollow channels are formed along the deck rib lower edges and define a pattern to strengthen specific areas of said deck.

4. A molded conveying platform as in claim 3, in which said pattern is substantially identical in each of four pallet quadrants defined by a longitudinal and lateral axis.

5. A molded conveying platform as in claim 2, including feet formed as an integral part of said deck, in which said hollow channels extend downwardly into said feet to form columns for supporting said reinforcing member.

6. A molded conveying platform as in claim 1, including a second reinforcing member which overlaps said first reinforcing member to further strengthen said deck.

7. A molded conveying platform as in claim 6, in which said first reinforcing member is substantially parallel to a conveying platform longitudinal axis, and said second reinforcing member is substantially parallel to a conveying platform lateral axis.

8. The molded conveying platform as in claim 1, including hollow channels formed in said lid to strengthen said lid.

9. A molded conveying platform as in claim 8, in which said hollow channels formed along the lid rib upper edges and define a pattern to strengthen specific areas of said lid.

10. A molded conveying platform as in claim 9, in which said pattern is substantially identical in each of four pallet quadrants defined by a longitudinal and lateral axis.

11. A molded conveying platform as in claim 1, including a bumper surrounding said platform.

12. A molded conveying platform as in claim 1, including an indentation for use as a handle formed in said deck bottom proximal a perimeter of said deck.

13. A molded conveying platform as in claim 1, including a plurality of feet having bottoms extending downwardly from said deck bottom, in which two or more of said plurality of feet are in an aligned arrangement, and a foot strap is releasably attached to said bottoms of said aligned feet.

14. A foot strap suitable for releasably attaching to feet of a conveying platform, comprising:

a plurality of foot extensions, each of said foot extensions having a perimeter wall formed to surround a pallet foot;

a fastener cavity formed in at least one of said foot extensions for receiving a releasable fastener to attach said foot strap to the platform;

a stringer joining adjacent foot extensions, said stringer having intersecting ribs with upper and lower edges, said upper edges defining a stringer top, and said lower edges defining a stringer bottom; and

notches having opposing side edges and a bottom edge formed in ribs of said stringer so as to define a cavity in said stringer for receiving a reinforcing member in said cavity between said opposing notch side edges and supported by said notch bottom edge to strengthen said foot strap.

15. A foot strap as in claim 14, wherein said fastener cavity has a top with a slot including an enlarged center for receiving a fastener.

16. A foot strap as in claim 15, in which said slot is oriented substantially 90°

from a fastener receptacle slot formed in said foot bottom.

17. A foot strap as in claim 14, in which said ribs are progressively deeper as said ribs approach said foot strap axis.

18. A foot strap as in claim 14, in which said cavity extends along a foot strap axis bisecting said foot strap.

19. A foot strap as in claim 14, including hollow channels formed therein to strengthen said foot strap.