Shock absorbing pallet

• US 6,418,862 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Burnham Service Co., Inc. (Stevens Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Burnham Service Co., Inc. (Stevens Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heil, Julius F.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, JOSE V
• Application Number:
  US09/602,411
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 108/57.12, 108/51.11, 248/565, 248/566, 248/600, 248/560, 248/601, 248/609, 248/638, 248/616, 248/621, 248/623
• US Class Current: 108/57.12
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0028 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/40 Elements for spacing platforms from supporting surface
• 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 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00572 with separate auxiliary element, e.g. screws, nails, bayonets

Abstract

A pallet comprising a base and a plurality of support members attached to the base. Each support member comprises an upper housing, a lower housing and shock absorbing material located within the two housings. When a force or vibration is exerted on the pallet the upper housing and lower housing move to a compressed configuration thereby reducing the amount of shock transferred to the upper face of the pallet. When the force on the pallet is removed, the upper housing and lower housing return to an expanded configuration.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing pallet comprising:

a base having an upper face for receiving a load and a lower face; and

a plurality of support members attached to the base wherein each support member comprises;

an upper housing;

a lower housing movably attached to the upper housing;

shock absorbing material located within the upper and lower housing; and

a plurality of support member enclosures, each support member enclosure surrounding the lower housing and at least a portion of the upper housing of a support member;

wherein the upper and lower housing move together to a compressed configuration when a force is exerted on the pallet thereby compressing the shock absorbing material and wherein the upper and lower housing move apart to an expanded configuration causing the shock absorbing material to expand when the force on the pallet is reduced or removed.

2. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing material is an elastomeric material.

3. A pallet as in claim 2, wherein the shock absorbing material is Sorbothane.

4. A pallet as in claim 1, further comprising a center bolt attached to the lower housing and passing through an orifice in the shock absorbing material, an orifice in the upper housing, and an aperture located in the base and engaging the upper face of the base, thereby attaching the support member to the base.

9. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein the upper housing is lowered into the support member enclosure when the upper housing and lower housing move to the compressed configuration.

10. A pallet as in claim 9, further comprising a center bolt attached to the bottom of the support member enclosure and passing through an orifice in the shock absorbing material, an orifice in the upper housing, an orifice in the lower housing and an aperture located in the base and engaging the upper face of the base, thereby attaching the support member to the base.

11. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein the support member enclosure is made of polymer resin.

12. A pallet as in claim 11, wherein the support member enclosure is made of high density polyethylene.

13. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein the support members are attached to the lower face of the base.

14. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein the base is substantially rectangular having four corners and the plurality of support members are spaced about the base such that proximate each corner is positioned one of the plurality of support members.

15. A pallet as in claim 1 wherein the upper housing and lower housing are made of polymer resin.

16. A pallet as in claim 15, wherein the upper housing and lower housing are made of high density polyethylene.

17. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein the base is made of polymer resin.

18. A pallet as in claim 1, wherein the base is made of high density polyethylene.

5. A shock absorbing pallet comprising:

a base having an upper face for receiving a load and a lower face; and

a plurality of support members attached to the base wherein each support member comprises;

an upper housing;

a lower housing movably attached to the upper housing;

shock absorbing material located within the upper and lower housing; and

at least one retaining bolt,

wherein (a) the upper and lower housing move together to a compressed configuration when a force is exerted on the pallet thereby compressing the shock absorbing material, (b) the upper and lower housing move apart to an expanded configuration causing the shock absorbing material to expand when the force on the pallet is reduced or removed, and (c) the retaining bolt movably attaches the lower housing to the upper housing such that the upper housing and lower housing can move between the compressed and expanded configurations.

6. A pallet as in claim 5, wherein the top end of the at least one retaining bolt is located within a vertical recess in the upper housing and the bottom end of the retaining bolt is located within a vertical recess in the lower housing, the vertical recess within the upper housing is reciprocal to the vertical recess within the lower housing, and wherein each recess comprises a wide portion and a narrow portion, the narrow portion preventing passage of the retaining bolt from the recess.

7. A pallet as in claim 6, further comprising a spring located in the wide portion of the recess in the upper housing, wherein one end of the spring is attached to the base of the vertical recess and the other end of the spring is attached to the top of the retaining bolt, the spring causing the upper housing and lower housing to move to the expanded configuration.

8. A shock absorbing pallet comprising:

a base having an upper face for receiving a load and a lower face; and

a plurality of support members attached to the base wherein each support member comprises;

an upper housing;

a lower housing movably attached to the upper housing;

shock absorbing material located within the upper and lower housing; and

four retaining bolts,

wherein (a) the upper and lower housing move together to a compressed configuration when a force is exerted on the pallet thereby compressing the shock absorbing material, (b) the upper and lower housing move apart to an expanded configuration causing the shock absorbing material to expand when the force on the pallet is reduced or removed, and (c) the retaining bolts moveably attach the lower housing to the upper housing such that the upper housing and lower housing can move between the compressed and expanded configurations, and wherein the upper housing and lower housing are substantially rectangular having four corners and the four retaining bolts are located proximate respective corners of the upper housing and the lower housing.