Goods pallet

• US 6,708,629 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Catherine Dumouchel, Cybele Environnement
• Original Assignee: Cybele Environnement
• Inventors: Dumouchel, Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/987,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20020056406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 108/57.25, 108/57.29, 108/901, 108/902, 108/51.11, 108/51.3, 108/56.1
• US Class Current: 108/57.25
• 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 2519/00104 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00293 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00298 skeleton type
• 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 2519/00373 whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00417 on the non-integral separating spacer
• 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 2519/00796 Guiding means for fork-lift
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00835 Integral

Abstract

A goods pallet comprising parallel supports having at least end portions fixed by structure to cross-connection elements, each cross-connection element comprising a beam of channel section having a top flange to which the support elements are fixed, and a web and a bottom flange which are both recessed by at least one notch to form two spaced-apart brackets on either side thereof that are integral with the top flange.

Claims

1. A goods pallet comprising parallel support elements having at least end portions fixed by assembly means to cross-connection elements, wherein each cross-connection element comprises a beam made of thermoplastic material, the beam is of channel section having a top flange to which the support elements are fixed, and a web and a bottom flange which are both recessed by at least one notch to form two spaced-apart brackets on either side thereof that are integral with the top flange,

wherein the beam comprises at least one reinforcing rib on at least one of its brackets, the reinforcing rib extending over the web between the top and bottom flanges.

2. A pallet according to claim 1, further comprising at least one stiffener element extending parallel to the support elements and at a distance therefrom between two opposite brackets, the stiffener element being in the form of a plank.

3. A pallet according to claim 2, wherein the bottom surface of the plank-shaped element is grooved.

4. A pallet according to claim 2, wherein the stiffener element has at least one chamfer formed in at least one of its top longitudinal edges.

5. A pallet according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cross-connection elements is fixed to a bracket by means of at least one nail, the bracket including means for receiving the nail which is nailed into it.

6. A pallet according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises:

recycled polyethylene terephthalate;

recycled high density polyethylene;

a compatibility agent; and

a reinforcing filler.

7. A pallet according to claim 6, wherein the thermoplastic material substantially comprises, by weight:

49% to 63.5% polyethylene terephthalate;

27% to 36% high density polyethylene;

4% to 6% compatibility agent; and

5% to 10% reinforcing filler.

8. A pallet according to claim 7, wherein the thermoplastic material substantially comprises, by weight:

55% polyethylene terephthalate;

33% high density polyethylene;

5% compatibility agent; and

7% reinforcing filler.

9. A pallet according to claim 6, wherein the reinforcing filler comprises glass flakes.

10. A pallet according to claim 6, wherein the reinforcing filler comprises glass fibers.

11. A goods pallet comprising parallel support elements having at least end portions fixed by assembly means to cross-connection elements, wherein each cross-connection element comprises a beam made of thermoplastic material, the beam is of channel section having a top flange to which the support elements are fixed, and a web and a bottom flange which are both recessed by at least one notch to form two spaced-apart brackets on either side thereof that are integral with the top flange,

wherein at least one of the cross-connection elements is fixed to a bracket by means of at least one nail, the bracket including means for receiving the nail which is nailed into it, and

wherein the beam comprises at least one reinforcing rib on at least one of its brackets, the reinforcing rib extending over the web between the top and bottom flanges and wherein the reinforcing rib has a cross-section which is greater than that of the nail so as to enable the nail to be nailed into the reinforcing rib.

12. A pallet according to claim 11, further comprising at least one stiffener element extending parallel to the support elements and at a distance therefrom between two opposite brackets, the stiffener element being in the form of a plank.

13. A pallet according to the claim 12, wherein bottom surface of the plank-shaped element is grooved.

14. A pallet according to claim 12, wherein the stiffener element has at least one chamfer formed in at least one of its top longitudinal edges.

15. A pallet according to claim 11, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises:

recycled polyethylene terephthalate;

recycled high density polyethylene;

a compatibility agent; and

a reinforcing filler.

16. A pallet according to claim 15, wherein the thermoplastic material substantially comprises, by weight:

49% to 63.5% polyethylene terephthalate;

27% to 36% high density polyethylene;

4% to 6% compatibility agent; and

5% to 10% reinforcing filler.

17. A pallet according to claim 16, wherein the thermoplastic material substantially comprises, by weight:

55% polyethylene terephthalate;

33% high density polyethylene;

5% compatibility agent; and

7% reinforcing filler.

18. A pallet according to claim 15, wherein the reinforcing filler comprises glass flakes.

19. A pallet according to claim 15, wherein the reinforcing filler comprises glass fibers.