Molded pallet made of recycled materials

• US 6,742,460 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ERP Material Handling Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: ERP Material Handling Products, LLC
• Inventors: Meyer, Lyle, Edson, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US10/190,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20040003762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 108/901, 108/902, 108/57.25, 108/57.26, 108/57.27, 108/57.28, 108/51.11, 108/56.1, 108/56.3
• US Class Current: 108/57.25
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• 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 2519/00039 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00074 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00268 made of one piece
• 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 2519/00318 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 2519/00557 without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00835 Integral

Abstract

A compression molded pallet system which may be used as a single layer pallet or converted into a double layer rackable pallet when desired. The pallet is comprised of highly flame resistant materials which are formed from recycled rubber and plastic materials for benefit to the ecology. A novel reinforcing rib pattern is disclosed. Anti-skid elements are also disclosed as a part of the overall system.

Claims

1. A pallet system (10) which is compression molded from a mixture of recycled rubber and plastic materials,

said pallet system (10) including a plurality of leg elements (11-19) extending from a top wall (60) thereof,

said leg elements (11-19) being open-ended at a portion thereof (17a, 18a, 19a) to provide means whereby legs (71, 72, 73) of a lower pallet (70) may be inserted therein for increased racking strength,

said pallet system (10) including vertical strengthing ribs (30) molded therein,

said pallet system (10) including horizontal ribs (31) formed thereon,

said pallet system (10) further including a plurality of diagonal ribs (40) formed thereon,

said pallet system (10) including an outer reinforcing ridge (20) thereon with ribs (21) extending toward the pallet,

wherein the the top wall (60) of said pallet includes anti-skid elements (61) formed thereon,

wherein said diagonal ribs (40) are more closely spaced at lateral areas (47) and at central areas (45) of the pallet system to provide increased support between lateral legs and between central legs of the pallet system,

wherein the mixture comprises

EPDM, scrap from rubber seals or car parts,

SBR at up to 50% by weight,

EVA and ULDPE at 10-20% by weight,

ATH fire retardant at 35% by weight in combination with 4% by weight zinc oxide and

HDPE at 10-30% by weight,

wherein the mixture is extruded and the extruded mass is placed into a water cooled compression mold to produce the desired pallet system in an economical manner.