Composite pallet member

• US 6,745,703 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neil Schultz
• Original Assignee: Chep International, Inc.
• Inventors: Torrey, Bruce, Schultz, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US10/045,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20030079658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 108/51.3, 108/51.11, 108/57.17, 108/57.19, 108/53.1, 108/57.25, 108/57.27, 108/57.29, 108/901, 108/902
• US Class Current: 108/51.11
• 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 2519/00019 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00024 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00029 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00039 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00054 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00059 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00064 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00074 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00089 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00094 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00099 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00104 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00109 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00124 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00129 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00134 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00139 : Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 : made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00278 : the load supporting surface and the base surface being identical
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 : made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00303 : Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• 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 2519/00343 : contact surface being substantially in the form of a panel
• 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 2519/00437 : on the load supporting 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 2519/008 : Drainage means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0086 : Protection against environmental hazards, e.g. humidity, bacteria, fire
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0094 : nestable
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0099 : single dismountable pallet element, e.g. for replacement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/788 : Of specified organic or carbon-based composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/902 : Specified use of nanostructure

Abstract

A composite pallet member that provides enhanced performance characteristics. A composite pallet member comprising at least one deck member having a first surface and a second surface. The deck member having a plurality of open spaces and a strengthening layer positioned against at least one of the first surface and the second surface.

Claims

1. A composite pallet member comprising:

at least one deck member having a first surface and a second surface;

said deck member having a plurality of open spaces, said open spaces extending between said first and second surfaces; and

a strengthening layer positioned against at least one of said first surface and said second surface,

wherein said deck member is composed of a nanocomposite material comprising a polymer material integrated with a clay, said clay comprising between 0.1% and 20% by weight of said nanocomposite.

2. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein a first set of said plurality of open spaces extend from openings in said first surface toward said second surface and terminate in a closed end at said second surface, and a second set of said plurality of open spaces extend from openings in said second surface toward said first surface and terminate in a closed end at said first surface.

3. The composite pallet member according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of open spaces decrease in cross sectional area as said open spaces extend toward their respective closed ends.

4. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of open spaces are arranged in a honeycomb configuration.

5. The composite pallet member of claim 1, further comprising a strengthening layer positioned against said first surface and a strengthening layer positioned against said second surface.

6. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said deck member is composed of at least one material chosen from the group of materials consisting of wood, plastic, particle board and metal.

7. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said pallet member further comprises a plurality of deck members having a plurality of open spaces.

8. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said clay comprises between 0.1% and 10% by weight of said nanocomposite.

9. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said clay comprises between 10% and 20% by weight of said nanocomposite.

10. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said nanocomposite material comprises flame retardant resins.

11. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said nanocomposite material comprises a clay that includes a silicate derivative.

12. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said strengthening layer is composed of at least one material chosen from the group of materials consisting of wood, plastic, particle board and metal.

13. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said strengthening layer is composed of a nanocomposite material comprising a polymer material integrated with a clay, said clay comprising between 0.1% and 20% by weight of said nanocomposite.

14. The composite pallet member according to claim 13, wherein said strengthening layer clay comprises between 0.1% and 10% by weight of said nanocomposite.

15. The composite pallet member according to claim 13, wherein said strengthening layer clay comprises between 10% and 20% by weight of said nanocomposite.

16. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said strengthening layer is attached to at least one of said first surface and said second surface.

17. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said strengthening layer is detachably coupled to at least one of said first surface and said second surface.

18. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said strengthening layer includes a plurality of holes.

19. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of open spaces are filled with at least one filler selected from the group consisting of foam, expanded metal and solid substrate.

20. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said pallet member includes a plurality of mechanically integrated legs.

21. The composite pallet member according to claim 20, wherein said legs are composed of at least one material chosen from the group of materials consisting of wood, plastic, particle board and metal.

22. The composite pallet member of claim 20, wherein said legs are composed of a nanocomposite material comprising a polymer material integrated with a clay, said clay between 0.1% and 20% by weight of said nanocomposite.

23. The composite pallet member of claim 22, wherein said clay in said legs comprises between 0.1% and 10% by weight of said nanocomposite.

24. The composite pallet member of claim 22, wherein said clay in said legs comprises between 10% and 20% by weight of said nanocomposite.

25. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of deck members are attached to a surface of said deck member forming a shelving member.

26. The composite pallet member according to claim 25, wherein said plurality of deck members are detachably coupled to said deck member to form said shelving member.

27. The composite pallet member according to claim 25, wherein said plurality of deck members are collapsible.

28. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said strengthening layer completely closes said open spaces in said at least one surface.

29. The composite pallet member according to claim 28, wherein said strengthening layer completely closes said open spaces in both said first and second surfaces.

30. The composite pallet member according to claim 1, wherein said clay comprises montmorillonite.

31. A composite pallet member comprising:

at least one deck member having a first surface and a second surface;

said deck member having a plurality of open spaces in said first and second surfaces; and

a strengthening layer positioned against at least one of said first surface and said second surface, said strengthening layer at least partially closing at least some of said open spaces in said at least one surface,

wherein a first set of said plurality of open spaces extend from said first surface toward said second surface and terminate in a closed end at said second surface, and a second set of said plurality of open spaces extend from said second surface toward said first surface and terminate in a closed end at said first surface,

wherein said open spaces decrease in cross-sectional area as said open spaces extend toward their respective closed ends.

32. The composite pallet member according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of open spaces are arranged in a honeycomb configuration.

33. The composite pallet member of claim 31, further comprising a strengthening layer positioned against said first surface and a strengthening layer positioned against said second surface.

34. The composite pallet member according to claim 31, wherein said strengthening layer is attached to at least one of said first surface and said second surface.

35. The composite pallet member according to claim 31, wherein said strengthening layer is detachably coupled to at least one of said first surface and said second surface.

36. The composite pallet member according to claim 31, wherein said strengthening layer is composed of at least one material chosen from the group of materials consisting of wood, plastic, particle board and metal.

37. The composite pallet member according to claim 31, wherein said deck member is composed of at least one material chosen from the group of materials consisting of wood, plastic, particle board and metal.

38. The composite pallet member according to claim 31, wherein said pallet member further comprises a plurality of deck members having a plurality of open spaces.

39. The composite pallet member according to claim 31, wherein said strengthening layer includes a plurality of holes.

40. The composite pallet member according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of open spaces are filled with at least one filler selected from the group consisting of foam, expanded metal and solid substrate.

41. The composite pallet member according to claim 31, wherein said pallet member includes a plurality of mechanically integrated legs.

42. The composite pallet member according to claim 41, wherein said legs are composed of at least one material chosen from the group of materials consisting of wood, plastic, particle board and metal.

43. The composite pallet member according to claim 41, wherein a plurality of deck members are attached to a surface of said deck member forming a shelving member.

44. The composite pallet member according to claim 43, wherein said plurality of deck members are detachably coupled to said deck member to form said shelving member.

45. The composite pallet member according to claim 43, wherein said plurality of deck members are collapsible.

46. The composite pallet member according to claim 31, wherein said strengthening layer completely closes said open spaces in said at least one surface.

47. The composite pallet member according to claim 46, wherein said strengthening layer completely closes said open spaces in both said first and second surfaces.