Modular pallet

• US 6,837,170 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meridian Tool Leasing & Maintenance, LLC
• Original Assignee: Anthony Taft
• Inventors: Taft, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US10/183,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20040000259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 108/57.25, 108/57.26, 108/57.11, 108/56.1, 108/56.3, 108/901, 108/902
• US Class Current: 108/57.25
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0073 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 2519/00303 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• 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 2519/00358 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 2519/00407 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 on the base surface
• 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 2519/00567 mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00985 the pallet being not usable as a pallet after dismounting
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0099 single dismountable pallet element, e.g. for replacement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/902 Made with deformable integral fastening elements

Abstract

A modular pallet includes a plurality of spaced substantially parallel elongated stringer members, a plurality of spaced substantially parallel elongated upper deck members and a plurality of spaced substantially parallel elongated lower deck members. At least a portion of each of the upper/lower deck members, between first and second upper/lower deck member mating sections, is shaped to be perpendicularly received by upper/lower grooves in the elongated stringer members and interlocked at the first and second upper/lower deck member mating sections to different ones of the elongated stringer members by movement of at least one of the stringer member and the upper/lower deck member with respect to each other.

Claims

1. A modular pallet, comprising:

a plurality of spaced substantially parallel elongated stringer members each including a plurality of spaced upper grooves formed in a top surface and a plurality of spaced lower grooves formed in a bottom surface;

a plurality of spaced substantially parallel elongated upper deck members each including a first upper deck member mating section approximate a first end and a second upper deck member mating section approximate a second end, wherein at least a portion of each of the upper deck members between the first and second upper deck member mating sections is shaped to be perpendicularly received by the upper grooves in the elongated stringer members and interlocked at the first and second upper deck member mating sections to different ones of the elongated stringer members by movement of at least one of the stringer member and the upper deck member with respect to each other; and

a plurality of spaced substantially parallel elongated lower deck members including a first lower deck member mating section approximate a first end and a second lower deck member mating section approximate a second end, wherein at least a portion of the lower deck member between the first and second lower deck member mating sections is shaped to be perpendicularly received by the lower grooves in the elongated stringer members and interlocked at the first and second lower deck member mating sections to different ones of the elongated stringer members by movement of at least one of the stringer member and the lower deck member with respect to each other, and wherein the elongated stringer members each include a locking button extending from a groove base of each of the upper and lower grooves, and wherein the mating sections of the upper and lower deck members each include a locking socket for receiving the locking button.

2. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower deck members are interchangeable, and wherein the upper and lower grooves are substantially identical.

3. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the elongated stringer members include a plurality of bracing ribs formed at an angle between an upper flange and a lower flange.

4. The pallet of claim 3, wherein the plurality of bracing ribs are formed on opposite sides of a center web that extends between the upper and lower flanges and runs along a center of the elongated stringer members.

5. The pallet of claim 1, wherein each of the elongated stringer members includes at least two spaced channels opening to the bottom surface and shaped to receive a lifting member of a lifting device.

6. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower grooves are narrower at a groove opening than at a groove base.

7. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the locking button includes two parallel locking ribs.

8. The pallet of claim 1, wherein each of the upper deck members include a plurality of intersecting support ribs with a skin formed on one side of the support ribs and acting as a top surface of the upper deck member.

9. The pallet of claim 1, wherein each of the lower deck members include a plurality of intersecting support ribs with a skin formed on one side of the support ribs and acting as a top surface of the lower deck member.

10. The pallet of claim 1, wherein each of the upper deck members further include a middle upper deck member mating section between the first and second upper deck member mating sections, wherein at least a portion of the upper deck member between at least one of the first and middle lower deck member mating sections and the second and middle lower deck member mating sections is shaped to be perpendicularly received by the upper grooves in a centrally located one of the elongated stringer members and interlocked at the middle upper deck member mating section with the centrally located one of the elongated stringer members by movement of at least one of the centrally located one of the elongated stringer members and the upper deck member with respect to each other.

11. The pallet of claim 10, wherein each of the lower deck members further include a middle lower deck member mating section between the first and second upper deck member mating sections, wherein at least a portion of the lower deck member between at least one of the first and middle lower deck member mating sections and the second and middle lower deck member mating sections is shaped to be perpendicularly received by the lower grooves in the centrally located one of the elongated stringer members and interlocked with the centrally located one of the elongated stringer members by movement of at least one of the centrally located one of the elongated stringer members and the lower deck member with respect to each other.

12. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower deck members and the stringer members are made of at least one polyethylene and polypropylene.

13. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the movement of one of the stringer member and the upper and lower deck members is transverse with respect to a line running along a length of the elongated stringer member.

14. A modular pallet, comprising:

a plurality of spaced substantially parallel elongated stringer members each including a plurality of spaced upper grooves formed in a top surface and a plurality of spaced lower grooves formed in a bottom surface;

a plurality of elongated upper deck members each including a first upper deck member mating section approximate a first end, a second upper deck member mating section approximate a second end, and a middle upper deck member mating section between the first and second upper deck member mating sections, wherein at least a portion of the upper deck members adjacent the first, middle and second upper deck member mating sections are shaped to be perpendicularly received by the upper grooves in the elongated stringer members and interlocked at the first, middle and second upper deck member mating sections to different ones of the elongated stringer members by movement of at least one of the stringer member and die upper deck member with respect to each other, and

a plurality of elongated lower deck members including a first lower deck member mating section approximate a first end, a second lower deck member mating section approximate a second end, and a middle lower deck member mating section between the first and second lower deck member mating sections, wherein at least a portion of lower deck members adjacent the first, middle and second lower deck member mating sections of the lower deck members are shaped to be perpendicularly received by the lower grooves in the elongated stringer members and interlocked at the first, middle and second lower deck member mating sections to different ones of the elongated stringer members by movement of at least one of the stringer member and the lower deck member with respect to each other, and wherein the elongated stringer members each include a locking button extending from a groove base of each of the upper and lower grooves, and wherein the mating sections of the upper and lower deck members each include a locking socket for receiving the locking button.

15. The pallet of claim 14, wherein the upper and lower deck members are interchangeable, and wherein the upper and lower grooves are substantially identical.

16. The pallet of claim 14, wherein the elongated stringer members include a plurality of bracing ribs formed at an angle with respect to an upper flange and a lower flange.

17. The pallet of claim 16, wherein the plurality of bracing ribs are formed on opposite sides of a center web that extends between the upper and lower flanges and runs along a center of the elongated stringer members.

18. The pallet of claim 14, wherein each of the elongated stringer members includes at least two spaced channels opening to the bottom surface and shaped to receive a lifting member lifting device.

19. The pallet of claim 14, wherein the upper and lower grooves are narrower at a groove opening than at a groove base.

20. The pallet of claim 14, wherein the locking button includes two parallel locking ribs.

21. The pallet of claim 14, wherein each of the upper deck members include a plurality of intersecting support ribs with a skin formed on one side of the support ribs and acting as a top surface of the upper deck member.

22. The pallet of claim 14, wherein each of the lower deck members include a plurality of intersecting support ribs with a skin formed on one side of the support ribs and acting as a top surface of the lower deck member.

23. The pallet of claim 14, wherein the upper and lower deck members and the stringer members are made of at least one polyethylene and polypropylene.

24. The pallet of claim 14, wherein the movement of one of the stringer member and the upper and lower deck members is transverse with respect to a line running along a length of the elongated stinger member.

25. A modular pallet, comprising:

a plurality of spaced substantially parallel elongated stringer members each including a plurality of spaced upper grooves formed in a top surface and a plurality of spaced lower grooves formed in a bottom surface;

a plurality of elongated upper deck members each including a first upper deck member mating section approximate a first end, a second upper deck member mating section approximate a second end, and a middle upper deck member mating section between the first and second upper deck member mating sections, wherein at least a portion of the upper deck members adjacent the first, middle and second upper deck member mating sections are shaped to be perpendicularly received by the upper grooves in the elongated stringer members and interlocked at the first, middle and second upper deck member mating sections to different ones of the elongated stringer members by movement of at least one of the stringer member and the upper deck member with respect to each other; and

a plurality of elongated lower deck members including a first lower deck member mating section approximate a first end, a second lower deck member mating section approximate a second end, and a middle lower deck member mating section between the first and second lower deck member mating sections, wherein at least a portion of lower deck members adjacent the first, middle and second lower deck member mating sections of the lower deck members are shaped to be perpendicularly received by the lower grooves in the elongated stringer members and interlocked at the first, middle and second lower deck member mating sections to different ones of the elongated stringer members by movement of at least one of the stringer member and the lower deck member with respect to each other, and wherein the movement of one of the stringer member and the upper and lower deck members is transverse with respect to a line running along a length of the elongated stringer member, and wherein the elongated stringer members each include a locking button extending from a groove base of each of the upper and lower grooves, and wherein the mating sections of the upper and lower deck members each include a locking socket for receiving the locking button.

26. The pallet of claim 25, wherein the upper and lower deck members are interchangeable, and wherein the upper and lower grooves are substantially identical.

27. The pallet of claim 25, wherein the elongated stringer members include a plurality of bracing ribs formed at an angle with respect to an upper flange and a lower flange.

28. The pallet of claim 27, wherein the plurality of bracing ribs are formed on opposite sides of a center web that extends between the upper and lower flanges and runs along a center of the elongated stringer members.

29. The pallet claim 25, wherein each of the elongated stringer members includes at least two spaced channels opening to the bottom surface and shaped to receive a lifting member of a lifting device.

30. The pallet of claim 25, wherein the upper and lower grooves are narrower at a groove opening than at a groove base.

31. The pallet of claim 25, wherein the locking button includes two parallel locking ribs.

32. The pallet of claim 25, wherein each of the upper deck members include a plurality of intersecting support ribs with a skin formed on one side of the support ribs and acting as a top surface of the upper deck member.

33. The pallet of claim 25, wherein each of the lower deck members include a plurality of intersecting support ribs with a skin formed on one side of the support ribs and acting as a top surface of the lower deck member.

34. The pallet of claim 25, wherein the upper and lower deck members and the stringer members are made of at least one polyethylene and polypropylene.