Pallet substructure and pallet design

• US 7,308,857 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Engineered Pallet Company LLC
• Original Assignee: The Engineered Pallet Company LLC
• Inventors: Moore, Roy E. Jr., Swistak, Daniel J., Brochu, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US11/075,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20050145143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 108/51.11, 108/51.3, 108/56.1, 108/57.14, 108/57.32, 108/57.33, 108/57.24, 108/57.25
• US Class Current: 108/51.11
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• 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 2519/00044 Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00079 Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00099 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00104 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00114 Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
• 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 2519/00149 Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00278 the load supporting surface and the base surface being identical
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00293 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00303 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00308 grid type, e.g. perforated plate
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00363 : grid type, e.g. perforated plate
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00373 : whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00378 : whereby at least one spacer is made of two or more pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 : on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00432 : Non-integral, e.g. inserts B65D2519/00462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00437 : on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00447 : on the non-integral separating spacer
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00462 : Applied in mold, e.g. bi-injection molded reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00467 : on or in the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00472 : on or in the base 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 2519/00567 : mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/008 : Drainage means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00835 : Integral
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0086 : Protection against environmental hazards, e.g. humidity, bacteria, fire

Abstract

In one embodiment, pallet substructure can comprise: a reinforcement structure disposed in a plane, a foot member, and a gusset. The gusset can be disposed in mechanical communication with the reinforcement structure and the foot member, wherein the gusset is configured to restrict movement in vertical directions when the substructure is oriented for use.

Claims

1. A pallet substructure, comprising:

a reinforcement structure disposed in a plane;

a foot member; and

a gusset disposed in physical contact and mechanical communication with said reinforcement structure and said foot member, wherein said gusset is configured to restrict movement of the reinforcement structure in vertical directions when said substructure is oriented for use;

wherein said reinforcement structure extends from within said foot member to within another foot member.

2. The pallet substructure of claim 1, wherein said gusset is attached to said foot member.

5. The pallet substructure of claim 1, wherein a foam support material is disposed in said foot member.

7. The pellet substructure of claim 1, wherein said vertical directions are normal to the plane.

14. The pallet substructure of claim 1, wherein said gusset has a triangular geometry.

3. A pallet substructure, comprising:

a reinforcement structure disposed in a plane;

a foot member; and

a gusset disposed in mechanical communication with said reinforcement structure and said foot member, wherein said gusset is configured to restrict movement in vertical directions when said substructure is oriented for use, and is attached to an inner wall of said foot member.

4. The pallet substructure of claim 3, wherein a foam support material is disposed in said foot member.

6. A pallet substructure, comprising:

a reinforcement structure disposed in a plane, wherein a portion of said reinforcement structure is bowed out of the plane;

a foot member; and

a gusset disposed in mechanical communication with said reinforcement structure and said foot member, wherein said gusset is configured to restrict movement in vertical directions when said substructure is oriented for use.

8. A pallet substructure, comprising:

a reinforcement structure bowed out of plane thereof and comprising foam support material therein;

a foot member, wherein said foot member has foam material therein; and

a gusset disposed in mechanical communication with said reinforcement structure and said foot member.

9. A pallet, comprising:

a deck;

a reinforcement structure;

a foot member in physical contact with said deck on a first side; and

a gusset disposed in physical contact and mechanical communication with said reinforcement structure and said foot member, wherein said gusset is configured to restrict movement in vertical directions when said deck is oriented for use;

wherein said reinforcement structure extends from within said foot member to within another foot member.

10. The pallet of claim 9, wherein a foam support material is disposed in said foot member.

11. The pallet of claim 9, wherein a portion of said reinforcement structure is bowed out of the plane.

12. The pallet of claim 9, wherein a foam support material is disposed in said reinforcement structure.

13. The pallet of claim 9, wherein said vertical directions are normal to the plane.

15. A pallet, comprising:

a deck;

a reinforcement structure;

a foot member in physical contact with said deck on a first side; and

a gusset disposed in mechanical communication with said reinforcement structure and said foot member, wherein said gusset is configured to restrict movement in vertical directions when said deck is oriented for use, and wherein said gusset is attached to an inner wall of said foot member.

16. The pallet of claim 15, wherein said gusset is attached to said foot member.

17. The pallet of claim 15, wherein a foam support material is disposed in said foot member.

18. A pallet, comprising

a first deck disposed in a first plane;

a reinforcement structure disposed in second plane which parallel to said first plane;

a first foot member in physical contact with said first deck on a first side of the foot member;

a gusset disposed in mechanical communication with said reinforcement structure and said first foot member, wherein said gusset is configured to restrict movement of the reinforcement structure in vertical directions when said deck is oriented for use;

a second deck disposed on a second side of said first foot member, opposite said first side; and

,

a second foot member, spaced apart from the first foot member, in physical contact with said first deck;

wherein said reinforcement structure extends from within said foot member to within another foot member.