Pallets
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A metallic pallet of the type for supporting objects for storage and transport, the pallet comprising:
- a generally planar top side defining at least three corners;
a generally planar bottom side defining at least three corners;
at least one block extending between the top and bottom sides for holding the top and bottom sides in generally parallel spaced and aligned relation to one another such that each corner of the top side is vertically aligned over a corner of the bottom side in corresponding pairs;
at least three generally hollow corner blocks, each corner block extending between a respective aligned pair of the corners of the top and bottom sides;
the corner blocks each interrupting the generally planar top and bottom sides such that the top and bottom sides do not overlie and do not extend beyond the outer exposed surfaces of the corner blocks, whereby corner impacts to the pallet during a crush mode is substantially absorbed entirely by deformation of the hollow corner blocks without distorting the planar configurations of the top and bottom sides.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Enhanced pallets including a plurality of hollow blocks and a plurality of hollow cross members are provided. The pallets may be aluminum extruded pallets. The blocks and cross members are welded together to form a pallet. The blocks and cross members may have internal wall structures which, form one or more crush cells or crush zones. The crush cells or crush zones deform in a controlled manner on impact to reduce impact damage to the pallets. The pallets have a high load strength supporting capability and allow the pallets to withstand repeated or severe impacts while remaining functional.
12 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A metallic pallet of the type for supporting objects for storage and transport, the pallet comprising:
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a generally planar top side defining at least three corners; a generally planar bottom side defining at least three corners; at least one block extending between the top and bottom sides for holding the top and bottom sides in generally parallel spaced and aligned relation to one another such that each corner of the top side is vertically aligned over a corner of the bottom side in corresponding pairs; at least three generally hollow corner blocks, each corner block extending between a respective aligned pair of the corners of the top and bottom sides; the corner blocks each interrupting the generally planar top and bottom sides such that the top and bottom sides do not overlie and do not extend beyond the outer exposed surfaces of the corner blocks, whereby corner impacts to the pallet during a crush mode is substantially absorbed entirely by deformation of the hollow corner blocks without distorting the planar configurations of the top and bottom sides. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A metallic pallet of the type for supporting objects for storage and transport, the pallet comprising:
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a generally planar top side having a substantially rectangular configuration defining four corners; a generally planar bottom side having a substantially rectangular configuration defining four corners; five blocks spaced apart from one another, each block extending between the top and bottom sides for holding the top and bottom sides in generally parallel spaced and aligned relation to one another such that the corners of the top side are vertically aligned over the corners of the bottom side in corresponding pairs; four generally hollow corner blocks, each of the corner blocks extending between a respective aligned pair of the corners of the top and bottom sides; the top side including a plurality of cross members extending between and interconnecting the blocks and the corner blocks;
the top side further including a plurality of ladder members extending between and interconnecting the respective cross members;the bottom side including a plurality of cross members extending between and interconnecting the blocks and the corner blocks; the corner blocks each interrupting the generally planar top and bottom sides such that the top and bottom sides after do not overlie and do not extend beyond the outer exposed surfaces of the corner blocks, whereby corner impacts to the pallet during a crush mode is substantially absorbed entirely by deformation of the hollow corner blocks without distorting the planar configurations of the top and bottom sides.
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Specification