U.S. patent application number 13/092113 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-27 for pallet.
Invention is credited to Kyle L. Baltz, Sean T. Ogburn.
Application Number | 20110259249 13/092113 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44814679 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110259249 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ogburn; Sean T. ; et
al. |
October 27, 2011 |
PALLET
Abstract
A pallet provides reinforced columns and a more resilient
periphery of the upper deck. The pallet includes an upper portion
having an upper deck and a lower portion, which may include
runners. A plurality of outer column portions have peripheral walls
extending from the upper portion to the lower portion. A plurality
of inner column portions are received within the outer column
portions.
Inventors: |
Ogburn; Sean T.; (Hoschton,
GA) ; Baltz; Kyle L.; (Rossmoor, CA) |
Family ID: |
44814679 |
Appl. No.: |
13/092113 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61327066 |
Apr 22, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/57.33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2519/00273
20130101; B65D 19/0038 20130101; B65D 2519/00442 20130101; B65D
2519/00288 20130101; B65D 2519/00318 20130101; B65D 2519/00333
20130101; B65D 2519/00034 20130101; B65D 19/38 20130101; B65D
2519/00308 20130101; B65D 2519/00069 20130101; B65D 2519/00139
20130101; B65D 2519/00129 20130101; B65D 2519/00437 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/57.33 |
International
Class: |
B65D 19/38 20060101
B65D019/38 |
Claims
1) A pallet comprising: an upper portion having an upper deck; a
lower portion; and a plurality of columns formed between the upper
deck and the lower portion, each of the plurality of columns
including an inner column portion formed integrally with one of the
upper portion and the lower portion and an outer column portion
formed integrally with the other of the upper portion and the lower
portion, the inner column portions received within the outer column
portions.
2) The pallet of claim 1 wherein the inner column portions each
include a plurality of projections offset inwardly from a periphery
of the inner column portion to form a shoulder around the periphery
of an upper edge of the inner column portion.
3) The pallet of claim 2 wherein the plurality of projections are
spaced apart to provide a channel, the pallet further including at
least one reinforcement member received in the channel.
4) The pallet of claim 3 wherein the plurality of outer column
portions include channels therethrough, the reinforcement member
received in the channels.
5) The pallet of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of outer
column portions includes a plurality of tabs received in openings
adjacent the inner column portions.
6) The pallet of claim 5 further including a shoulder portion
adjacent each inner column portion, wherein the openings are formed
in the shoulder portions.
7) The pallet of claim 6 wherein the inner column portions are
formed integrally with the lower portion and wherein the outer
column portions are formed integrally with the upper portion.
8) The pallet of claim 1 wherein the inner column portions are
formed integrally with the lower portion and wherein the outer
column portions are formed integrally with the upper portion.
9) The pallet of claim 8 wherein the lower portion includes a
plurality of runners, wherein the columns extend from intersections
of the plurality of runners.
10) The pallet of claim 1 wherein the upper deck includes a
plurality of ribs, the upper deck including a peripheral portion in
which the plurality of ribs are arranged in a honeycomb
pattern.
11) The pallet of claim 1 wherein the outer column portions each
include a peripheral wall having a plurality of ribs along an
interior surface of the peripheral wall.
12) The pallet of claim 11 further including a plurality of latches
formed within the outer column portions, wherein the plurality of
latches snap fit to connect to the inner column portions.
13) A pallet comprising: an upper portion having an upper deck; a
lower portion; a plurality of outer column portions having
peripheral walls with outer channels therethrough, the outer column
portions extending from the upper portion to the lower portion; a
plurality of inner column portions each including a plurality of
projections on an outer edge of the inner column portion, the
plurality of projections spaced apart to provide inner channels,
each inner column portion received within one of the outer column
portions; and at least one reinforcement member received in the
inner channels and the outer channels.
14) The pallet of claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of outer
column portions includes a plurality of tabs received in openings
adjacent the inner column portions.
15) The pallet of claim 14 further including a shoulder portion
adjacent each inner column portion, wherein the openings are formed
in the shoulder portions.
16) The pallet of claim 15 wherein the inner column portions are
formed integrally with the lower portion and wherein the outer
column portions are formed integrally with the upper portion.
17) A pallet comprising: a deck, wherein the deck includes a panel
portion and a plurality of ribs extending downward from an
underside of the panel portion, the deck including a central
portion and a peripheral portion, wherein the plurality of ribs in
the peripheral portion have a honeycomb pattern; and a plurality of
columns extending downward from the upper deck.
18) The pallet of claim 17 wherein the plurality of ribs in the
central portion do not have a honeycomb portion.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/327,066 filed Apr. 22, 2010.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Plastic pallets may include an upper deck and a lower deck
(or runners) with columns between the upper deck and the runners to
provide openings for receiving the tines of a forklift. The columns
and the outer periphery of the upper deck often are impacted by the
tines of the forklift Therefore, the columns and outer periphery of
the upper deck suffer most of the damage experienced by plastic
pallets.
SUMMARY
[0003] A pallet according to one embodiment of the present
invention provides reinforced columns and a more resilient
periphery of the upper deck. The pallet includes an upper portion
having an upper deck and a lower portion, which may include
runners. A plurality of outer column portions have peripheral walls
extending from the upper portion to the lower portion.
[0004] A plurality of inner column portions are received within the
outer column portions. Each inner column portion may include a
plurality of projections on an outer edge of the inner column
portion.
[0005] The pallet may include at least one reinforcement member, in
which case the plurality of projections are spaced apart to provide
inner channels and outer channels formed through the outer column
portions.
[0006] The plurality of outer column portions may include a
plurality of tabs received in openings adjacent the inner column
portions. A shoulder portion may be formed adjacent each inner
column portion, wherein the openings are formed in the shoulder
portions.
[0007] The inner column portions may be formed integrally with the
lower portion and the outer column portions may be formed
integrally with the upper portion.
[0008] The upper deck includes a plurality of ribs formed on the
underside. A periphery of the upper deck may include ribs in a
honeycomb pattern, to provide a more resilient area. The periphery
is more resistant to damage from fork tine impact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the
pallet of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is the lower portion of FIG. 2 with reinforcement
bars received thereon.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion.
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the pallet.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the lower
portion.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the upper
portion.
[0016] FIG. 8 is another bottom perspective view of the upper
portion.
[0017] FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of one of the columns .
[0018] FIG. 8B is a section view through half of one of the
columns.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a top view of the upper portion.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the upper portion.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a top view of the lower portion.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the lower portion.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the pallet.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a side view of the pallet.
[0025] FIG. 15 is an end view of the pallet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] A pallet 10 according to one embodiment of the invention is
shown in FIG. 1. The pallet 10 generally includes an upper portion
12 having an upper deck 14 and outer column portions 20 extending
downwardly from the upper deck 14. The pallet 10 further includes a
lower portion 18 having runners 22 (or lower deck) extending
between the outer column portions 20.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower portion 18. As
shown, the lower portion 18 includes a plurality of inner column
portions 21 extending upwardly at the intersections of the runners
22. The inner column portions 21 and runners 22 in this embodiment
are all integrally molded as a single piece. Each inner column
portion 21 includes a plurality of upward projections 26 about the
periphery of the upper edge of the inner column portion 21. The
projections 26 are offset inwardly from the periphery of the inner
column portion 21 to form a shoulder 28 around the periphery of the
upper edge of the inner column portion 21.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, reinforcement bars 30 may optionally be
provided. The projections 26 on each inner column portion 21 are
spaced apart to provide channels in which the reinforcement bars 30
can be received. The reinforcement bars 30 can be metal, steel,
aluminum, or composite polymers, such as fiberglass reinforced
polymers. The reinforcement bars 30 rest on the inner column
portions 21 between the projections 26.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion 12. As
shown, each outer column portion 20 includes a plurality of
optional tabs 32 projecting downwardly from the lower most edge of
each outer column portion 20.
[0030] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the pallet 10 showing the
relative relationships of the upper portion 12, lower portion 18
and optional reinforcement bars 30 therebetween.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the lower portion 18.
Ribs project downwardly from the lower portion 18, including from
the runners 22. The inner column portions 21 and the projections 26
are shown.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the upper portion 12.
The bottom of the deck 14 is provided with a plurality of
intersecting ribs for reinforcement. For example, lateral and
longitudinal ribs extend between each adjacent pair of outer column
portions 20 and diagonal ribs extend between each diagonally
opposed pair of outer column portions 20. However, around the
periphery of the deck 14 is a resilient section 34 including a
plurality of ribs 36 arranged in a honeycomb pattern. Thus, while
the lateral, longitudinal and diagonal ribs in a central portion of
the deck 14 between the outer column portions 20 provide stiffness
to the deck 14 and does not have a honeycomb pattern, the resilient
section 34 around the outer periphery of the deck 14 permits the
periphery of the deck 14 to flex in response to impacts along the
periphery of the deck 14 in a direction substantially parallel to
the plane of the deck 14.
[0033] As can also been seen in FIG. 7, the outer column portions
20 each include gaps or channels 38 therethrough for accommodating
the reinforcement bars 30 (FIG. 5).
[0034] FIG. 8 is another bottom perspective view of the upper
portion 12.
[0035] FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of one of the outer column
portions 20 of FIG. 8. Within each of the outer column portions 20
is a plurality of ribs 40 between the peripheral walls of the outer
column portions 20. Further, a plurality of cantilevered latches 42
project downwardly within the outer column portion 20. In the
embodiment shown, the latches 42 are stiffened by large ribs
projecting from the rear of the latches 42.
[0036] FIG. 8B is a section view through half of the center column
of the pallet 10. When assembled, the inner column portions 21 of
the lower portion 18 are received within the outer column portions
20 of the upper portion 12 to form columns between the upper deck
14 and the runners 22 (or lower deck). Portions of the ribs 40 of
the upper portion 12 abut the shoulder 28 of the inner column
portion 21. The latches 42 projecting downwardly within the outer
column portion 20 snap-fit under the projections 26 of the inner
column portion 21 to thereby secure the upper portion 12 to the
lower portion 18. Further, the tabs 32 at the lower edges of the
outer column portions 20 are received within slots (or openings)
formed on a lower shoulder 46 of the inner column portions 21. A
tapered portion 48 leads away from the lower shoulder 46 to the
runner 22. In this manner, the pallet 10 is provided with
significantly reinforced outer column portions 20, which are
reinforced by the inner column portions 21. This reinforcement
protects the outer column portions 20 in the event of impact, such
as by the tines of a fork-lift.
[0037] FIG. 9 is a top view of the upper portion 12 and upper deck
14. FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the upper portion 12. FIG. 11 is a
top view of the lower portion 18. FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the
lower portion 18. FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the pallet 10
including the lower portion 18 and upper portion 12. FIG. 14 is a
side view of the pallet 10. FIG. 15 is an end view of the pallet
10.
[0038] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and
jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are
considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention.
However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced
otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without
departing from its spirit or scope. For example, although the inner
column portion 21 is shown as formed integrally with the lower
portion 18, and the outer column portion 20 with the upper portion
12, the inner column portion 21 could be formed integrally with the
upper portion 12 and the outer column portion 20 could be formed
integrally with the lower portion 18.
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