Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
In a pallet formed of a single sheet of material, said sheet having a continuous annular leg depression constituting a pallet leg, said sheet having an upper load bearing surface and an edge portion extending circumferentially around the pallet, wherein the improvement comprises: said sheet has a horizontal center portion with a first top surface and a continuous shallow channel coterminous with the periphery of said center portion which has a constant cross sectional configuration extending circumferentially around said center portion, said channel is concentric with said leg and has an inner side wall, a first flat annular bottom wall, and an outer wall, said inner and outer wall converge from said upper load bearing surface to said flat annular bottom wall which is parallel with said first top surface and is positioned closer to said first top surface than to the bottom of said leg, said sheet further includes an intermediate horizontal wall surrounding said channel with an inner portion coterminous with said outer side wall and an outer portion surrounding and coterminous with said leg, said sheet includes an outer horizontal wall coplanar with said intermediate wall and said horizontal center portion, said outer horizontal wall has an inner edge portion coterminous with said leg, said outer horizontal wall has an outer edge portion extending circumferentially around the periphery of said outer horizontal wall, said outer edge portion is configured as a closed coil which extends unbroken completely around the pallet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
In a pallet formed of a single sheet of material, said sheet having a continuous annular leg depression constituting a pallet leg, said sheet having an upper load bearing surface and an edge portion extending circumferentially around the pallet, wherein the improvement comprises: said sheet has a horizontal center portion with a first top surface and a continuous shallow channel coterminous with the periphery of said center portion which has a constant cross sectional configuration extending circumferentially around said center portion, said channel is concentric with said leg and has an inner side wall, a first flat annular bottom wall, and an outer wall, said inner and outer wall converge from said upper load bearing surface to said flat annular bottom wall which is parallel with said first top surface and is positioned closer to said first top surface than to the bottom of said leg, said sheet further includes an intermediate horizontal wall surrounding said channel with an inner portion coterminous with said outer side wall and an outer portion surrounding and coterminous with said leg, said sheet includes an outer horizontal wall coplanar with said intermediate wall and said horizontal center portion, said outer horizontal wall has an inner edge portion coterminous with said leg, said outer horizontal wall has an outer edge portion extending circumferentially around the periphery of said outer horizontal wall, said outer edge portion is configured as a closed coil which extends unbroken completely around the pallet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises: said sheet is of a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners, said closed coil configured edge portion extends continuously and smoothly through said corners and between said corners; said closed coil in cross section includes a tightly coiled portion which extends from the remainder of said pallet in a continuously decreasing radius to at least 360 degrees; and, said leg is hollow and includes a first leg side wall, a second leg side wall, and a second flat annular bottom wall, said first and second leg side wall converge from said upper load bearing surface to said second flat annular bottom wall which is parallel with said upper load bearing surface, said leg has a constant cross sectional configuration extending circumferentially around said intermediate horizontal wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The pallet of claim 14 wherein: said outer horizontal wall has a continuous generally rectangular groove of constant cross section extending circumferentially around said leg, said groove has a third bottom wall coplanar with said first flat annular bottom wall and a pair of side walls which converge from said upper load bearing surface to said third bottom wall, said closed coil is located below said upper load bearing surface, said pallet is supported only by said leg.