Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of making a plurality of pallet constructions comprising the steps of successively advancing a plurality of support members along a predetermined path of travel to a first work station, successively severing each of said support members when located at said first work station and thereby simultaneously forming a plurality of struck out portions from each of said support members while at said first work station and thereby forming apertures in each support member upon removal of the struck out portions in a first predetermined pattern, subsequently successively advancing each of the support members from said first work station along said path of travel and successively positioning each of said support members at a second work station, gathering struck out portions removed from the support members at said first work station, directing said struck out portions toward successive support members at said second work station, successively placing groups of said struck out portions on successive support members at said second work station in a second predetermined pattern relative to the support members to provide legs on the support members, and thereafter securing the legs to the support members.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of making a plurality of pallet constructions comprising the steps of successively advancing a plurality of support members along a predetermined path of travel to a first work station, successively severing each of said support members when located at said first work station and thereby simultaneously forming a plurality of struck out portions from each of said support members while at said first work station and thereby forming apertures in each support member upon removal of the struck out portions in a first predetermined pattern, subsequently successively advancing each of the support members from said first work station along said path of travel and successively positioning each of said support members at a second work station, gathering struck out portions removed from the support members at said first work station, directing said struck out portions toward successive support members at said second work station, successively placing groups of said struck out portions on successive support members at said second work station in a second predetermined pattern relative to the support members to provide legs on the support members, and thereafter securing the legs to the support members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of forming a pallet construction according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of legs are releasably secured to said support members.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of making a pallet construction comprising the steps of: advancing a support member along a predetermined path of travel to a first work station, simultaneously severing a plurality of struck-out portions from the support member and thereby forming apertures in the support member upon removal of the struck-out portions in a first predetermined pattern, subsequently advancing said support member from said first work station along said path of travel to a second work station, gathering the struck out portions removed from the support member at said first work station, directing said struck-out portions toward said support member at said second work station, placing said struck-out portions on said support member in a second predetermined pattern relative to the support member to provide legs on the support member, and thereafter securing the legs and the support member together.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of making a pallet construction comprising the steps of: advancing a support member along a predetermined path of travel to a first work station, simultaneously severing a plurality of struck-out portions from the support member and thereby forming apertures in the support member upon removal of the struck-out portions in a first predetermined pattern, subsequently advancing said support member from said first work station along said path of travel to a second work station, gathering the struck out portions removed from the support member at said first work station, directing said struck-out portions toward said support member at said second work station, placing said struck-out portions on said support member in a second predetermined pattern relative to the support member to provide legs on the support member, and thereafter securing the legs and the support member together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A method as defined in claim 3 which includes accomplishing said severing of the struck-out portions by sawing said struck-out portions from the support member and thereby forming the struck-out portions with a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the apertures, grouping a plurality of the struck-out portions in each of said legs in substantial axial alignment for forming the legs into a cylindrical configuration of substantial uniform diameter throughout corresponding to the diameter of the struck-out portions, and arranging said legs in said second pattern so that certain ones thereof may be inserted into apertures of an associated similarly shaped pallet construction when a plurality of similarly shaped pallet constructions are stacked together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in claim 3 which includes the step of securing said struck-out portions together and forming groups including at least two of said struck-out portions for providing a plurality of legs prior to directing said struck-out portions to said support member at said second work station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in claim 3 which includes the step of dispensing discrete amounts of adhesive onto said support member in said second predetermined pattern prior to assembly of the legs with the support member, and then applying said legs to the adhesive material on the support member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said legs are secured to said support member by nailing said legs thereto after being positioned in registry with the adhesive dispensed in said second predetermined pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said legs are deposited upon said support member in another predetermined pattern and then shifted into registry with said dispensed adhesive in said second predetermined pattern, and further including the step of shifting said legs from their dispensed position to a final position in registry with the disposed adhesive prior to securing said legs to said support member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 6 further including the step of securing a plurality of generally parallel spaced apart boards to ends of a like plurality of groups of aligned legs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 9 further including the step of securing a second board across said first boards in the direction 90° relative thereto.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of making a pallet construction comprising the steps of: securing a plurality of boards in a criss-cross pattern for providing a support member, advancing said support member along a predetermined path of travel to a first work station, said plurality of boards comprising first and second groups, severing a plurality of struck out portions from said first group of said boards and forming apertures therein upon removal of the struck-out portions in a first predetermined pattern, advancing said support member from said first work station along said path of travel to a second work station, gathering said struck-out portions removed from said first group of boards of a support member at said first work station, directing said struck-out portions to said second work station to be positioned in a second predetermined pattern relative to said plurality of boards, holding said struck-out portions in said second predetermined pattern relative to said support member, and thereafter securing said stuck-out portions to said support member together to form legs thereon.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of making a pallet construction comprising the steps of: securing a plurality of boards in a criss-cross pattern for providing a support member, advancing said support member along a predetermined path of travel to a first work station, said plurality of boards comprising first and second groups, severing a plurality of struck out portions from said first group of said boards and forming apertures therein upon removal of the struck-out portions in a first predetermined pattern, advancing said support member from said first work station along said path of travel to a second work station, gathering said struck-out portions removed from said first group of boards of a support member at said first work station, directing said struck-out portions to said second work station to be positioned in a second predetermined pattern relative to said plurality of boards, holding said struck-out portions in said second predetermined pattern relative to said support member, and thereafter securing said stuck-out portions to said support member together to form legs thereon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of making a pallet construction as set forth in claim 11 further including the step of securing said struck-out portions together and forming groups including at least two of said struck-out portions for providing a plurality of legs before they are directed toward said second work station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of making a pallet construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein struck-out portions are also removed from said second group of boards at the crossover point with said first group of boards to obtain struck-out portions of double thickness therefrom.