← Back to Patent Explorer
US4062301A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Snap pallet

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-11
•
Granted: 1977-12-13
•
Expires: 1995-12-11
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A pallet or skid is disclosed for use in material handling. The pallet, preferably formed of metal, may be rigidly assembled or disassembled without the use of welding or fasteners, or the like. The pallet has a plurality of longitudinal deck panels for horizontal parallel location to form a load bearing surface. The deck panels have longitudinal resilient edge portions defining a plurality of spaced-apart slots. A plurality of spaced-apart stringer members are provided for transversely engaging the deck members, with the deck members passing through openings in the stringer members. The stringer member openings are dimensioned to provide retaining portions, so that upon transverse deflection of the deck member edge portions, the deck members may slide through the stringer member openings until the slots register with the retaining portions causing the deck members to snap and lock into position in the stringer members.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter R. Pitchford

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 03:39
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23P; B23P19/00; B23P19/04; B23P19/041; B65; B65D; B65D19/00; B65D19/0004; B65D19/0006; B65D19/003; B65D19/0042; B65D19/0046; B65D19/0051; B65D19/0053; B65D19/0077; B65D19/0089; B65D19/0093; B65D19/0095; B65D2519/00; B65D2519/00004; B65D2519/00009; B65D2519/00014; B65D2519/00024; B65D2519/00049; B65D2519/00059; B65D2519/00258; B65D2519/00263; B65D2519/00273; B65D2519/00283; B65D2519/00293; B65D2519/00298; B65D2519/00313; B65D2519/00323; B65D2519/00328; B65D2519/00333; B65D2519/00353; B65D2519/00547; B65D2519/00552; B65D2519/00557; B65D2519/00567; B65D2519/00736; B65D2519/0098; B65D2519/00985; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/70; Y10T403/7001; Y10T403/7003

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 193 words
A pallet comprising: a. a plurality of longitudinal deck panels adapted to be located horizontally and parallel to form a load bearing surface, the deck panels having longitudinal edge portions defining a plurality of spaced-apart slot openings therein, said edge portions further including longitudinal transversely extending ribs; b. a plurality of spaced-apart stringer members having transverse openings therethrough, the deck members being adapted to pass through said stringer openings upon transverse deflection of said longitudinal edge portions, the periphery of said stringer openings defining retaining portions adapted to be located in said slot openings for releasably retaining the deck members in position; c. said edge portions being biased towards said retaining portions; and d. the peripheries of said stringer openings also defining projecting tabs for resisting inadvertent transverse deflection of said edge portions, the tabs being located generally opposite the retaining portions and adapted to engage said ribs when said retaining portions are located in said slot openings, so that upon transverse deflection of said edge portions away from said retaining portions and tabs the retaining portions are disengaged from said slot openings to permit relative movement between the stringer and deck members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 193 words
A pallet comprising: a. a plurality of longitudinal deck panels adapted to be located horizontally and parallel to form a load bearing surface, the deck panels having longitudinal edge portions defining a plurality of spaced-apart slot openings therein, said edge portions further including longitudinal transversely extending ribs; b. a plurality of spaced-apart stringer members having transverse openings therethrough, the deck members being adapted to pass through said stringer openings upon transverse deflection of said longitudinal edge portions, the periphery of said stringer openings defining retaining portions adapted to be located in said slot openings for releasably retaining the deck members in position; c. said edge portions being biased towards said retaining portions; and d. the peripheries of said stringer openings also defining projecting tabs for resisting inadvertent transverse deflection of said edge portions, the tabs being located generally opposite the retaining portions and adapted to engage said ribs when said retaining portions are located in said slot openings, so that upon transverse deflection of said edge portions away from said retaining portions and tabs the retaining portions are disengaged from said slot openings to permit relative movement between the stringer and deck members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
A snap pallet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the peripheries of said stringer openings also define downwardly and outwardly bevelled upper corners for engagement with adjacent upper corners of the deck panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 176 words
A pallet comprising: a. a plurality of longitudinal deck panels adapted to be located horizontally and parallel to form a load bearing surface, the deck panels having longitudinal edge portions defining a plurality of spaced-apart slot openings therein, said edge portions further including longitudinal transversely extending ribs; b. a plurality of spaced-apart stringer members having transverse openings therethrough, the deck members being adapted to pass through said stringer openings upon transverse deflection of said longitudinal edge portions, the periphery of said stringer openings defining retaining portions adapted to be located in said slot openings for releasably retaining the deck members in position; c. said edge portions being downwardly and outwardly disposed and biased toward said retaining portions, so that upon transverse deflection of said edge portions away from said retaining portions the retaining portions are disengaged from said slot openings to permit relative movement between the stringer and deck members; and d. the peripheries of said stringer openings also defining downwardly and outwardly bevelled upper corners for engagement with adjacent upper corners of the deck panels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 176 words
A pallet comprising: a. a plurality of longitudinal deck panels adapted to be located horizontally and parallel to form a load bearing surface, the deck panels having longitudinal edge portions defining a plurality of spaced-apart slot openings therein, said edge portions further including longitudinal transversely extending ribs; b. a plurality of spaced-apart stringer members having transverse openings therethrough, the deck members being adapted to pass through said stringer openings upon transverse deflection of said longitudinal edge portions, the periphery of said stringer openings defining retaining portions adapted to be located in said slot openings for releasably retaining the deck members in position; c. said edge portions being downwardly and outwardly disposed and biased toward said retaining portions, so that upon transverse deflection of said edge portions away from said retaining portions the retaining portions are disengaged from said slot openings to permit relative movement between the stringer and deck members; and d. the peripheries of said stringer openings also defining downwardly and outwardly bevelled upper corners for engagement with adjacent upper corners of the deck panels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 52 words
A pallet as claimed in claim 3 wherein the periphery of said stringer openings also define projecting tabs for resisting inadvertent transverse deflection of said edge portions, the tabs being located generally opposite said retaining portions and adapted to engage said ribs when said retaining portions are located in said slot openings.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1027641A Cited
US2371921A Cited
GB648611A Cited
US2657437A Cited
US3044586A Cited
US3248837A Cited
US3548556A Cited
US3540178A Cited
US3602157A Cited
US3861108A Cited
US3878796A Cited
US3914913A Cited
US3971326A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-12-12 1981-06-13 1981-12-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-12-12 1985-06-13 1985-12-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-12-12 1989-06-13 1989-12-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag