Pallet

Claim 2

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards stretching between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration which drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corresponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; the thinner portion of the deck board being a rabbet and the runner having a recess therein to receive said rabbet; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the spaced apart runners to leave at least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.

Claim 3

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards strecthing between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration which drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corrsponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; the thinner portion of the deck board being a tapered chamfer; the tapered chamfer terminating in a curved surface; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the spaced apart runners to leave at least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.

Claim 4

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards strecthing between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration which drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corrsponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; the thinner portion of the deck board being a tapered chamfer; the tapered chamfer terminating in a curved surface; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the spaced apart runners to leave at least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.

Claim 5

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards stretching between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration which drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corresponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; the thinner portion of the deck board being a tapered chamfer; the tapered chamber terminating in a flat surface such as bull nose; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the spaced apart runners to leave at least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.

Claim 6

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards stretching between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration which drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corresponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; the thinner portion of the deck board being a tapered chamfer; the tapered chamber terminating in a flat surface such as bull nose; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the spaced apart runners to leave at least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.

Claim 7

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards streching between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration which drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corresponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; the thinner portion of the deck board being a tapered chamfer; the tapered chamfer terminating in a line; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the spaced apart runners to leave at least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.

Claim 8

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards streching between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration which drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corresponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; the thinner portion of the deck board being a tapered chamfer; the tapered chamfer terminating in a line; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the spaced apart runners to leave at least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.

Claim 9

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards stretching between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration with drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corresponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; the thinner portion of the deck board being a tapered chamfer; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the second apart runners to leave a least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.

Claim 10

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards stretching between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration with drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corresponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; the thinner portion of the deck board being a tapered chamfer; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the second apart runners to leave a least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.

Claim 11

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards stretching between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration which drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corresponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the spaced apart runners to leave at least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.

Claim 12

A pallet comprising: a pair of spaced apart runners, each runner having upper and lower edges and opposite ends; at least the upper edge of each of the runners having a plurality of dadoes therein, each of the dadoes in one of the runners being opposite a dado in the other of the runners; a plurality of deck boards stretching between the runners, each deck board having a top surface and a bottom surface; each of the plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each runner such that the top surfaces of the deck boards and the corresponding upper edges of the runners are at the same level to form the top of the pallet; the plurality of deck boards including an outermost deck board at each of two opposite ends of the runners, the outermost edge of each outermost deck board being essentially flush with the corresponding ends of the runners so that the ends of the runners do not project beyond the top of the pallet; at least a portion of the innermost edge of each of the two outermost deck boards being thinner than the full thickness of said deck boards; the runner adjacent to said thinner portion being undercut beneath the upper edge of the runner complementary to the thinner portion to receive the deck board in intimate contact therewith; the thinner portion of each deck board having a configuration which drops off from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the deck board in the direction extending away from the outermost edge and toward the innermost edge such that the upper edge of the corresponding runner overlaps essentially the entire thinner portion so as to hold down the corresponding innermost edge against shrinkage and against impact forces upon the outermost edge of the outermost deck board in said direction; a second pair of spaced apart runners; a plurality of spacers affixed to a runner of each pair of the spaced apart runners to leave at least two openings between the said runners; the outermost edge of each of the second pair of runners having a second plurality of dadoes therein, each of said dadoes in one of said runners being opposite one of said dadoes in the other of said runners; and a second plurality of deck boards stretching between the second pair of runners; each of the second plurality of deck boards engaging a dado in each of the second pair of runners such that the second plurality of deck boards and the second pair of runners are at the same level to form the bottom of the pallet.