Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of making a pallet comprising the steps of sequentially: filling into an upwardly open elongated mold of generally regular cross section a mass of coarse and fine particles and a binder in such a manner that said fine particles are concentrated in the lower portion of said mass and said coarse particles are concentrated in the upper portion of said mass; compressing said mass of particles downwardly in said mold to a relatively great extent at several longitudinally spaced-apart locations and to a lesser extent therebetween to form upwardly projecting bumps between said locations; curing the thus compressed mass into a stiffening rib; and securing at least one board to a plurality of such ribs arranged parallel to one other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of making a pallet comprising the steps of sequentially: filling into an upwardly open elongated mold of generally regular cross section a mass of coarse and fine particles and a binder in such a manner that said fine particles are concentrated in the lower portion of said mass and said coarse particles are concentrated in the upper portion of said mass; compressing said mass of particles downwardly in said mold to a relatively great extent at several longitudinally spaced-apart locations and to a lesser extent therebetween to form upwardly projecting bumps between said locations; curing the thus compressed mass into a stiffening rib; and securing at least one board to a plurality of such ribs arranged parallel to one other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said board is secured to the sides of said ribs opposite said bumps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said mass is compressed by being pushed downwardly in said mold by a plug having projecting portions that engage between said locations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein said mass is advanced step-wise longitudinally along said mold and said plug is pressed down into said mass between advance steps and thereafter advances with said mass to the downstream end of said mold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein said plug has a plurality of separate pieces which are sequentially pressed down into said mass at the upstream end of said mold and which are pulled upwardly out of said mass at the downstream of said mass at the downstream end of said mold and then recirculated to said upstream end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
A pallet comprising: at least one board; and a plurality of like elongated stiffening ribs having flat upper sides secured to said board and lower sides formed with downwardly projecting and longitudinally spaced bumps, said ribs each being formed of a compressed mass of bound-together coarse and fine particles with said coarse particles concentrated toward the respective upper side and said fine particles concentrated toward the respective lower side and bumps, said masses each being compressed more between said bumps than at said bumps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
A pallet comprising: at least one board; and a plurality of like elongated stiffening ribs having flat upper sides secured to said board and lower sides formed with downwardly projecting and longitudinally spaced bumps, said ribs each being formed of a compressed mass of bound-together coarse and fine particles with said coarse particles concentrated toward the respective upper side and said fine particles concentrated toward the respective lower side and bumps, said masses each being compressed more between said bumps than at said bumps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pallet defined in claim 6 wherein each of said ribs is formed along at least one of said sides with a longitudinally extending groove.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The pallet defined in claim 6, further comprising another such board secured to said lower side at said bumps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pallet defined in claim 6 wherein each of said ribs has a pair of longitudinal side faces each formed with a longitudinally extending full-length depression.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pallet defined in claim 6 wherein each of said ribs has a pair of longitudinal side faces forming with said lower side a pair of lower edges, said lower edges being rounded.