US5123359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heavy duty pallet and method of making same
Assignee: THEM OF NEW YORK Inc A CORP OF NY
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Filing: 1990-12-03
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Granted: 1992-06-23
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Expires: 2010-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A durable heavy duty pallet having a flat load deck is made by placing a pre-cut plastic sheet under the load-bearing surface of an invented frame or skeleton. A second plastic sheet is thermoformed over the lower surface of the skeleton, brought down into tight conformity with the contours thereof and into contact with the first plastic sheet. The perimeters of the plastic sheets are bonded together to form an integral plastic skin over the skeleton. The pallet thus formed is capable of bearing a static load up to 40,000 lbs.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael W. DelBalso
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D19/00; B65D19/0004; B65D19/0006; B65D19/0008; B65D19/001; B65D19/0014; B65D19/0016; B65D2519/00; B65D2519/00004; B65D2519/00009; B65D2519/00014; B65D2519/00034; B65D2519/00049; B65D2519/00069; B65D2519/00258; B65D2519/00263; B65D2519/00273; B65D2519/00283; B65D2519/00288; B65D2519/00313; B65D2519/00318; B65D2519/00328; B65D2519/00333; B65D2519/00338; B65D2519/00398; B65D2519/00432; B65D2519/00442; B65D2519/00547; B65D2519/00552; B65D2519/00557; B65D2519/00562; B65D2565/00; B65D2565/38; B65D2565/381; B65D2565/385; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S108/00; Y10S108/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A heavy duty pallet comprising a rigid, internal reinforcing skeleton, a rigid first plastic sheet, constructed of a nonheatshrinkable, nonexpanded plastic, covering the lower surface, open spaces, sides and ends of said skeleton and tightly conforming to the surfaces thereof, a rigid second plastic sheet, constructed of a nonheat-shrinkable, nonexpanded plastic, covering the upper surface of said skeleton to form a flat load deck, said second plastic sheet being in contact with the edges of said first plastic sheet along the perimeter thereof and in face-to-face contact with said first plastic sheet over the open spaces of said skeleton, bonding means forming a continuous seam along the contact perimeter of said plastic sheets, said skeleton being separable from said plastic sheets when said bonding means is removed therefrom, whereby said pallet can be disassembled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A heavy duty pallet comprising a rigid, internal reinforcing skeleton, a rigid first plastic sheet, constructed of a nonheatshrinkable, nonexpanded plastic, covering the lower surface, open spaces, sides and ends of said skeleton and tightly conforming to the surfaces thereof, a rigid second plastic sheet, constructed of a nonheat-shrinkable, nonexpanded plastic, covering the upper surface of said skeleton to form a flat load deck, said second plastic sheet being in contact with the edges of said first plastic sheet along the perimeter thereof and in face-to-face contact with said first plastic sheet over the open spaces of said skeleton, bonding means forming a continuous seam along the contact perimeter of said plastic sheets, said skeleton being separable from said plastic sheets when said bonding means is removed therefrom, whereby said pallet can be disassembled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A heavy duty pallet, comprising a rigid, internal reinforcing skeleton, and a continuous rigid plastic skin covering said skeleton, said skin having upper and lower layers in face-to-face contact over the open spaces of said skeleton, said skin being constructed of a nonheatshrinkable, nonexpanded plastic material, and being separable from said skeleton, whereby said pallet can be disassembled when said layers are separated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A heavy duty pallet, comprising a rigid, internal reinforcing skeleton, and a continuous rigid plastic skin covering said skeleton, said skin having upper and lower layers in face-to-face contact over the open spaces of said skeleton, said skin being constructed of a nonheatshrinkable, nonexpanded plastic material, and being separable from said skeleton, whereby said pallet can be disassembled when said layers are separated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein said plastic sheets are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, and recycled plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pallet of claim 2 wherein said plastic sheets are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, and recycled plastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein said load deck has a non-skid surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pallet of claim 2 wherein said load deck has a non-skid surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein said plastic sheets are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pallet of claim 2 wherein said plastic sheets are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein said skeleton has wooden horizontal members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The pallet of claim 2 wherein said skeleton has wooden horizontal members.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of fabricating a heavy duty pallet, comprising the steps of constructing a skeleton, dimensioning a first plastic sheet to the upper surface of said skeleton, placing said first plastic sheet on the upper surface of said skeleton, thermoforming a second plastic sheet over the lower surface, sides and ends of said skeleton in conforming contact therewith and in contact with said first plastic sheet along the perimeter thereof and in face to face contact with said first plastic sheet over the open spaces of said skeleton, and rigidly bonding said first plastic sheet to said second plastic sheet to form a continuous integral seam at the contact perimeter thereof.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of fabricating a heavy duty pallet, comprising the steps of constructing a skeleton, dimensioning a first plastic sheet to the upper surface of said skeleton, placing said first plastic sheet on the upper surface of said skeleton, thermoforming a second plastic sheet over the lower surface, sides and ends of said skeleton in conforming contact therewith and in contact with said first plastic sheet along the perimeter thereof and in face to face contact with said first plastic sheet over the open spaces of said skeleton, and rigidly bonding said first plastic sheet to said second plastic sheet to form a continuous integral seam at the contact perimeter thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said plastic sheets are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene and recycled plastic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said skeleton is constructed of wood.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said skeleton is constructed of aluminum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said first plastic sheet is rigidly bonded to said second plastic sheet by plastic welding.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said first plastic sheet is rigidly bonded to said second plastic sheet by sonic welding.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said first plastic sheet is rigidly bonded to said second plastic sheet by dual sheet self bonding.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of thermoforming a product, comprising the steps of constructing a skeleton, placing said skeleton on a first sheet of plastic; preheating a second sheet of plastic until said second sheet of plastic is pliable, conforming said second sheet of plastic to the contours of said skeleton to contact said first sheet of plastic at the perimeter thereof, bonding said first sheet of plastic to said second sheet of plastic.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of thermoforming a product, comprising the steps of constructing a skeleton, placing said skeleton on a first sheet of plastic; preheating a second sheet of plastic until said second sheet of plastic is pliable, conforming said second sheet of plastic to the contours of said skeleton to contact said first sheet of plastic at the perimeter thereof, bonding said first sheet of plastic to said second sheet of plastic.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-23 | 1995-12-23 | 1996-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-23 | 1999-12-23 | 2000-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-23 | 2003-12-23 | 2004-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |