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US5520121A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Plastic pallet

Assignee: Mauser Werke GmbH
•
Filing: 1995-02-22
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Granted: 1996-05-28
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Expires: 2015-02-22
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a plastic pallet (10, 32) in a stable and torsionally rigid box-like construction for storing and transporting goods. The upper plate (12) is provided on its underside with ribs (14). Closed side walls (24), each having two recesses (26) for engagement by the carrying forks of a fork lifter, and the spacers (16) to which a thin base plate (20) is welded are formed in a single piece with the upper plate (12). In the base pallet (32) for a pallet container are formed a collecting trough (40) in the center of the upper surface (34) and a supporting ledge (32) extending at the outside around the circumferential area.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gunter Schubart
  • 👤 Dietmar Przytulla

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 12:05
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D71/00; B65D71/0088; B65D71/0092; B65D71/0096; B65D19/00; B65D19/0004; B65D19/0006; B65D19/0008; B65D19/002; B65D19/0022; B65D19/02; 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; B65D2519/00323; B65D2519/00363; B65D2519/00398; B65D2519/00402; B65D2519/00407; B65D2519/00412; B65D2519/00547; B65D2519/00552; B65D2519/00557; B65D2519/00562; B65D2519/00736; B65D2519/00776; B65D2519/00796; B65D2519/008; B65D2519/0081; B65D2519/00815; B65D2519/00825; B65D2519/0083; B65D2519/00835; B65D2565/00; B65D2565/38; B65D2565/381; B65D2565/384; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/80

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 130 words
A plastic pallet for storing and transporting goods, comprising: an upper deck (12) having a substantially planar, closed surface (34) and an underside provided with ribs (14); spacers (16) aligned at a right angle to and joined to said upper deck (12); and a base deck (20) securely connected to said upper deck (12) via said spacers (16), with openings (26) being formed between said upper deck (12) and said base deck (20) for allowing engagement of forks of a fork lifter for transport capability, wherein the planar surface (34) of said upper deck (12) is provided with an upwardly projecting circumferential strip (38), said upper deck being provided with a central trough (40) which extends in a straight line with increasing depth toward an outer edge of the pallet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 130 words
A plastic pallet for storing and transporting goods, comprising: an upper deck (12) having a substantially planar, closed surface (34) and an underside provided with ribs (14); spacers (16) aligned at a right angle to and joined to said upper deck (12); and a base deck (20) securely connected to said upper deck (12) via said spacers (16), with openings (26) being formed between said upper deck (12) and said base deck (20) for allowing engagement of forks of a fork lifter for transport capability, wherein the planar surface (34) of said upper deck (12) is provided with an upwardly projecting circumferential strip (38), said upper deck being provided with a central trough (40) which extends in a straight line with increasing depth toward an outer edge of the pallet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
The plastic pallet of claim 1 wherein the strip (38) is of substantially triangular cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
The plastic pallet of claim 1 wherein the planar surface (34) of said upper deck (12) has a circumferential groove (36) for receiving a lower edge of an outer supporting shell of a pallet container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The plastic pallet of claim 3 wherein said strip (38) is provided on the inside of said groove (36).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The plastic pallet of claim 1 wherein said base deck (20) is provided with openings (22) for allowing passage of rollers of a lifting truck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 46 words
The plastic pallet of claim 1, further comprising a continuous side wall (24) for joining together said upper deck (12) and said base deck (20), said side wall (24) having two separate recesses (26) for allowing engagement by forks of a fork lifter or lifting truck.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 46 words
The plastic pallet of claim 6 wherein said base deck (20) is made of two parts (28), said parts (28) as well as said upper deck (12) with said ribs (14), said spacers (16) and said side walls (24) being made by way of compression molding.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The plastic pallet of claim 7 wherein said two parts (28) of said base deck (20) are securely welded with said upper deck (12) via said spacers (16) and said side walls (24).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
The plastic pallet of claim 8 wherein said two parts (28) of said base deck (20) are securely welded with said upper deck (12) via said spacers (16) and said side walls (24 by way of a butt-welding process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
The plastic pallet of claim 1 having corners which are beveled at an angle of approximately 45°, with a bevel (30) extending in the vertical plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
The plastic pallet of claim 1 wherein said base deck and said upper deck are made entirely from regenerated recycled plastic material (recycled plastic).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 25 words
The plastic pallet of claim 1 wherein said base deck (20) is massive and has a deck thickness between roughly 6 mm and 12 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
The plastic pallet of claim 12 wherein said base deck has a thickness of approximately 8 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 45 words
The plastic pallet of claim 1 wherein said base deck (20) is made of a same material (plastic material) as said upper deck (12), but is provided in addition with suitable filler material or fiber material for increasing the material strength and modulus of elasticity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 52 words
The plastic pallet of claim 1 wherein said substantially planar and closed surface (34) of said upper deck includes in vicinity of its outer edge a peripheral raised supporting shoulder (44) which extends at least partially about the circumference for contact and support of an installed plastic container of the pallet container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 31 words
The plastic pallet of claim 1 wherein said substantially planar surface (34) of said upper deck (12) has a slight slope and is slightly inclined downwardly toward the central trough (40).

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-05-28 1999-11-27 2000-05-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-05-28 2003-11-27 2004-05-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-05-28 2007-11-27 2008-05-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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