US5579686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic pallet assembly
Assignee: Orbis Corp
•
Filing: 1994-12-08
•
Granted: 1996-12-03
•
Expires: 2014-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A plastic pallet (10) is disclosed that includes a deck (100), a base (20), a plurality of separate connectors (11) and a plurality of internal connectors (11a).
Inventors
- 👤 Brandon L. Pigott
- 👤 Schuyler F. Pigott
- 👤 Peter S. Pigott
- 👤 Maurice J. Pigott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D19/00; B65D19/0004; B65D19/0006; B65D19/0008; B65D19/001; B65D19/0012; B65D19/38; B65D19/40; B65D19/42; B65D2519/00; B65D2519/00004; B65D2519/00009; B65D2519/00014; B65D2519/00034; B65D2519/00049; B65D2519/00069; B65D2519/00084; B65D2519/00104; B65D2519/00258; B65D2519/00263; B65D2519/00273; B65D2519/00278; B65D2519/00283; B65D2519/00288; B65D2519/00308; B65D2519/00313; B65D2519/00318; B65D2519/00328; B65D2519/00333; B65D2519/00363; B65D2519/00368; B65D2519/00373; B65D2519/00388; B65D2519/00398; B65D2519/00402; B65D2519/00407; B65D2519/00412; B65D2519/00417; B65D2519/00547; B65D2519/00552; B65D2519/00557; B65D2519/00567; B65D2519/00736; B65D2519/00776; B65D2519/00796; B65D2565/00; B65D2565/38; B65D2565/381; B65D2565/384; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/80; Y10; Y10S; Y10S108/00; Y10S108/901; Y10S108/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A pallet base for use in combination with a second pallet base or a pallet deck and a plurality of separate connectors, the pallet base having an inner surface and an outer surface and being interconnected to the second pallet base or deck by the separate connectors, the pallet base comprising: a pair of substantially parallel side members and a pair of substantially parallel end members that are substantially perpendicular to the side members; a first cross member disposed between and connected to the end members and a second cross member disposed between and connected to the side members; the inner surface having a plurality of spaced-apart transverse inner ribs projecting therefrom; and, the opposed outer surface having a plurality of spaced apart transverse outer ribs projecting therefrom, the side members, the end members and the cross members being generally U-shaped in cross-section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A pallet base for use in combination with a second pallet base or a pallet deck and a plurality of separate connectors, the pallet base having an inner surface and an outer surface and being interconnected to the second pallet base or deck by the separate connectors, the pallet base comprising: a pair of substantially parallel side members and a pair of substantially parallel end members that are substantially perpendicular to the side members; a first cross member disposed between and connected to the end members and a second cross member disposed between and connected to the side members; the inner surface having a plurality of spaced-apart transverse inner ribs projecting therefrom; and, the opposed outer surface having a plurality of spaced apart transverse outer ribs projecting therefrom, the side members, the end members and the cross members being generally U-shaped in cross-section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The pallet base as defined in claim 1 wherein the side members, the end members and the cross members include a substantially horizontal second portion having two sides with a ramp portion and a substantially horizontal first portion integral with each of the two sides of the horizontal second portion, the outer surface of the ramp portions and the horizontal second portion being concave.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The pallet base as defined in claim 1 wherein the base further includes a plurality of openings therein for receiving the separate connectors and integral, internal connectors for cooperating with the connected second pallet base or pallet deck.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The pallet base as defined in claim 3 wherein the integral, internal connectors include a hollow central circular core having circumferentially spaced slots extending from the distal end thereof producing a set of tangs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The pallet base as defined in claim 4 wherein each tang of the integral, internal connectors has a barb formed adjacent the distal end thereof and has a flat lower surface extending perpendicular to an axis of the hollow core and a tapered outer surface extending from an outer edge to define a ramp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The pallet base as defined in claim 5 wherein the central core of the integral, internal connectors includes four tangs, each tang spanning approximately ninety degrees, and is attached to the base by crossing integral webs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
A generally rectangular pallet deck for use in combination with a second pallet deck or a pallet base and a plurality of separate connectors, the pallet deck having a first side, an opposed second side, a first end and an opposed second end and being interconnected to the second pallet deck or base by the separate connectors, the pallet deck further comprising: a substantially planar outer surface with perimeter reinforcement means; an inner surface with a reinforcement structure projecting outwardly therefrom; openings for receiving the separate connectors; and, a plurality of integral, internal connectors for cooperating with the connected second pallet deck or pallet base, the internal connectors further including a protective force absorbing oval sleeve with inwardly projecting webs and an internal, central receiving core, the core including an opening at the distal end thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A generally rectangular pallet deck for use in combination with a second pallet deck or a pallet base and a plurality of separate connectors, the pallet deck having a first side, an opposed second side, a first end and an opposed second end and being interconnected to the second pallet deck or base by the separate connectors, the pallet deck further comprising: a substantially planar outer surface with perimeter reinforcement means; an inner surface with a reinforcement structure projecting outwardly therefrom; openings for receiving the separate connectors; and, a plurality of integral, internal connectors for cooperating with the connected second pallet deck or pallet base, the internal connectors further including a protective force absorbing oval sleeve with inwardly projecting webs and an internal, central receiving core, the core including an opening at the distal end thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The pallet deck as defined in claim 7 wherein the internal connectors further include means for receiving and seating barbs attached to the connected second pallet deck or pallet deck.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The pallet deck as defined in claim 8 wherein the means for receiving and seating barbs includes circular, outer recessed abutments recessed below the plain of the outer surface formed by a substantially vertical first annular wall, the central receiving core, and a substantially vertical second annular wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pallet deck as defined in claim 9 wherein the central receiving core further includes tabs formed at the distal end to act as guides.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
195 words
A plastic pallet having a generally rectangular pallet base, a generally rectangular pallet deck, and a plurality of connectors interconnecting the base and the deck, the pallet base including a pair of substantially parallel side members, a pair of substantially parallel end members that are substantially perpendicular to the side members and connected to the side members, at least one cross member disposed between and connected to one of either the side members or the end members, an inner surface with inner reinforcement elements projecting therefrom and, an opposed outer surface, and the pallet deck including a first side, an opposed second side, a first end and an opposed second end, a substantially planar outer surface with perimeter reinforcement means, and an inner surface inner reinforcement elements projecting therefrom, comprising: at least one internal connector having a first element integral with the inner surface of the base cooperating with a second element integral with the inner surface of the deck; and, at least four separate connectors, each positioned at a corner of the pallet and disposed between the base and the deck and further cooperating with openings in each of the deck and the base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
195 words
A plastic pallet having a generally rectangular pallet base, a generally rectangular pallet deck, and a plurality of connectors interconnecting the base and the deck, the pallet base including a pair of substantially parallel side members, a pair of substantially parallel end members that are substantially perpendicular to the side members and connected to the side members, at least one cross member disposed between and connected to one of either the side members or the end members, an inner surface with inner reinforcement elements projecting therefrom and, an opposed outer surface, and the pallet deck including a first side, an opposed second side, a first end and an opposed second end, a substantially planar outer surface with perimeter reinforcement means, and an inner surface inner reinforcement elements projecting therefrom, comprising: at least one internal connector having a first element integral with the inner surface of the base cooperating with a second element integral with the inner surface of the deck; and, at least four separate connectors, each positioned at a corner of the pallet and disposed between the base and the deck and further cooperating with openings in each of the deck and the base.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The plastic pallet as defined in claim 11 wherein the first element includes a central core with projections thereon and the second element includes a sleeve with inwardly projecting spokes and an internal, central receiving core having an opening at the distal end thereof adapted to receive the central core of the first element and means for receiving and seating the projections of the first element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The plastic pallet as defined in claim 12 wherein the projections of the first element are formed by circumferentially spaced slots extending from the distal end of the first element which produce a set of tangs and each tang has a barb formed adjacent the distal end thereof and the receiving core of the second element has an opening at the distal end thereof to receive the central core with tangs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The plastic pallet as defined in claim 13 wherein each barb has a flat lower surface which extends perpendicular to the axis of the core and has a tapered outer surface extending from the outer edge to define a ramp.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The plastic pallet as defined in claim 14 wherein the second element further includes at opposed sides on the sleeve a projecting post with a barb thereon for cooperating with the first element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
A connector for use in interconnecting two members to form a pallet, comprising: a central hollow core member having slots extending from opposite ends to produce a plurality of flexible tangs at opposite ends of the core member, a plurality of radial spokes extending from the periphery of the core member between the tangs, a non-circular sleeve surrounding the core member and being integral with outer ends of the spokes, and an inwardly-directed integral force-absorbing flange between the tangs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
A connector for use in interconnecting two members to form a pallet, comprising: a central hollow core member having slots extending from opposite ends to produce a plurality of flexible tangs at opposite ends of the core member, a plurality of radial spokes extending from the periphery of the core member between the tangs, a non-circular sleeve surrounding the core member and being integral with outer ends of the spokes, and an inwardly-directed integral force-absorbing flange between the tangs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The connector as defined in claim 16 wherein the sleeve is rectangular.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector as defined in claim 17 wherein the radially spaced spokes are spaced between approximately 30 and 60 degrees apart.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector as defined in claim 18 further including a plurality of transverse spokes integral with at least two radial spokes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The connector as defined in claim 19 wherein the hollow core member is circular and the slots terminate in close proximity to planes defined by the spokes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The connector as defined in claim 20 wherein each of the tangs has a barb formed adjacent a free edge thereof, each barb having a lower flat edge extending perpendicular to the axis of the hollow core member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector as defined in claim 21 wherein each tang spans approximately ninety degrees, the tangs at each opposed end are circumferentially offset from the tangs at the other opposed end.
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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) | 1999-12-03 | 2000-06-03 | 2000-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-03 | 2004-06-03 | 2004-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-03 | 2008-06-03 | 2008-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |