Patent US5685233A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5685233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recyclable pallet assembly
Assignee: Milbe Products Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-31
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Granted: 1997-11-11
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Expires: 2016-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A light weight pallet assembly extruded from a recyclable, thermoplastic material is provided for storing, handling and transporting heavy or bulky articles. The pallet assembly includes at least two elongate, generally hollow runners, a plurality of support bars, and fastening members for coupling the support bars to the runners. Each runner includes an upper load supporting surface, a lower surface, a pair of opposed lateral surfaces and at least one, and preferably two, transverse ribs connecting the opposed lateral surfaces. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures are formed through at least one of the opposed lateral surfaces of the runner for receiving a respective one of the support bars therein. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures are formed through the upper surface of the runner and in at least a portion of at least some of the support bars for receiving the fastening members. The fastening members may be secured with an adhesive or may be press fit. The fastening members are removable to repair a damaged pallet assembly, or to return empty pallets to the owner. The support bars and the upper surface of each runner may be provided with an anti-skid surface for protecting a user walking on the pallet. The opposed ends of each runner may be closed to prevent injury to persons and property, and to prevent foreign objects of any appreciable size, such as the tongues of a forklift, from penetrating the open ends of the runners. A pair of longitudinally spaced recesses may also be formed in the opposed lateral surfaces and the lower surface of each runner so that the pallet assembly may be engaged by the tongues of a forklift from any of four different, orthogonal directions. A spacer pallet assembly is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Milton V. DeJean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:41
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D19/00; B65D19/0004; B65D19/0053; B65D19/0077; B65D19/0089; B65D19/0093; B65D19/0095; B65D2519/00; B65D2519/00004; B65D2519/00009; B65D2519/00014; B65D2519/00034; B65D2519/00049; B65D2519/00069; B65D2519/00258; B65D2519/00263; B65D2519/00273; B65D2519/00283; B65D2519/00293; B65D2519/00298; B65D2519/00313; B65D2519/00323; B65D2519/00328; B65D2519/00333; B65D2519/00338; B65D2519/00547; B65D2519/00552; B65D2519/00572; B65D2519/00736; B65D2519/00825; B65D2519/0083; B65D2519/0098; B65D2519/00985; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S108/00; Y10S108/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
288 words
A pallet assembly comprising at least two elongate, generally hollow, runners sized to support a predetermined load, each of said runners comprising an upper load supporting surface, said upper surface having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough; a lower surface; a pair of opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough; and at least one transverse rib connecting said pair of opposed lateral surfaces; and a plurality of elongate support bars having opposed ends, the opposed ends of each of said support bars received within a respective one of the apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runners, at least some of said support bars having an aperture formed therein adjacent each of the opposed ends corresponding to a respective one of the apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners; wherein the number of apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and wherein the number of apertures formed in each of the opposed ends of the at least some of said support bars is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and wherein the apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners and the apertures formed in at least some of said support bars receive fastening means therein for coupling at least two of said plurality of support bars to each of said runners.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
288 words
A pallet assembly comprising at least two elongate, generally hollow, runners sized to support a predetermined load, each of said runners comprising an upper load supporting surface, said upper surface having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough; a lower surface; a pair of opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough; and at least one transverse rib connecting said pair of opposed lateral surfaces; and a plurality of elongate support bars having opposed ends, the opposed ends of each of said support bars received within a respective one of the apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runners, at least some of said support bars having an aperture formed therein adjacent each of the opposed ends corresponding to a respective one of the apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners; wherein the number of apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and wherein the number of apertures formed in each of the opposed ends of the at least some of said support bars is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and wherein the apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners and the apertures formed in at least some of said support bars receive fastening means therein for coupling at least two of said plurality of support bars to each of said runners.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 1 wherein said runners and said plurality of support bars are extruded from a thermoplastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises a plurality of fastening members, each of said fastening members removably secured within a respective one of the apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners and within one of the corresponding apertures formed in the opposed ends of the at least some of said support bars.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of support bars are generally hollow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said at least two runners further comprises an elongate recess formed in said lower surface and in each of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 1 wherein said at least two runners comprise a center runner and a pair of opposed outer runners.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 1 wherein said at least two runners comprise a pair of center runners and a pair of opposed outer runners.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 1 wherein the external surface of at least a portion of at least some of said plurality of support bars is roughened.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 10 wherein the external surface of at least a portion of at least some of said support bars is coated with an anti-skid coating comprising a mixture of an adhesive and a particulate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 1 further comprising an elastomeric endcap positioned within each of the opposed ends of said runner so that said endcap covers at least a portion of each of the opposed ends of said runner.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 1 wherein said at least one transverse rib comprises at least two spaced apart ribs which divide said runner into at least three longitudinally extending cells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A pallet assembly according to claim 11 wherein said at least one transverse rib comprises a pair of spaced apart ribs positioned between said upper surface and said lower surface which divide said runner into a longitudinally extending center cell and a pair of longitudinally extending, opposed outer cells, one of said pair of outer cells being adjacent to the plurality of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner for receiving said plurality of support bars.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
143 words
A pallet assembly comprising at least two elongate, generally hollow, runners sized to support a predetermined load, each of said runners comprising an upper load supporting surface; a lower surface; a pair of opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough; and at least one transverse rib connecting said pair of opposed lateral surfaces; a plurality of elongate support bars, each of said support bars received within a respective one of the apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and fastening means for coupling at least two of said plurality of support bars to said runners; wherein the external surface of at least a portion of some of said plurality of support bars has a spiral groove formed therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
A pallet assembly comprising at least two elongate, generally hollow, runners sized to support a predetermined load, each of said runners comprising an upper load supporting surface; a lower surface; a pair of opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough; and at least one transverse rib connecting said pair of opposed lateral surfaces; a plurality of elongate support bars, each of said support bars received within a respective one of the apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and fastening means for coupling at least two of said plurality of support bars to said runners; wherein the external surface of at least a portion of some of said plurality of support bars has a spiral groove formed therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
215 words
A pallet assembly comprising at least two elongate, generally hollow, runners sized to support a predetermined load, each of said runners comprising an upper load supporting surface; a lower surface; a pair of opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough; at least one transverse rib connecting said pair of opposed lateral surfaces; said at least one transverse rib comprising a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart ribs positioned between said upper surface and said lower surface; and an endcap at each opposed end formed by folding the end of said upper surface downward, folding the end of said lower surface upward, folding the ends of said pair of ribs in the direction of said upper surface and said lower surface, respectively, and folding said opposed lateral surfaces inwardly so that said opposed lateral surfaces cover at least a portion of the opposed ends of said runner; a plurality of elongate support bars having opposed ends received within a respective one of the apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of each of said runners; and fastening means for coupling at least two of said plurality of support bars to each of said runners.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
215 words
A pallet assembly comprising at least two elongate, generally hollow, runners sized to support a predetermined load, each of said runners comprising an upper load supporting surface; a lower surface; a pair of opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough; at least one transverse rib connecting said pair of opposed lateral surfaces; said at least one transverse rib comprising a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart ribs positioned between said upper surface and said lower surface; and an endcap at each opposed end formed by folding the end of said upper surface downward, folding the end of said lower surface upward, folding the ends of said pair of ribs in the direction of said upper surface and said lower surface, respectively, and folding said opposed lateral surfaces inwardly so that said opposed lateral surfaces cover at least a portion of the opposed ends of said runner; a plurality of elongate support bars having opposed ends received within a respective one of the apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of each of said runners; and fastening means for coupling at least two of said plurality of support bars to each of said runners.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
220 words
A pallet sized for supporting a predetermined load, said pallet comprising at least two elongate, generally, hollow, runners extruded from a thermoplastic material, each of said runners comprising an upper load supporting surface having a plurality of longitudinally spaced, vertical apertures formed therethrough; an opposed lower surface; a pair of opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transverse apertures formed therethrough; and at least one transverse rib connecting said pair of opposed lateral surfaces; a plurality of elongate support bars extruded from a thermoplastic material, each of said support bars received within a respective one of the apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner, at least a portion of at least some of said support bars having an aperture formed therein, wherein the external surface of at least a portion of at least some of said support bars has a spiral groove formed therein; and fastening means for coupling at least two of said support bars to each of said runners, said fastening means comprising a plurality of fastening members removably secured within a respective one of the apertures formed through said upper surface of said runner and formed in said at least some of said support bars.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
220 words
A pallet sized for supporting a predetermined load, said pallet comprising at least two elongate, generally, hollow, runners extruded from a thermoplastic material, each of said runners comprising an upper load supporting surface having a plurality of longitudinally spaced, vertical apertures formed therethrough; an opposed lower surface; a pair of opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transverse apertures formed therethrough; and at least one transverse rib connecting said pair of opposed lateral surfaces; a plurality of elongate support bars extruded from a thermoplastic material, each of said support bars received within a respective one of the apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner, at least a portion of at least some of said support bars having an aperture formed therein, wherein the external surface of at least a portion of at least some of said support bars has a spiral groove formed therein; and fastening means for coupling at least two of said support bars to each of said runners, said fastening means comprising a plurality of fastening members removably secured within a respective one of the apertures formed through said upper surface of said runner and formed in said at least some of said support bars.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
303 words
A method of manufacturing a pallet for supporting a predetermined load comprising the steps of extruding a thermoplastic material to form a predetermined number of elongate, generally hollow runners having a predetermined length, each runner comprising an upper load supporting surface having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough, an opposed lower surface, a pair of opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of the opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough, and at least one transverse rib connecting the opposed lateral surfaces; extruding a thermoplastic material to form a predetermined number of elongate support bars having a predetermined length and opposed ends, at least some of the support bars having an aperture formed therein adjacent each of the opposed ends corresponding to a respective one of the apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners; and positioning the opposed ends of the support bars in a respective one of the apertures formed through the at least one of the opposed lateral surfaces of each runner; wherein the number of apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and wherein the number of apertures formed in each of the opposed ends of the at least some of said support bars is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and wherein the apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners and the apertures formed in at least some of said support bars receive fastening means therein for coupling at least two of said plurality of support bars to each of said runners.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
303 words
A method of manufacturing a pallet for supporting a predetermined load comprising the steps of extruding a thermoplastic material to form a predetermined number of elongate, generally hollow runners having a predetermined length, each runner comprising an upper load supporting surface having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough, an opposed lower surface, a pair of opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of the opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough, and at least one transverse rib connecting the opposed lateral surfaces; extruding a thermoplastic material to form a predetermined number of elongate support bars having a predetermined length and opposed ends, at least some of the support bars having an aperture formed therein adjacent each of the opposed ends corresponding to a respective one of the apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners; and positioning the opposed ends of the support bars in a respective one of the apertures formed through the at least one of the opposed lateral surfaces of each runner; wherein the number of apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and wherein the number of apertures formed in each of the opposed ends of the at least some of said support bars is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and wherein the apertures formed through said upper surface of each of said runners and the apertures formed in at least some of said support bars receive fastening means therein for coupling at least two of said plurality of support bars to each of said runners.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
332 words
A method of repairing a pallet for supporting a predetermined load, the pallet comprising at least two elongate, generally hollow runners extruded from a thermoplastic material and comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, a pair of opposed lateral surfaces and at least one transverse rib connecting the opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough, a plurality of elongate support bars extruded from a thermoplastic material and having opposed ends, each of the opposed ends of said support bars received within a respective one of the apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces, and fastening means comprising a plurality of fastening members positioned in a corresponding plurality of apertures formed through the upper surface of each runner and formed in at least some of the support bars adjacent each of the opposed ends, said method comprising the steps of removing the fastening members from the apertures formed through the upper surface of the each runner and formed in the at least some of the support bars; forming new apertures through the upper surface of each runner, the at least some of the support bars and the at least one transverse rib of each runner; and positioning new, longer fastening members within the new apertures through the upper surface of each runner, the at least some of the support bars and the at least one transverse rib of each runner; wherein the number of apertures formed through said upper surface of each runner is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and wherein the number of apertures formed in each of the opposed ends of the at least some of said support bars is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
332 words
A method of repairing a pallet for supporting a predetermined load, the pallet comprising at least two elongate, generally hollow runners extruded from a thermoplastic material and comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, a pair of opposed lateral surfaces and at least one transverse rib connecting the opposed lateral surfaces, at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough, a plurality of elongate support bars extruded from a thermoplastic material and having opposed ends, each of the opposed ends of said support bars received within a respective one of the apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces, and fastening means comprising a plurality of fastening members positioned in a corresponding plurality of apertures formed through the upper surface of each runner and formed in at least some of the support bars adjacent each of the opposed ends, said method comprising the steps of removing the fastening members from the apertures formed through the upper surface of the each runner and formed in the at least some of the support bars; forming new apertures through the upper surface of each runner, the at least some of the support bars and the at least one transverse rib of each runner; and positioning new, longer fastening members within the new apertures through the upper surface of each runner, the at least some of the support bars and the at least one transverse rib of each runner; wherein the number of apertures formed through said upper surface of each runner is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner; and wherein the number of apertures formed in each of the opposed ends of the at least some of said support bars is less than the number of apertures formed through said at least one of said pair of opposed lateral surfaces of said runner.
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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) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-05-12 | 2001-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-10 | 2005-05-12 | 2005-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-10 | 2009-05-12 | 2009-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |