US5758855A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pallet with flexible tensile reinforcement and method for making the same
Assignee: Cadillac Products Inc
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Filing: 1995-11-21
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Granted: 1998-06-02
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Expires: 2015-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A reinforced pallet (20) and method for making the same are disclosed. The pallet (20) includes a body (28) having a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions (56) with a central span (60) extending therebetween. A flexible tensile member (26) extends between the edge portions (56) and generally beneath the central span (60). The tensile member (26) may be in the form of a mesh affixed between upper and lower decks (22,24) of the pallet (20). When the edge portions (56) of the pallet (20) are simply supported and a load is place atop the pallet (20), the central span (60) of the pallet (20) will vertically deflect in response to the load. The central span (60) will bear upon the tensile member (26) with the tensile member providing support against deflection. A method for retrofitting a pallet (200) includes adding a tensile member (210) to the pallet (200) to reduce the amount of deflection of the pallet (200) when simply supported in response to a load placed atop the pallet (200).
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Alan Jordan
- 👤 John Edward Yestrepsky
- 👤 Raymond Harold Gosnell
- 👤 Richard George Brooks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D19/00; B65D19/0004; B65D19/0006; B65D19/0008; B65D19/002; B65D19/0024; B65D19/0026; B65D19/003; B65D19/0032; B65D19/0036; B65D2519/00; B65D2519/00004; B65D2519/00009; B65D2519/00014; B65D2519/00034; B65D2519/00049; B65D2519/00069; B65D2519/00084; B65D2519/00104; B65D2519/00119; B65D2519/00129; B65D2519/00258; B65D2519/00263; B65D2519/00273; B65D2519/00283; B65D2519/00293; B65D2519/00313; B65D2519/00318; B65D2519/00328; B65D2519/00333; B65D2519/00368; B65D2519/00373; B65D2519/00398; B65D2519/00432; B65D2519/00437; B65D2519/00442; B65D2519/00547; B65D2519/00552; B65D2519/00557; B65D2519/00562; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S248/00; Y10S248/903; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A pallet for supporting objects thereon, the pallet comprising: a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced therefrom, a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; a flexible tensile member suspended in the body and extending laterally across the body; and a tensioner cooperating with the body and the flexible tensile member so that the tension in the flexible tensile member can be adjusted; wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A pallet for supporting objects thereon, the pallet comprising: a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced therefrom, a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; a flexible tensile member suspended in the body and extending laterally across the body; and a tensioner cooperating with the body and the flexible tensile member so that the tension in the flexible tensile member can be adjusted; wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein: the body is made of a molded plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pallet of claim 2 wherein: the flexible tensile member is molded within the pallet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein: the flexible tensile member is an interconnected mesh.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein: the tensioner includes a threaded connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein: the upper surface is formed on an upper sheet, the lower surface is formed on a lower sheet, the flexible tensile member being disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, the upper and lower sheets being joined at a plurality of knit points.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein: the tensile member is removably affixed to the body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein: the pallet includes a plurality of flexible tensile members which are longitudinally spaced apart and extend laterally across the body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein: the tensile member includes a mesh of laterally and longitudinally extending cables.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein: the flexible tensile member includes a strap made of plastic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pallet of claim 10 wherein: the strap is thermally joined to the pallet.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for reinforcing a pallet, the method comprising: providing a pallet having a body with an upper surface and a lower surface and having a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; affixing a flexible tensile member to the body with the flexible tensile member extending laterally; providing a tensioner cooperating with the body and the flexible tensile member to adjust the tension in the flexible tensile member; wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for reinforcing a pallet, the method comprising: providing a pallet having a body with an upper surface and a lower surface and having a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; affixing a flexible tensile member to the body with the flexible tensile member extending laterally; providing a tensioner cooperating with the body and the flexible tensile member to adjust the tension in the flexible tensile member; wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 wherein: the tensioner includes a threaded connection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 12 wherein: the flexible tensile member is a plastic strap; and affixing the flexible tensile member to the body includes heat bonding the flexible tensile member to the body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 wherein: the flexible tensile member is adhesively secured to the body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 wherein: affixing the flexible tensile member to the body includes suspending the flexible tensile member in the body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
155 words
A pallet for supporting objects thereon, the pallet comprising: a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced therefrom, a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; and a flexible tensile member suspended in the body and extending laterally across the body; wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection; the upper surface being formed on an upper sheet, the lower surface being formed on a lower sheet, the flexible tensile member being disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, the upper and lower sheets being joined at a plurality of knit points.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
155 words
A pallet for supporting objects thereon, the pallet comprising: a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced therefrom, a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; and a flexible tensile member suspended in the body and extending laterally across the body; wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection; the upper surface being formed on an upper sheet, the lower surface being formed on a lower sheet, the flexible tensile member being disposed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet, the upper and lower sheets being joined at a plurality of knit points.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The pallet of claim 17 further comprising: a tensioner cooperating with the body and the flexible tensile member so that the tension in the flexible tensile member can be adjusted.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for manufacturing a pallet, the method comprising: molding a pallet having a body with an upper surface and a lower surface and pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; and suspending a flexible tensile member in the body with a portion of the flexible tensile member extending laterally across the central span, including placing a tensile preload along the flexible tensile member so that a preload exists across the flexible tensile member even when the pallet is free of load thereon; wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for manufacturing a pallet, the method comprising: molding a pallet having a body with an upper surface and a lower surface and pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; and suspending a flexible tensile member in the body with a portion of the flexible tensile member extending laterally across the central span, including placing a tensile preload along the flexible tensile member so that a preload exists across the flexible tensile member even when the pallet is free of load thereon; wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 19 wherein: the body includes an upper deck and a lower deck; and the suspending of the flexible tensile member in the body includes capturing the flexible tensile member between the upper deck and the lower deck during the molding of the body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 19 wherein: the pallet includes a tensioner cooperating with the body and the flexible tensile member to adjust the tension in the flexible tensile member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
120 words
A pallet for supporting objects thereon, the pallet comprising: a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced therefrom, a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; and a flexible tensile member suspended in the body and extending laterally across the body, the flexible tensile member being removably affixed to the body; wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
120 words
A pallet for supporting objects thereon, the pallet comprising: a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced therefrom, a pair of laterally spaced apart edge portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge portions and a central span extending between the laterally spaced apart edge portions; and a flexible tensile member suspended in the body and extending laterally across the body, the flexible tensile member being removably affixed to the body; wherein when a load is placed atop the pallet with the pallet being supported along the laterally spaced apart edge portions, the central span will deflect and bear upon the flexible tensile member with the flexible tensile member providing support to the central span against deflection.
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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) | 2001-06-01 | 2001-12-01 | 2002-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-12-01 | 2006-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-01 | 2009-12-01 | 2010-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |