Patent US5941179A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5941179A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable-configuration pallet of modular construction
Assignee: ESTATE OF ALLAN EDWARD COBB IN CARE OF ITS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE CLYDE COBB
•
Filing: 1999-01-26
•
Granted: 1999-08-24
•
Expires: 2019-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A pallet is assembled from three basic components that can be combined in various ways to produce different configurations. Several identical slats are connected in alternative positions to latches over the top member of at least two transverse runners, thereby forming a load-bearing support surface. The bottom side of each runner includes uniformly-spaced blocks for elevating the support surface over the ground and providing clearance under the top member for engagement of the pallet by the fork of material handling equipment. Identical slats are also connected to the bottom of these blocks to provide continuous bottom surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the pallet. An additional basic component, a foot-frame member that is adapted to fill the space between pairs of blocks in the underside of the runners, can be added or formed integrally with the runners to provide a continuous bottom surface also in the transverse direction of the pallet.
Inventors
- 👤 Morris A. Herring
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D19/00; B65D19/0004; B65D19/0053; B65D19/0077; B65D19/0089; B65D19/0093; B65D19/0095; B65D19/0055; B65D19/0067; B65D19/0071; B65D19/0073; B65D19/0091; B65D2519/00; B65D2519/00004; B65D2519/00009; B65D2519/00014; B65D2519/00034; B65D2519/00049; B65D2519/00069; B65D2519/00084; B65D2519/00104; B65D2519/00258; B65D2519/00283; B65D2519/00293; B65D2519/00298; B65D2519/00313; B65D2519/00323; B65D2519/00328; B65D2519/00333; B65D2519/00368; B65D2519/00373; B65D2519/00547; B65D2519/00552; B65D2519/00557; B65D2519/00567; B65D2519/00736; B65D2519/0098; B65D2519/00985; B65D2519/0099
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A modular pallet comprising the following combination of components: a plurality of runners, each runner having a top member supported by at least two equally-spaced blocks of substantially equal size, said top member and said blocks including transverse clasping slots providing alternative fastening sites over the top member; and a plurality of slats, each slat including longitudinal fastening ridges adapted to mate in releasable connection with said clasping slots; whereby the pallet is assembled by fastening a slat to each of the blocks and by fastening multiple slats only at some of the alternative fastening sites in the top members of the runners in orthogonal disposition therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A modular pallet comprising the following combination of components: a plurality of runners, each runner having a top member supported by at least two equally-spaced blocks of substantially equal size, said top member and said blocks including transverse clasping slots providing alternative fastening sites over the top member; and a plurality of slats, each slat including longitudinal fastening ridges adapted to mate in releasable connection with said clasping slots; whereby the pallet is assembled by fastening a slat to each of the blocks and by fastening multiple slats only at some of the alternative fastening sites in the top members of the runners in orthogonal disposition therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein each runner comprises three equally-spaced blocks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein said plurality of runners consists of three runners.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pallet of claim 2, wherein said plurality of runners consists of three runners.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein said multiple slats fastened at some of the alternative fastening sites in the top members of the runners consist of three slats.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pallet of claim 4, wherein said multiple slats fastened at some of the alternative fastening sites in the top members of the runners consist of three slats.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein said multiple slats fastened at some of the alternative fastening sites in the top members of the runners consist of four slats.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pallet of claim 4, wherein said multiple slats fastened at some of the alternative fastening sites in the top members of the runners consist of four slats.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein said multiple slats fastened at some of the alternative fastening sites in the top members of the runners consist of five slats.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pallet of claim 4, wherein said multiple slats fastened at some of the alternative fastening sites in the top members of the runners consist of five slats.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pallet of claim 1, wherein the pallet is made with a rigid resilient material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pallet of claim 11, wherein said rigid resilient material is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pallet of claim 6, wherein the pallet is made of a resilient material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pallet of claim 8, wherein the pallet is made of a resilient material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pallet of claim 10, wherein the pallet is made of a resilient material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pallet of claim 2, further comprising a foot frame between each pair of said equally-spaced blocks, said frame comprising a support surface aligned with the slats fastened to each of the blocks.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pallet of claim 16, wherein the pallet is made of a resilient material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
117 words
A kit for a modular pallet comprising the following combination of components: a plurality of identical runners, each runner having a top member supported by at least two equally-spaced blocks, said top member and said blocks including multiple first components of a latching mechanism providing alternative fastening sites over the top member; a plurality of identical slats, each slat including second components of the latching mechanism adapted to mate in releasable connection with said first components; and a plurality of identical foot frames adapted for attachment between each pair of said equally-spaced blocks, each of said foot frames comprising a support surface aligned with the slats fastened to each of the blocks after assembly of the pallet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
117 words
A kit for a modular pallet comprising the following combination of components: a plurality of identical runners, each runner having a top member supported by at least two equally-spaced blocks, said top member and said blocks including multiple first components of a latching mechanism providing alternative fastening sites over the top member; a plurality of identical slats, each slat including second components of the latching mechanism adapted to mate in releasable connection with said first components; and a plurality of identical foot frames adapted for attachment between each pair of said equally-spaced blocks, each of said foot frames comprising a support surface aligned with the slats fastened to each of the blocks after assembly of the pallet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The kit of claim 18, wherein said first components of a latching mechanism consist of clasping slots and said second components consist of fastening ridges adapted to mate in releasable connection with said clasping slots.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The kit of claim 19, wherein said slats, runners and foot frames are made with a rigid resilient material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and mixtures thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3307504A
Cited
US3438164A
Cited
GB2026431A
Cited
US5129329A
Cited
US5170722A
Cited
US5601035A
Cited
US5365859A
Cited
US5458069A
Cited
US5417167A
Cited
US5579701A
Cited
US5402735A
Cited
US5456189A
Cited
US5497709A
Cited
US5546872A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-23 | 2003-02-22 | 2003-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-23 | 2007-02-22 | 2007-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-23 | 2011-02-22 | 2011-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |