US6006677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic pallet
Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Co Inc
•
Filing: 1998-01-08
•
Granted: 1999-12-28
•
Expires: 2018-01-08
Abstract
Abstract An improved pallet made of a synthetic resin wherein the underside of the upper deck is substantially planar, and the supports which separate the upper and lower decks are integrally formed with and project upwardly from the lower deck, and are secured to the underside of the upper deck. The upper ends of the supports are received in recesses in the underside of the upper deck, and the recesses and the supports preferably have mating elements which snap-actingly engage one another to lock the supports in the recesses when the decks are assembled. Preferably, the supports are tapered, the lower ends of the supports being wider than the upper ends thereof. The top surface of the upper deck, the bottom surface of the lower deck, and the underside of the upper deck in the fork-receiving regions between the supports may have a slip-resistant scuffed texture.
Inventors
- 👤 William P. Apps
- 👤 Jeffrey L. Wilkerson
- 👤 Brian T. Musser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:02
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D19/00; B65D19/0004; B65D19/0006; B65D19/0008; B65D19/001; B65D19/0012; B65D2519/00; B65D2519/00004; B65D2519/00009; B65D2519/00014; B65D2519/00034; B65D2519/00049; B65D2519/00069; B65D2519/00258; B65D2519/00263; B65D2519/00273; B65D2519/00283; B65D2519/00288; B65D2519/00308; B65D2519/00313; B65D2519/00318; B65D2519/00328; B65D2519/00333; B65D2519/00363; B65D2519/00398; B65D2519/00402; B65D2519/00407; B65D2519/00412; B65D2519/00547; B65D2519/00552; B65D2519/00557; B65D2519/00562; B65D2519/00567; B65D2519/00736; B65D2519/00825; B65D2519/0083; B65D2519/00835; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S108/00; Y10S108/901; Y10S108/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
In a synthetic resin pallet, for use with a fork lift, comprising separately molded upper and lower decks spaced apart by a plurality of supports to define therebetween fork-receiving regions beneath the upper deck, the improvement wherein an underside of the upper deck is substantially planar, and the supports are integrally formed with and project upwardly from the lower deck and are secured to the underside of the upper deck, the supports having lower ends and upper ends, the upper ends of the supports being received in recesses in the underside of the upper deck, wherein the supports are tapered, the lower ends of the supports being wider than the upper ends thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a synthetic resin pallet, for use with a fork lift, comprising separately molded upper and lower decks spaced apart by a plurality of supports to define therebetween fork-receiving regions beneath the upper deck, the improvement wherein an underside of the upper deck is substantially planar, and the supports are integrally formed with and project upwardly from the lower deck and are secured to the underside of the upper deck, the supports having lower ends and upper ends, the upper ends of the supports being received in recesses in the underside of the upper deck, wherein the supports are tapered, the lower ends of the supports being wider than the upper ends thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pallet according to claim 1 wherein each of the supports is hollow, has a side wall, and has in its interior upright stiffening ribs which project inwardly from said side wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a synthetic resin pallet, for use with a fork lift, comprising separately molded upper and lower decks spaced apart by a plurality of supports to define therebetween fork-receiving regions beneath the upper deck, the improvement wherein an underside of the upper deck is substantially planar, and the supports are integrally formed with and project upwardly from the lower deck and are secured to the underside of the upper deck, wherein each of the supports is tapered and includes a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of each support being wider than the upper end thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a synthetic resin pallet, for use with a fork lift, comprising separately molded upper and lower decks spaced apart by a plurality of supports to define therebetween fork-receiving regions beneath the upper deck, the improvement wherein an underside of the upper deck is substantially planar, and the supports are integrally formed with and project upwardly from the lower deck and are secured to the underside of the upper deck, wherein each of the supports is tapered and includes a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of each support being wider than the upper end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pallet according to claim 3 wherein the upper ends of the supports are received in recesses in the underside of the upper deck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A pallet according to claim 4 wherein the recesses and the supports have integrally formed mating elements which snap-actingly engage one another to lock the supports in the recesses when the upper and lower decks are assembled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A pallet according to claim 3 wherein one of the supports is located substantially at the center of the pallet, and the other supports are located substantially at the periphery of the pallet, the central support being the largest support.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A pallet according to claim 6 wherein the pallet is generally rectangular with nine supports between the decks, one support being located at each corner of the pallet, and one support being located medially of each side of the pallet, the supports defining two fork-receiving regions for forks entering from each side of the pallet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A pallet according to claim 7 wherein the lower deck comprises a generally rectangular perimeter base from which the peripheral supports project, and an integrally formed X-shaped central base from which the central support projects, the central joining with the perimeter base medially of each side thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pallet according to claim 8 wherein the perimeter base and the central base define four large openings through the lower deck.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pallet according to claim 3 wherein each of the supports is hollow, has a side wall, and has in its interior upright stiffening ribs which project inwardly from said side wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
217 words
In a synthetic resin pallet, for use with a fork lift, comprising separately molded upper and lower decks spaced apart by a plurality of nine supports to define therebetween fork-receiving regions beneath the upper deck, the improvement wherein the underside of the upper deck is substantially planar, and the supports are integrally formed with and project upwardly from the lower deck and are secured to the underside of the upper deck, one of the supports being located substantially at the center of the pallet, and the other supports are located substantially at the periphery of the pallet, the central support being the largest support, wherein the pallet is generally rectangular, one support being located at each comer of the pallet, and one support being located medially of each side of the pallet, the supports defining two of said fork-receiving regions for forks entering from each side of the pallet, the bottom deck includes a generally rectangular perimeter base from which the peripheral supports project, and an integrally formed X-shaped central base from which the central support projects, the central base joining with the perimeter base medially of each side thereof, the perimeter base and the central base defining four large openings through the lower deck, and wherein portions of the central support protrude into the large openings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
217 words
In a synthetic resin pallet, for use with a fork lift, comprising separately molded upper and lower decks spaced apart by a plurality of nine supports to define therebetween fork-receiving regions beneath the upper deck, the improvement wherein the underside of the upper deck is substantially planar, and the supports are integrally formed with and project upwardly from the lower deck and are secured to the underside of the upper deck, one of the supports being located substantially at the center of the pallet, and the other supports are located substantially at the periphery of the pallet, the central support being the largest support, wherein the pallet is generally rectangular, one support being located at each comer of the pallet, and one support being located medially of each side of the pallet, the supports defining two of said fork-receiving regions for forks entering from each side of the pallet, the bottom deck includes a generally rectangular perimeter base from which the peripheral supports project, and an integrally formed X-shaped central base from which the central support projects, the central base joining with the perimeter base medially of each side thereof, the perimeter base and the central base defining four large openings through the lower deck, and wherein portions of the central support protrude into the large openings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A pallet according to claim 11 wherein the underside of the perimeter base and the underside of the central base have reinforcing ribs, some of said reinforcing ribs lying beneath the supports, the reinforcing ribs beneath the supports being more closely spaced than elsewhere in the perimeter base and the central base.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A pallet according to claim 11 wherein the corner supports are circular in cross-section, the medial side supports are oblong in cross-section with rounded ends in the areas adjacent the fork-receiving regions, and the central support is rectangular in cross-section with rounded corners.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pallet according to claim 13 wherein the supports are tapered, the lower ends of the supports being wider than the upper ends thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pallet according to claim 14 wherein the top of the perimeter base and the top of the central base have beveled edges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pallet according to claim 14 wherein each of the supports is hollow, has a side wall, and has in its interior upright stiffening ribs which project inwardly from said side wall.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pallet according to claim 13 wherein the top of the perimeter base and the top of the central base have beveled edges.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3126843A
Cited
US2544657A
Cited
US2699912A
Cited
US3307504A
Cited
US3467032A
Cited
US3602157A
Cited
US3678868A
Cited
US3651769A
Cited
US3654874A
Cited
US3685461A
Cited
USD246296S
Cited
US3710733A
Cited
US3835792A
Cited
DE2232200A1
Cited
US3824933A
Cited
US3878796A
Cited
US3964400A
Cited
US4051787A
Cited
US4316419A
Cited
US4103857A
Cited
DE2733457A1
Cited
US4183491A
Cited
US4287836A
Cited
US4403555A
Cited
US4597338A
Cited
US5197395A
Cited
USD346681S
Cited
USD347511S
Cited
USD371882S
Cited
US5845588A
Cited
US5676064A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |