# US 10,118,731 B2 · Pallet assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,731 B2 - Document ID: US10118731B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/176,981 - Filed: 2016-06-08 - Published: 2017-01-26 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-08 - Assignees: Rehrig Pacific Company - Applicants: Rehrig Pacific Company - Inventors: William P. Apps; Christopher N. Gab - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118731B2 ## CPC - B65D 19/0069: {forming a continuous plane contact surface} - B65D 2519/00034: Plastic - B65D 2519/00069: Plastic - B65D 2519/00129: Metal - B65D 2519/00139: Plastic - B65D 2519/00273: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00293: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00318: made of one piece - B65D 2519/00323: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00333: contact surface having a stringer-like shape - B65D 2519/00407: on the load supporting surface - B65D 2519/00412: on the base surface - B65D 2519/00437: on the load supporting surface - B65D 2519/00442: on the base surface - B65D 2519/00562: chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed - B65D 2519/0086: Protection against environmental hazards, e.g. humidity, bacteria, fire - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A pallet includes fire retardant coatings to improve the overall fire performance of the pallet. First, the coatings may be used in combination with fire retardant additives in the plastic material of the pallet in order to reduce the amount of additives, thereby reducing cost and improving the structural performance of the pallet. Alternatively or additionally, the fire retardant coatings may be placed inside the pallet. This eliminates the chance that the fire retardant coating will get worn off during use. For example, the coating could be placed between the reinforcement sheet and the deck or runners, within the columns, etc. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pallet comprising: a deck including a plurality of ribs between an upper planar portion and a lower planar portion; a plurality of supports supporting the deck; and a fire retardant material between the upper planar portion and the lower planar portion and between the plurality of ribs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1 wherein the fire retardant material is an intumescent material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1 wherein the fire retardant material is a coating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1 further including reinforcement rods between the upper planar portion and the lower planar portion and between the plurality of ribs, wherein the fire retardant material is in contact with the reinforcement rods. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pallet of claim 4 wherein the reinforcement rods are hollow and the fire retardant material is inside the reinforcement rods. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pallet of claim 5 wherein the fire retardant material is on outer surfaces of the reinforcement rods. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pallet of claim 6 wherein the fire retardant material is an intumescent material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1 wherein the fire retardant material is an intumescent material coating on the upper planar portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pallet of claim 8 wherein the intumescent material coating is on the plurality of ribs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1 wherein the deck is an upper deck and further including a plurality of runners connecting lower ends of the supports. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pallet of claim 10 wherein the runners include a plurality of ribs and a lower reinforcement sheet secured thereto, the pallet further including intumescent material between the runners and the lower reinforcement sheet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pallet of claim 11 wherein the lower planar portion is formed of a polymer with additives improving fire retardant properties. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pallet of claim 12 wherein the lower reinforcement sheet is formed of a polymer with additives improving fire retardant properties. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1 wherein the lower planar portion is formed of a polymer with additives improving fire retardant properties. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pallet of claim 14 wherein the lower planar portion includes less than approximately 10% additives improving fire retardant properties. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The pallet of claim 15 wherein the lower planar portion includes less than approximately 5% additives improving fire retardant properties. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The pallet of claim 1 wherein the lower planar portion is an upper reinforcement sheet secured to the ribs. ### Claim 18 A pallet comprising: a deck including a planar portion and a plurality of ribs extending generally perpendicular thereto, the planar portion formed of a polymer having an additive for improving fire retardant properties of the polymer; a fire retardant coating on the deck; and a plurality of supports supporting the deck. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The pallet of claim 18 wherein the planar portion of the deck is formed of a polymer with additives improving fire retardant properties. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The pallet of claim 19 wherein the planar portion of the deck includes less than approximately 10% additives improving fire retardant properties. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The pallet of claim 20 wherein the planar portion of the deck includes less than approximately 5% additives improving fire retardant properties.