Plastic pallet having metal deck
OwnerRonald Brochu, Roy Mooreinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A molded plastic pallet has a base comprised of steel beam-reinforced thermoplastic rails reinforced with steel beams, vertical columns, a frame on top of the columns, and a textured metal deck. The metal deck preferably comprises a flange which is attached to the frame or to a subframe which is within the opening of the frame. The edge of the deck is inset from the outer edge of the frame, and the periphery of the top of the frame is exposed. The frame preferably has one or more impact absorbing zones at the bridge portions of the frame, which span the fork openings between adjacent columns.
Claims18
A predominately plastic pallet comprising:
- a rectangular base;
- a multiplicity of spaced apart outer columns extending upwardly from the periphery of the base;
- a top, comprising a rectangular plastic frame having inner edges and outer edges, mounted on the columns, the frame comprising bridges which span the spaces between the columns;
- deck support means, for attaching the deck to the top;
- a textured sheet metal deck, for receiving goods placed on the pallet.
A predominately thermoplastic rectangular pallet comprising:
- a base comprised of four outer rails interconnected to form a rectangle;
- at least one cross rail connecting the center points of opposing side outer rails;
- reinforcing beams within said rails, the beams having a higher modulus of elasticity than the modulus of elasticity of the thermoplastic material of the pallet;
- eight spaced apart outer columns extending upwardly from the outer rails and one center column extending upwardly from the center of the base;
- a thermoplastic frame, attached to the tops of the outer columns, the frame having inner edges and outer edges and comprised of a multiplicity of bridges which span the spaces between the columns, each bridge comprising at least one impact absorber zone running lengthwise in proximity to the outer edge of the frame;
- a subframe, spaced apart from the inside edge of the frame;
- means for supporting the subframe;
- a textured metal deck attached to the subframe and to the center column, wherein the edges of the deck are inset from the inner edges of the frame;
- wherein, the combination of frame and deck forming the top of the pallet, for receiving goods placed on the pallet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.