# US 2007/0017422 A1 · Pallet with composite components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2007/0017422 A1 - Document ID: US20070017422A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/184,709 - Filed: 2005-07-19 - Published: 2007-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2005-07-19 - Assignees: Fitzpatrick Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Terry Ingham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20070017422A1 ## CPC - B65D 19/0048: {and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape} - B65D 2519/00034: Plastic - B65D 2519/00069: Plastic - B65D 2519/00109: Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together - B65D 2519/00273: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00293: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00323: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00333: contact surface having a stringer-like shape - B65D 2519/00378: whereby at least one spacer is made of two or more pieces - 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 having a first deck,a second deck, and a plurality of composite block members securing the first and second decks together to form a pallet. The composite block members and lead boards of the first and/or second deck comprise a composite material including about 50%-55% by weight of juniper or conifer particles and about 45%-50% by weight of a plastic component including a major portion of polyethylene. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pallet comprising: a first deck; a second deck; and a plurality of block members connecting the first and second decks together to form a pallet, the block members comprising a composite material including at least about 20% by weight of natural material particles and at least about 20% by weight of plastic material particles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1, wherein the natural material particles comprise ground particles of whole trees selected from the group consisting of junipers and conifers, the whole trees including root particles, trunk particles, branch particles, needle particles, wood particles, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pallet according to claim 2, wherein the natural material particles comprise at least one wood selected from the group consisting of: Apache Plume; Ash, single-leaf; Bitterbrush; Cliffrose; Fendlerbush; Juniper, one-seed; Juniper, rocky mountain; Mahogany, curl-leaf; Mahogany, mountain; Mock Orange; Ponderosa Pine; Mormon Tea; and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1, wherein the plastic material particles comprise at least one material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, poly(ethylene terephthalate), nylon, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second decks comprises a substantially rectangular frame having a plurality of longitudinally and laterally extending cross members, further wherein at least one of the plurality of cross members comprises a composite material comprising at least about 20% by weight of natural material particles ground from whole trees and at least about 20% by weight of plastic material particles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pallet according to claim 5, wherein the at least one cross member comprises a lead board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1, wherein the block members comprise at least about 50% by weight of natural material particles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1, wherein the block members comprise at least about 45% by weight of plastic material particles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pallet according to claim 8, wherein the block members comprise at least about 45% by weight of a thermoplastic component comprising a major portion of polyethylene. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1, wherein the block members further comprise at least one filler selected from the group consisting of colorants, UV protectors, flame and fire retardants, lubricants, soaps, polymer initiators, coupling agents, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1, wherein the block members have an average water absorption of less than about 15% by weight. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1, wherein the block members are press-formed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1, wherein the block members are formed using extrusion techniques. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1, wherein the natural material particles have an average particle size of less than about 0.25 inches and have a random orientation in the composite material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pallet according to claim 14, wherein the natural material particles have an average particle size of less than about 0.0625 inches. ### Claim 16 A pallet comprising: a first deck comprising a first plurality of cross members; a second deck comprising a second plurality of cross members; and a plurality of block members connecting the first and second decks together to form a pallet, wherein at least one block member and at least one cross member of the first or second plurality of cross members comprise a composite material including at least about 50% by weight of a natural material and at least about 45% by weight of a plastic material comprising a major portion of polyethylene. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The pallet according to claim 16, wherein the at least one cross member comprises a lead board. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The pallet according to claim 16, wherein the at least one cross member comprises a composite material including wood fibers having an average length of from about ⅜ to about ¾ inches. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The pallet according to claim 16, wherein the plastic material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, poly(ethylene terephthalate), nylon, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The pallet according to claim 16, wherein the block members further comprise at least one filler selected from the group consisting of colorants, UV protectors, flame and fire retardants, lubricants, soaps, polymer initiators, coupling agents, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 21 A pallet comprising: a first deck comprising a first plurality of cross members; a second deck comprising a second plurality of cross members; and a plurality of extruded, elliptical shaped composite block members connecting the first and second decks together to form a pallet, wherein the block members and at least one cross member of the first or second plurality of cross members comprise a composite material including from about 50% to about 55% by weight of natural material particles having an average particles size of less than about 0.25 inches, and from about 45% to about 50% by weight of plastic material particles comprising a major portion of recycled, low density polyethylene. ### Claim 22 A method of making a pallet comprising: preparing and blending a mixture comprising from about 50% to about 55% by weight of natural material particles and from about 45% to about 50% by weight of plastic material particles; heating and extruding the mixture forming a composite material of a desired shape; cutting the composite material into blocks; and securing the blocks to substantially rectangular shaped upper and lower decks to form a pallet.