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US 2010/0024689 A1Published application
Pallet with composite components
AssigneeFitzpatrick Technologies, LLC
InventorTerry L. INGHAM
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
A pallet comprising:
- a first deck comprising a first plurality of cross members and a lead board;
- 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, a lead board, or at least one cross member comprise a composite material including natural material and a plastic material comprising a major portion of polyethylene.
1 more element
A method of making a pallet member, the method comprising:
- receiving wood particles on a screen and screening out wood particles of a given size;
- transporting the screened wood particles to a reducer and reducing the size of the screened wood particles;
- transporting the wood particles to a washer for washing the wood particles;
- flaking the washed wood particles;
- grinding the washed wood particles and storing the wood particles in a processed wood receiver;
- storing plastic material in a plastics receiver;
- transporting the plastic material from the plastics receiver and the wood particles from the wood receiver to a blender for blending the plastic material and wood particles;
- and
- using heat and pressure to form the blended wood particles and plastic material into a pallet component.
6 more elements
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 using a continuous extrusion process forming a composite material of a desired shape;
- cutting the composite material into block members and boards;
- and
- securing the blocks and boards with nails or screws to form a pallet having substantially rectangular shaped upper and lower decks.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.