Pallet with alignment features
AssigneeRehrig Pacific Company
InventorsWilliam P. Apps, Sean T. Ogburn, William Mead, Ryan C. Meers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pallet according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a deck and a plurality of columns extending downward from the deck. In order to increase the stability of the pallet on a fork, at least one alignment feature protrudes downward from the deck between the pair of columns. The alignment feature extends downwardly substantially less than the columns, such that the alignment feature does not contact the floor and does not significantly increase the weight of the pallet. In another feature of the present invention, preformed foam inserts are inserted into the cavities of the columns and/or the alignment features.
Claims24
A pallet comprising:
- a deck;
- a pair of columns extending downward from the deck along a first side of the deck, the deck not including any other columns extending downward from the deck between the pair of columns;
- and
- at least one alignment feature protruding downward from the deck between the pair of columns, the at least one alignment feature protruding downward from the deck less than the pair of columns.
A pallet comprising:
- a deck;
- a plurality of columns extending downward from the deck;
- and
- at least one foam insert received in at least one of the plurality of columns, wherein the at least one foam insert is formed of a polymer that is the same as a polymer of the plurality of columns
(canceled)
A method for assembling a pallet including the steps of:
- forming a deck;
- forming a plurality of projections extending downward from the deck;
- forming a foam insert;
- and
- placing the foam insert into at least one of the plurality of projections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.