# US 2010/0229764 A1 · Pallet with lead board > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0229764 A1 - Document ID: US20100229764A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/679,160 - Filed: 2008-09-26 - Published: 2010-09-16 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-26 - Assignees: Fitzpatrick Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Terry L. Ingham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100229764A1 ## CPC - B65D 19/38: Details or accessories - B65D 19/0095: {and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape} - B65D 2519/00029: Wood - B65D 2519/00034: Plastic - B65D 2519/00039: Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together - B65D 2519/00044: Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates - B65D 2519/00064: Wood - B65D 2519/00069: Plastic - B65D 2519/00074: Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together - B65D 2519/00079: Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates - B65D 2519/00109: Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together - B65D 2519/00114: Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates - B65D 2519/00273: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00293: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00298: skeleton type - B65D 2519/00323: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00333: contact surface having a stringer-like shape - B65D 2519/00353: skeleton type - B65D 2519/00373: whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece - B65D 2519/00562: chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed - B65D 2519/00572: with separate auxiliary element, e.g. screws, nails, bayonets - B65D 2519/00796: Guiding means for fork-lift - B65D 2519/0084: Separated elements, e.g. including in-moulded elements - 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 an upper deck and a lower deck secured by supporting block members. The upper deck may include a plurality of board members and may be provided with at least one lead board operable to serve as an energy attenuator. The lead board may comprise a composite material and may be formed using pultrusion techniques. The lead board may be separated or spaced from an adjacent board member by a gap or scallop type area and may be operable to flex inwardly or otherwise upon impact to absorb energy. The gap or scallop type area may be suitable to operate in combination with the lead board as a handle mechanism for grabbing or lifting the pallet. The lead board may also be used to attach shipping straps. ## 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, wherein at least one of the first and second decks comprises a substantially rectangular frame having at least one lead board member and a plurality of longitudinally and laterally extending cross board members, further wherein the lead board member is configured to serve as an energy attenuator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A pallet according to claim 1, wherein the lead board member is flexible. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A pallet according to claim 1, wherein the lead board is substantially juxtaposed to one of the cross board members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A pallet according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the lead board is separated from the cross board member by a scalloped area defining an aperture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A pallet according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the lead board member is configured to flex inward into the aperture upon impact. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A pallet according to claim 1, further comprising at least one spacer member disposed between the lead board member and the cross board member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A pallet according to claim 1, wherein the lead board member is formed using pultrusion techniques. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A pallet according to claim 7, wherein the lead board member is integrally formed from a monolithic piece of pultruded material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A pallet according to claim 8, wherein the pultruded material comprises a fiber reinforced thermosetting resin including at least one of a glass mat, fiber mat, and woven roving material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A pallet according to claim 7, wherein the pultruded material comprises a mixture of about 40 to about 60% by weight of continuous uni-directional fibers and from about 10 to about 30% by weight of veil mat or woven roving material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A pallet according to claim 1, wherein at least one block member and at least one cross board member comprises a recycled material selected from the group consisting of bottling containers, automotive plastic components, agricultural films, rubber tires, fabrics, textiles, reclaimed paper, sanitary paper products, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A pallet according to claim 1, further comprising at least one connecting board member configured to connect the cross board members. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A pallet according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the lead board member, cross board members, and connecting board member is encapsulated with a resin matrix material. ### Claim 14 A pallet comprising: an upper deck comprising a plurality of cross board members and at least one energy attenuating lead board member disposed adjacent to one of the cross board members; a lower deck; and a plurality of block members connecting the upper and lower decks together to form a pallet, wherein at least a portion of the lead board member is separated from the adjacent cross board member and is configured to flex upon impact. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A pallet according to claim 14, further comprising at least one spacer member disposed between the lead board member and the adjacent cross board member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A pallet according to claim 14, wherein the lead board member comprises a monolithic piece of pultruded material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A pallet according to claim 14, wherein the lead board member comprises continuous, uni-directional reinforcing fibers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The pallet according to claim 14, further comprising a connecting board member configured to connect a plurality of the cross board members to one another, wherein at least one of the lead board member, cross board members, and connecting board member is encapsulated with a resin matrix material. ### Claim 19 A pallet comprising: a first deck including a plurality of longitudinally and laterally extending cross board members; an energy attenuating lead board member disposed adjacent to one of the cross board members; and a second deck connected to the first deck to form a form a pallet, wherein at least a portion of the lead board member is separated from the adjacent cross board member and is configured to flex upon impact. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The pallet according to claim 19, wherein the lead board member is integrally formed from a monolithic piece of pultruded material.