Transport pallet for creating modular configurable structures
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents, a body corporate of the State of Arizona, acting for and on behalf of Ariz
InventorBenjamin Lyle Ruddell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pallet configured to be coupled to another pallet to form a modular structure. The pallet includes a top surface and a bottom surface including a longitudinal center axis. First and second cross-bar elements are coupled to and extend outward from the bottom surface. The first cross-bar element is positioned parallel to and at a first distance from the center axis, and the second cross-bar element positioned parallel to and at a second distance from the center axis different than the first distance.
Claims20
A pallet configured to be coupled to another pallet to form a modular structure, the pallet comprising:
- a top surface;
- a bottom surface parallel and adjacent to the top surface, the bottom surface including a longitudinal center axis;
- a first cross-bar element coupled to and extending outward from the bottom surface, the first cross-bar element positioned parallel to and at a first distance from the center axis, the first cross-bar element including a pinhole configured to receive a bolt;
- and
- a second cross-bar element coupled to and extending outward from the bottom surface, the second cross-bar element positioned parallel to and at a second distance from the center axis, different than the first distance, the second cross-bar element including a pinhole configured to receive a bolt.
A pallet system comprising:
- a first pallet including a bottom surface with a first cross-bar element coupled to and extending outward from the bottom surface and a second cross-bar element coupled to and extending outward from the bottom surface;
- and
- a second pallet including a bottom surface with a first cross-bar element coupled to and extending outward from the bottom surface and a second cross-bar element coupled to and extending outward from the bottom surface,
- when the first pallet and the second pallet are stacked, the first cross-bar element of the first pallet is aligned adjacent to the second cross-bar element of the second pallet, and the second cross-bar element of the first pallet is aligned adjacent to the first cross-bar element of the second pallet.
A method for creating a modular pallet structure, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first pallet including a first side edge, a bottom surface with a longitudinal center axis, a first cross-bar element coupled to and extending outward from the bottom surface, the first cross-bar element positioned parallel to and at a first distance from the center axis, and a second cross-bar element coupled to and extending outward from the bottom surface, the second cross-bar element positioned parallel to and at a second distance from the center axis, different than the first distance;
- providing a second pallet including a second side edge, a bottom surface with a longitudinal center axis, a first cross-bar element coupled to and extending outward from the bottom surface, the first cross-bar element positioned parallel to and at the first distance from the center axis, and a second cross-bar element coupled to and extending outward from the bottom surface, the second cross-bar element positioned parallel to and at the second distance from the center axis;
- aligning the first side edge with the second side edge;
- and
- coupling together the first cross-bar element of the first pallet with the first cross-bar element of the second pallet with a connector and a bolt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.