# US 2014/0360120 A1 · Multi-Purpose Transport And Flooring Structures, And Associated Methods Of Manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360120 A1 - Document ID: US20140360120A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/298,783 - Filed: 2014-06-06 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-06 - Assignees: Good Works Studio, Inc. - Inventors: Sam Arthur Brisendine; Scott Austin Key - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360120A1 ## CPC - E04F 15/02405: {Floor panels} - B65D 19/0018: {and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape} - B65D 19/18: made wholly or mainly of plastics material - B65D 19/38: Details or accessories - B65D 81/36: adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents - B65D 81/361: {Modular elements with complementary shapes, interengageable parts or the like (toy building blocks A63H33/04; building elements for walls E04B2/02)} - B65D 2519/00019: Paper - B65D 2519/00024: Metal - B65D 2519/00029: Wood - B65D 2519/00034: Plastic - B65D 2519/00054: Paper - B65D 2519/00059: Metal - B65D 2519/00064: Wood - B65D 2519/00069: Plastic - B65D 2519/00273: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00288: made of one piece - B65D 2519/00318: made of one piece - B65D 2519/00338: contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape - B65D 2519/00407: on the load supporting surface - B65D 2519/00567: mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted - B65D 2519/00746: divisible into sub-pallets of smaller dimensions - B65D 2519/00835: Integral - B65D 2519/0084: Separated elements, e.g. including in-moulded elements - E04F 15/02411: {with integrated feet (E04F15/02417 takes precedence)} - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - 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 cap for covering and connecting with at least one existing pallet includes a reinforced platform having a flat top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. Four vertical, peripheral edges connect the top and bottom surfaces. Three or more of the edges form at least one edge extension continuing outward from the reinforced platform, and at least one edge notch proximate the edge extension and recessed from the edge extension. At least one notched corner is formed by distal edge extensions of edges meeting perpendicular to one another. A plurality of retaining walls extend downward from the bottom surface of the platform and define the edge notches, proximate a junction of the platform and the edge extensions, for securing the pallet cap over a shipping pallet. Multiple caps may be connected to form an expandable raised flooring system or other structures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pallet cap for covering and connecting with at least one pallet, the cap comprising: a reinforced platform having a flat top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface; four peripheral edges connecting the top and bottom surfaces, three or more of the edges forming at least one edge extension continuing outward from the reinforced platform, and at least one edge notch proximate and recessed from the at least one edge extension; and a plurality of retaining walls extending downward at an obtuse angle from the bottom surface of the platform and defining an innermost surface of the edge notches, proximate a junction of the platform and the edge extensions, for securing the pallet cap over a shipping pallet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pallet cap of claim 1, the edge extensions and edge notches shaped to fit, respectively, with corresponding edge notches and edge extensions of a second pallet cap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pallet cap of claim 1, the edge notches each comprising a lower edge plate extending horizontally from one of the retaining walls, for supporting an edge extension of a second pallet cap, when the second pallet cap joins with the pallet cap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pallet cap of claim 1, the edge extensions and edge notches forming a height of the pallet cap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The pallet cap of claim 3, the edge extensions comprising a horizontal plate extending outward from the top surface of the platform and in the plane of the top surface, and downwardly extending outer walls having a length substantially equal to a length of the retaining walls of the edge notches, such that top surfaces of the pallet cap and a second pallet cap are level when the pallet caps connect with the edge extensions of the pallet cap resting upon the lower edge plates of the edge notches of the second pallet cap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pallet cap of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the edge extensions and a plurality of the lower plate extensions have at least one aperture therethrough. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pallet cap of claim 6, wherein the apertures of the edge extensions and the apertures of the lower plate extensions are placed an equal distance from a horizontal sidewall separating and defining the edge extensions or the edge notches, such that apertures of the plate extensions align with apertures of lower plate extensions of a second pallet cap, when the pallet cap and second pallet cap are connected via edge extensions of the pallet cap resting within edge notches and upon lower edge extensions of the second pallet cap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The pallet cap of claim 5, the apertures sized to fit a fastener selected from the group of a screw, a bolt, a stake, a zip tie, cord, wire, rope, twine or other string-like fastener. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The pallet cap of claim 5, further comprising one or more sections of hook-and-loop fastener disposed with a top surface of the edge extensions, proximate the apertures, such that edge extensions of the pallet cap and edge extensions of the second pallet cap may be joined with a complementary strip of hook-and-loop fastener, to laterally secure the pallet cap and the second pallet cap together. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pallet cap of claim 1, the flat top surface comprising a non-skid treatment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The pallet cap of claim 1, wherein a fourth of the pallet cap edges hingedly joins with a first connected pallet cap having (a) edge extensions continuing outward from a reinforced platform, (b) edge notches recessed from the edge extensions and (c) a plurality of retaining walls extending downward from a bottom surface of the connected pallet cap and defining the edge notches, along at least two sides of the connected pallet cap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pallet cap of claim 11, wherein the connected pallet cap hingedly joins with a second connected pallet cap at an edge opposite the junction of the pallet cap and the first connected pallet cap, the pallet cap, the first connected pallet cap and the second connected pallet cap foldable such that a bottom surface of the first connected pallet cap folds onto the top surface of the pallet cap, and a top surface of the second connected pallet cap folds onto the top surface of the first connected pallet cap to provide a tri-pallet cap assembly having a folded footprint equal to the footprint of the pallet cap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The pallet cap of claim 1, further comprising at least one outer notched corner formed by distal edge extensions of edges meeting perpendicular to one another. ### Claim 14 An expandable raised flooring system, comprising: a plurality of pallet caps, each including (a) a reinforced platform with a flat top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and (b) four peripheral edges, three or more of which form at least one edge extension and at least one edge notch having rear retaining walls extending downward from the bottom surface of the pallet cap, for fitting about a shipping pallet and/or raising the cap above a ground surface; wherein edge extensions of a first of the plurality of pallet caps fits within edge notches of a second of the plurality of pallet caps, to connect the first and second caps. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The expandable raised flooring system of claim 14, wherein each of the edge notches includes a lower edge plate extending horizontally outward from a distal end of the rear retaining walls; and wherein each of the edge extensions includes a horizontal plate extending outward from the top surface of the reinforced platform, and an outer wall extending downward from a distal end of the horizontal plate; such that the outer walls of the edge extensions of the first cap fit against the rear retaining walls of the second cap and atop the lower edge plate of the second cap, when the first and second caps are aligned together. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The expandable flooring system of claim 15, the horizontal plates of the edge extensions and the lower edge plates of the edge notches comprising a pair of equally-spaced apertures; wherein the apertures of the horizontal plates and the apertures of the lower edge plates align when the edge extensions of the first cap fit within the edge notches of the second cap, to facilitate fixation of the first and second caps via a fastener selected from the group of a screw, a bolt, a stake, a zip tie, cord, wire, rope, twine or other string-like fastener. ### Claim 17 A method of converting shipping pallet caps into raised flooring, comprising: positioning a plurality of pallet caps over a supporting surface; interconnecting the pallet caps via complementary lock and key features of the pallet caps; providing a plurality of apertures through the pallet caps, to prevent moisture accumulation atop the pallet caps and to secure the interconnected pallet caps together via fasteners; and providing a non-skid top surface on each pallet cap, to prevent users of the raised flooring system from slipping. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, the lock and key features comprising edge extensions and edge notches of complimentary size and shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the pallet caps are connected together via fasteners selected from the group of screws, bolts, stakes, zip ties, cord, wire, rope, twine, other string-like fasteners and combinations thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, the supporting surface selected from the group of a shipping pallet, an insulative material, debris-filled boxes, hard cell foam, timber, compacted soil, lumber and combinations thereof. ### Claim 21 A method of manufacturing a multipurpose transport and flooring structure, comprising: forming a reinforced platform including a top surface, an opposing bottom surface and four edges, each edge including at least one edge extension, at least one edge notch and sidewalls separating and defining adjacent notches and extensions; wherein each extension comprises (a) a horizontal plate extending from and in the plane of the top surface of the platform, and (b) a downwardly-extending outer wall at a distal end of the horizontal plate, the downwardly-extending outer wall forming an obtuse angle with a bottom surface of the horizontal plate and with the bottom surface of the platform; and wherein each edge notch comprises a rear retaining wall extending downward from the platform at an obtuse angle relative to the platform, and a lower edge plate extending outward from a bottom portion of the rear retaining wall.