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US 2015/0147112 A1Published application
Flex assembly of pallet base and deck
AssigneeA.R. Arena Products, Inc.
InventorsDonald E. Wilcox, Charles S. Arena
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Resin pallets having a deck and a base, where the deck and base are joined by an interlock, which is optionally reversible, are described. Methods of making such pallets by assembling the pallets by interlocking parts to form the pallets, in an optionally reversible method, are also described.
Claims19
An interlock for joining bodies, the interlock comprising:
- (a) a first body including a plurality of first projections, at least two first projections including at least one first interlocking member;
- and (b) a second body including:
- (i) a plurality of second interlocking members located within the second body for receiving a respective first interlocking member, or (ii) a plurality of second projections, at least two second projections including at least one second interlocking member for receiving a respective first interlocking member;
- wherein:
- each first interlocking member is positioned to engage with a corresponding second interlocking member when the first and second bodies are interlocked, and wherein at least one of the first body and the second body's flexibility permits at least one of tilting outward a distal portion of the second body including the second interlocking member and tilting inward a distal portion of the first projection including the first interlocking member so that a plurality of first interlocking members engage a plurality of corresponding second interlocking members on opposing sides of the first and second bodies, and one of the first and second bodies is a base of a pallet and the other is a deck of a pallet.
2 more elements
A method of interlocking bodies having interlocks to form a pallet, the method comprising:
- (a) providing:
- (i) a first body including a plurality of first projections, at least two of the first projections including at least one first interlocking member;
- and (ii) a second body including a plurality of second projections, at least two of the second projections including at least one second interlocking member for receiving a respective first interlocking member;
- wherein:
- each second projection is positioned to engage with a corresponding first projection when the first and second bodies are interlocked, and at least one of the first body and the second body has flexibility permitting at least one of tilting outward a distal portion of the second projection including the second interlocking member and tilting inward a distal portion of the first projection including the first interlocking member so that a plurality of first interlocking members engage a plurality of corresponding second interlocking members on opposing sides of the first and second bodies, (b) flexing a bendable portion of at least one of the first body and the second body by applying force against the body to flex the body, wherein at least one of the first body and the second body tilts outward a distal portion of the second projection including the second interlocking member and tilts inward a distal portion of the first projection including the first interlocking member, (c) applying sufficient force to allow a plurality of first interlocking members to engage a plurality of corresponding second interlocking members on opposing sides of the first and second bodies, (d) removing the force and allowing the first body and the second body to return to an unflexed state wherein the first and second bodies are interlocked, wherein one of the first and second bodies is a base of a pallet and the other is a deck of a pallet.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.