Modular metal pallet

A pallet having a loaded state and an unloaded state, comprising:

• a top section disposed generally in a first plane and having a configuration including a plurality of sides alternating with corners of the top section, the top section at one of the sides of the top section having a generally straight configuration;
• a truss extending along the one side of the top section for maintaining the generally straight configuration of the one side of the top section;
• a bottom section disposed generally in a second plane spaced from the first plane of the top section and having a configuration similar to the top section;
• spacing means extending transverse to the first plane of the top section and the second plane of the bottom section for maintaining the top section and the bottom section in a spaced relationship;
• a plurality of first spacing members included in the spacing means and having a fixed relationship with both the top section and the bottom section;
• and
• at least one second spacing member included in the spacing means and having in the unloaded state a fixed relationship to one of the top section and the bottom section, and a movable relationship with respect to the other of the top section and the bottom section.

A metal pallet having a loaded state and an unloaded state, comprising:

• a metallic top section disposed generally in a first plane and having a configuration including a plurality of sides and a plurality of corners with each of the sides disposed between an associated pair of the corners;
• a metallic bottom section disposed generally in a second plane spaced from the first plane of the top section;
• metallic spacing means extending transverse to the first plane of the top section and the second plane of the bottom section for maintaining the top section and the bottom section in a spaced relationship;
• at least one spacing member included in the spacing means and disposed at an associated one of the corners of the top section, the at least one spacing member having an outer surface which defines the shape of the pallet at the associated corner of the top section;
• and
• at least one second spacing member included in the spacing means and having in the unloaded state a fixed relationship to one of the top section and the bottom section, and a movable relationship to the other of the top section and the bottom section.

A metal pallet having a free state in the absence of a load, an operative state in the presence of a load, and a load capacity, the pallet comprising:

• a metallic first section sized to receive the load, the first section including
• at least one metallic perimeter member defining opposite edges of the first section, and
• at least one metallic structural member coupled to the at least one perimeter member and extending between the opposite edges of the first section;
• a metallic second section having a generally planar configuration;
• a plurality of spacers disposed in transverse relationship to the first section and second section, the spacers maintaining the first section and the second section in a spaced relationship;
• and
• the first section having a reference plane which is parallel to the generally planar configuration of the second section and being bowed away from the second section a distance sufficient to preload the first section when the pallet is in the free state in order to increase the load capacity of the pallet by an amount equivalent to the weight required to deform the top section from the bowed configuration to the reference plane when the pallet is in the operative state.

A metal pallet having a free state in the absence of a load, an operative state in the presence of a load, and a load capacity, the pallet comprising:

• a first section sized to receive the load and including at least one perimeter member formed from metal tubing, the at least one perimeter member defining at least one side of the first section;
• a metallic second section having a generally planar configuration;
• a plurality of spacers disposed in transverse relationship to the first section and second section, the spacers maintaining the first section and the second section in a spaced relationship;
• and
• the first section having a reference plane which is parallel to the generally planar configuration of the second section and being bowed away from the second section a distance sufficient to preload the first section when the pallet is in the free state in order to increase the load capacity of the pallet by an amount equivalent to the weight required to deform the top section from the bowed configuration to the reference plane when the pallet is in the operative state.

A metal pallet having a free state in the absence of a load, an operative state in the presence of a load, and a load capacity, the pallet comprising:

• a metallic first section sized to receive the load;
• a metallic second section having a generally planar configuration;
• at least one metallic surface member supported by the first section, the at least one surface member defining a platform for receiving the load;
• a plurality of spacers disposed in transverse relationship to the first section and second section, the spacers maintaining the first section and the second section in a spaced relationship;
• and
• the first section having a reference plane which is parallel to the generally planar configuration of the second section and being bowed away from the second section a distance sufficient to preload the first section when the pallet is in the free state in order to increase the load capacity of the pallet by an amount equivalent to the weight required to deform the top section from the bowed configuration to the reference plane when the pallet is in the operative state.