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US 6,668,734 B2Granted
Disposable/recyclable pallet and method
AssigneeCoors Brewing Company
InventorsPhilip J. Lucas, Leo W. Mayer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pallet for supporting a load of packages is disclosed. The pallet includes a support structure comprising flexible film wrapped around at least one of the layers of the load. The flexible film is wrapped around two axes which are generally perpendicular to one another and preferably located within the same plane such that the flexible film covers at least a majority of the layer(s). The pallet also includes a base positioned adjacent to the support structure which is adapted to receive forks of a forklift. The base may have an elongate tubular configuration and be constructed from a disposable/recyclable material.
Claims24
A pallet for supporting a load of packages comprising multiple layers, said pallet comprising:
- a) a support structure comprising flexible film wrapped around at least one of said multiple layers around a first axis and a second axis, said first axis being generally perpendicular to said second axis, whereby said flexible film covers at least a majority of said at least one of said multiple layers, said support structure comprising a bottom surface;
- and
- b) a base constructed from a disposable/recyclable material, said base comprising at least one elongate tubular member comprising an upper, outer surface positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said support structure and at least one opening therethrough extending along a central longitudinal axis which is adapted to receive forks of a forklift.
A pallet for supporting a load of packages comprising multiple layers, said pallet comprising:
- a) a support structure comprising flexible film wrapped around at least one of said multiple layers around a first axis and a second axis, said first axis being generally perpendicular to said second axis, whereby said flexible film covers at least a majority of said at least one of said multiple layers, said support structure comprising a bottom surface;
- and
- b) a base constructed from a disposable/recyclable material, said base comprising at least one elongate tubular member comprising an upper, outer surface positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said support structure and at least one opening therethrough extending along a central longitudinal axis which is adapted to receive forks of a forklift, said at least one elongate tubular member further comprising a first portion removably attached to a second portion, said first portion having said upper, outer surface.
A pallet for supporting a load of packages comprising multiple layers, said pallet comprising:
- a) a support structure comprising flexible film wrapped around at least one of said multiple layers around a first axis and a second axis, said first axis being generally perpendicular to said second axis, whereby said flexible film covers at least a majority of said at least one of said multiple layers, said support structure comprising a bottom surface;
- and
- b) a base constructed from a disposable/recyclable material, said base comprising at least one elongate tubular member comprising an upper, outer surface positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said support structure and at least one opening therethrough extending along a central longitudinal axis which is adapted to receive forks of a forklift, said at least one elongate tubular member further comprising a first portion having a first elongate, substantially planar panel and a first pair of elongate side panels extending therefrom substantially parallel to said central longitudinal axis, and a second portion having a second elongate, substantially planar panel and a second pair of elongate side panels extending therefrom substantially parallel to said central longitudinal axis, wherein said first pair of elongate side panels is removably attached to said second pair of elongate side panels.
A pallet for supporting a load of packages comprising multiple layers, said pallet comprising:
- a) a support structure comprising flexible film wrapped around at least one of said multiple layers around a first axis and a second axis, said first axis being generally perpendicular to said second axis, whereby said flexible film covers at least a majority of said at least one of said multiple layers, said support structure comprising a bottom surface;
- and
- b) a base comprising two elongate tubular members, each of said elongate tubular members comprising an opening therethrough extending along a central longitudinal axis which is adapted to receive a fork of a forklift and a first portion removably attached to a second portion, said first portion having an upper, outer surface positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said support structure.
A pallet for supporting a load of packages, comprising:
- a) a support structure comprising a bottom surface, a first end and a second end;
- and
- b) a base constructed from a disposable/recyclable material, said base comprising a first elongate tubular member having a first central longitudinal axis and comprising an opening therethrough which is adapted to receive a fork of a forklift and a second elongate tubular member having a second central longitudinal axis substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis which is substantially identical to said first elongate tubular member, each of said first elongate tubular member and said second elongate tubular member having a length extending substantially from said first end to said second end of said support structure and a closed, continuous cross-sectional shape along at least a majority of said length and, each of said first elongate tubular member and said second elongate tubular member comprising:
- i) a first portion having an upper, outer surface positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said support structure;
- and
- ii) a second portion removably attached to said first portion.
3 more elements
A method for producing a pallet for supporting a load of packages comprising multiple layers, said method comprising:
- a) wrapping at least one of said multiple layers with a flexible film around a first axis;
- b) wrapping said at least one of said multiple layers with a flexible film around a second axis which is generally perpendicular to said first axis, thereby producing a support structure;
- c) placing said support structure on a base comprising at least one elongate tubular member having at least one opening therethrough extending along a central longitudinal axis which is adapted to receive forks of a forklift.
A method for producing a pallet for supporting a load of packages comprising multiple layers, said method comprising:
- a) wrapping at least one of said multiple layers with a flexible film around a first axis;
- b) wrapping said at least one of said multiple layers with a flexible film around a second axis which is generally perpendicular to said first axis, thereby producing a support structure;
- c) assembling a base by removably attaching a first portion to a second portion, thereby producing a first elongate tubular member having a first opening therethrough extending along a first central longitudinal axis, and then removably attaching a third portion to a fourth portion, thereby producing a second elongate tubular member having a second opening therethrough extending along a second central longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to said first central longitudinal axis, each of said first opening and said second opening being adapted to receive a fork of a forklift;
- and
- d) placing said support structure on said base.
2 more elements
A pallet for supporting a load of packages comprising multiple layers, said pallet comprising:
- a) support means for supporting said load of packages, said support means comprising flexible film wrapped around at least one of said multiple layers around a first axis and a second axis, said first axis being generally perpendicular to said second axis, whereby said flexible film covers at least a majority of said at least one of said multiple layers;
- and
- b) elongate tubular base means positioned adjacent to said support means for receiving forks of a forklift.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.