# US 8,464,647 B1 · Plastic pallet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,647 B1 - Document ID: US8464647B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/200,231 - Filed: 2011-09-20 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-20 - Applicants: Frank Chernek - Inventors: Frank Chernek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464647B1 ## CPC - B65D 19/0095: {and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape} - B65D 2519/00034: Plastic - B65D 2519/00069: Plastic - B65D 2519/00273: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00293: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00323: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00333: contact surface having a stringer-like shape - B65D 2519/00407: on the load supporting surface - B65D 2519/00567: mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted - B65D 2519/00985: the pallet being not usable as a pallet after dismounting - 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 plastic pallet suitable for stacking firewood, camping gear, and the like, above a concrete floor or in the attic, includes at least two longitudinal stringers and a plurality of four-sided open-box slats, the sides of which taper outwardly from the upper surface to afford a stackable profile. The slats assemble to the stringers without the need of tools or independent fasteners. The ends of each stringer are formed with interlocking profiles which allow the length of the pallet to be extended, as desired. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plastic pallet comprising a) at least two longitudinally extending stringers defining a length of said plastic pallet; b) a plurality of laterally extending slats interconnected to said at least two longitudinally extending stringers, each said slat having a first overall length and comprising i. a longitudinal upper face extending substantially said first overall length of said slat; ii. four-sided open-box construction including a side extending downwardly and tapering outwardly from each edge of said longitudinal upper face; iii. a series of ribs each said rib protruding from a lower surface of said upper face extending downwardly a limited extent into said open-box construction; whereby, prior to assembly with said at least two longitudinally extending stringers, said slats may be nested to form a stack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The plastic pallet of claim 1 in which each of said at least two longitudinally extending stringers further comprises a first end of each said stringer having a contoured notch and a second end having a complementarily shaped contoured protrusion which interlocks in said contoured notch effectively extending said length of said plastic pallet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The plastic pallet of claim 1 further comprising a. first attachment means formed on an upper surface of each of said longitudinally extending stringers; b. each of said plurality of laterally extending slats having a series of second attachment means formed on a lower surface of each said laterally extending slat, said series of second attachment means being equal in number to said plurality of longitudinally extending stringers; whereby said second attachment means of each of said plurality of laterally extending slats can be secured to said first attachment means of each of said plurality of longitudinally extending stringers to secure each of said laterally extending slats to said longitudinally extending stringers without utilizing any additional independent fasteners. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The plastic pallet of claim 3 wherein said second series of attachment means comprises a series of aligned notches, each of said notches including a pair of laterally extending nubs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The plastic pallet of claim 4 further comprising a pair of retaining projections formed along said first attachment means, said pair of retaining projections engaging said laterally extending nubs of said slats to maintain said slats in a desired position along said stringer. ### Claim 6 A plastic pallet comprising a) at least two longitudinally extending stringers defining a length of said plastic pallet, a first end of each said stringer having a contoured notch and a second end having a complementarily shaped contoured protrusion which interlocks in said contoured notch effectively extending said length of said plastic pallet; b) a plurality of laterally extending slats interconnected to said at least two longitudinally extending stringers, each of said plurality of laterally extending slats having a first overall length and comprising i. a longitudinal upper face extending substantially said first overall length of said slat; ii. four-sided open-box construction including a side extending downwardly and tapering outwardly from each edge of said longitudinal upper face; iii. a series of ribs each said rib protruding from a lower surface of said upper face extending downwardly a limited extent into said open-box construction; whereby, prior to assembly with said at least two longitudinally extending stringers, said slats may be nested to form a stack. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The plastic pallet of claim 6 further comprising a. first attachment means formed on an upper surface of each of said longitudinally extending stringers; b. each of said plurality of laterally extending slats having a series of second attachment means formed on a lower surface of each said laterally extending slat, said series of second attachment means being equal in number to said plurality of longitudinally extending stringers; whereby said second attachment means of each of said plurality of laterally extending slats can be secured to said first attachment means of each of said plurality of longitudinally extending stringers to secure each of said laterally extending slats to said longitudinally extending stringers without utilizing any additional independent fasteners. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The plastic pallet of claim 7 wherein said second series of attachment means comprises a series of aligned notches, each of said notches including a pair of laterally extending nubs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The plastic pallet of claim 8 further comprising a pair of retaining projections formed along said first attachment means, said pair of retaining projections engaging said laterally extending nubs of said slats to maintain said slats in a desired position along said stringer. ### Claim 10 A plastic pallet comprising: a) a plurality of longitudinally extending stringers defining a length of said plastic pallet, first attachment means formed on an upper surface of each of said longitudinally extending stringers; b) a plurality of laterally extending slats having a series of second attachment means formed on a lower surface of each said laterally extending slat, said series of second attachment means being equal in number to said plurality of longitudinally extending stringers, each of said plurality of laterally extending slats having a first overall length and comprising i. a longitudinal upper face extending substantially said first overall length of said slat; ii. four-sided open-box construction including a side extending downwardly and tapering outwardly from each edge of said longitudinal upper face; iii. a series of ribs each said rib protruding from a lower surface of said upper face extending downwardly a limited extent into said open-box construction; whereby said second attachment means of each of said plurality of laterally extending slats can be secured to said first attachment means of each of said plurality of longitudinally extending stringers to secure each of said laterally extending slats to said longitudinally extending stringers without utilizing any additional independent fasteners and whereby, prior to assembly with said at least two longitudinally extending stringers, said slats may be nested to form a stack. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The plastic pallet of claim 10 further comprising in which each of said at least two longitudinally extending stringers further comprises a first end of each said stringer having a contoured notch and a second end having a complementarily shaped contoured protrusion which interlocks in said contoured notch effectively extending said length of said plastic pallet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The plastic pallet of claim 10 wherein said second series of attachment means comprises a series of aligned notches, each of said notches including a pair of laterally extending nubs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The plastic pallet of claim 12 further comprising a pair of retaining projections formed along said first attachment means, said pair of retaining projections engaging said laterally extending nubs of said slats to maintain said slats in a desired position along said stringer.