Pallet with support elements configured as one-piece skids and related methods
AssigneeCHEP Technology Pty Limited
InventorSanjiv Takyar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pallet includes a base layer, a cargo layer and spaced apart support elements positioned between the base layer and the cargo layer and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member. The cargo layer includes a pair of spaced apart connector boards and a pair of spaced apart end deck boards orthogonal to the pair of connector boards. Each support element extends in length between the pair of spaced apart end deck boards and is configured as a one-piece skid, and includes an open recessed channel therein to receive a respective connector board from the cargo layer.
Claims12
A pallet comprising:
- a base layer;
- a cargo layer comprising a pair of spaced apart connector boards and a pair of spaced apart end deck boards orthogonal to said pair of spaced apart connector boards, with each connector board and end deck board being separate from one another;
- a plurality of spaced apart support elements positioned between said base layer and said cargo layer and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member, with each connector board having a length equal to a length of each support element;
- with each support element extending in length between said pair of spaced apart end deck boards and configured as a monolithic one-piece skid, and including an open recessed channel having a rectangular shape therein to receive a respective one of said spaced apart connector boards having a rectangular shape, with the open recessed channel in each support element having a depth equal to a thickness of each connector board placed therein so that an uppermost facing horizontal surface of each connector board is coplanar with an uppermost facing horizontal surface of each support element;
- with said base layer comprising a pair of spaced apart bottom end deck boards extending across said support elements in a same direction as said pair of spaced apart end deck boards in said cargo layer, and at least one intermediate bottom deck board between said pair of spaced apart bottom end deck boards.
A method for making a pallet comprising a base layer, a cargo layer comprising a pair of spaced apart connector boards and a pair of spaced apart end deck boards, with each connector board and end deck board being separate from one another, and a plurality of spaced apart support elements positioned between the base and cargo layers and forming a gap therebetween for receiving a lifting member, with each connector board having a length equal to a length of each support element, and with the base layer comprising a pair of spaced apart bottom end deck boards and at least one intermediate bottom deck board between the pair of spaced apart bottom end deck boards, characterized in that the method comprises:
- providing the plurality of spaced apart support elements, with each support element extending in length between the pair of spaced apart end deck boards and configured as a monolithic one-piece skid, and including an open recessed channel having a rectangular shape therein;
- positioning respective ones of said connector boards having a rectangular shape in each open recessed channel of each support element, with the open recessed channel in each support element having a depth equal to a thickness of each connector board placed therein so that an uppermost facing horizontal surface of each connector board is coplanar with an uppermost facing horizontal surface of each support element;
- fastening the pair of spaced apart end deck boards of the cargo layer to the uppermost facing horizontal surfaces of the plurality of spaced apart support element, with the pair of spaced apart end deck boards being orthogonal to the pair of spaced apart connector boards;
- and
- fastening the pair of spaced apart bottom end deck boards to a bottom side of the plurality of spaced apart support elements in a same direction as the pair of spaced apart end deck boards in the cargo layer, and fastening the at least one intermediate bottom deck board to the bottom side of the plurality of spaced apart support elements between the pair of spaced apart bottom end deck boards.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.