# US 9,434,506 B2 · Pallet with support elements configured as one-piece skids and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,506 B2 - Document ID: US9434506B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/127,309 - Filed: 2012-07-12 - Published: 2014-09-11 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-15 - Assignees: CHEP Technology Pty Limited - Applicants: Sanjiv Takyar - Inventors: Sanjiv Takyar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434506B2 ## CPC - B65D 19/0095: {and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape} - B65D 2519/00029: Wood - B65D 2519/00064: Wood - B65D 2519/00104: Plastic - B65D 2519/00134: Wood - B65D 2519/00273: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00293: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00298: skeleton type - B65D 2519/00323: made of more than one piece - B65D 2519/00333: contact surface having a stringer-like shape - B65D 2519/00373: whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece - B65D 2519/00378: whereby at least one spacer is made of two or more pieces - B65D 2519/00447: on the non-integral separating spacer - B65D 2519/00572: with separate auxiliary element, e.g. screws, nails, bayonets - B65D 2519/00796: Guiding means for fork-lift - Y10T 29/49947: by applying separate fastener - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1 wherein each support element comprises: a connector board receiving area; and a plurality of spaced apart support blocks integrally formed with said connector board receiving area and contacting said base layer; said connector board receiving area including the open recessed channel that is to receive the respective one of said connector boards and comprising spaced apart sidewalls adjacent sidewalls of the respective one of said connector boards received therein, and open ends exposing ends of the respective one of said connector boards. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1 wherein each support element further comprises a pair of backstops, with each backstop positioned immediately adjacent respective ones of said spaced apart end deck boards and extending across the width of the open recessed channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1 wherein each support element further comprises a pair of backstops, with each backstop positioned immediately adjacent respective ones of said spaced apart end deck boards and not extending across the width of the open recessed channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1 wherein each support element comprises plastic; and wherein each connector board and each deck board comprises wood. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1 wherein said cargo layer further comprises a plurality of intermediate deck boards between said pair of spaced apart end deck boards. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pallet according to claim 1 wherein said cargo layer further comprises at least one intermediate connector board; and further comprising at least one intermediate support element positioned between said base layer and said cargo layer and extending in length between said pair of spaced apart end deck boards and configured as a one-piece skid, and including an open recessed channel therein to receive said at least one intermediate connector board. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8 wherein each support element comprises: a connector board receiving area; and a plurality of spaced apart support blocks integrally formed with the connector board receiving area and contacting the base layer; the connector board receiving area including the open recessed channel that is to receive the respective one of the connector boards, and comprising spaced apart sidewalls adjacent sidewalls of the respective one of the connector boards received therein, and open ends exposing ends of the respective one of the connector boards. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8 wherein each support element further comprises a pair of backstops, with each backstop positioned immediately adjacent respective ones of the spaced apart end deck boards and extending across the width of the open recessed channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9 wherein each support element further comprises a pair of backstops, with each backstop positioned immediately adjacent respective ones of the spaced apart end deck boards and not extending across the width of the open recessed channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8 wherein each support element comprises plastic; and wherein each connector board and each end deck board comprises wood.