US3561375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic pallet
Assignee: NASH HAMMOND Inc
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Filing: 1968-07-08
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Granted: 1971-02-09
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Expires: 1988-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A one-piece seamless nestable hollow molded plastic pallet for use in handling cargo with forklift equipment and an inexpensive mode of molding the same utilizing dual-axis rotary molding equipment. The mold features an upper mold surface having open ended drainage, ventilating and reinforcing channels and rows of bosses formed in its lower surface spaced apart to receive forklift prongs from any lateral edge. Additional reinforcing is provided by equitably distributed tubular bosses having flaring ends integral with the upper and lower pallet walls and with their reduced midportions merging adjacent the parting plane of the mold parts.
Inventors
- 👤 Lowell D Hammond
- 👤 Elmer H Good
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:21
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D19/00; B65D19/0004; B65D19/0006; B65D19/003; B65D19/0032; B65D19/0036; B65D19/004; B65D2519/00; B65D2519/00004; B65D2519/00009; B65D2519/00014; B65D2519/00034; B65D2519/00039; B65D2519/00049; B65D2519/00069; B65D2519/00074; B65D2519/00258; B65D2519/00263; B65D2519/00268; B65D2519/00283; B65D2519/00288; B65D2519/00308; B65D2519/00313; B65D2519/00318; B65D2519/00328; B65D2519/00338; B65D2519/00736; B65D2519/00935; B65D2519/0094; B65D2519/00945; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S108/00; Y10S108/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A lightweight one-piece pallet of rotationally molded thermoplastic material adapted for use with forklift cargo handling equipment, said pallet comprising a seamless closed hollow shell of substantially uniform wall thickness having upper and lower wall portions in spaced apart parallel relationship interconnected between their perimeters by vertically disposed sidewalls integral therewith, and said bottom wall being formed with a plurality of relatively wide but shallow channels opening downwardly throughout the length thereof and open at the opposite ends thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A lightweight one-piece pallet of rotationally molded thermoplastic material adapted for use with forklift cargo handling equipment, said pallet comprising a seamless closed hollow shell of substantially uniform wall thickness having upper and lower wall portions in spaced apart parallel relationship interconnected between their perimeters by vertically disposed sidewalls integral therewith, and said bottom wall being formed with a plurality of relatively wide but shallow channels opening downwardly throughout the length thereof and open at the opposite ends thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of a plurality of tubular spaced-apart struts having their opposite ends integral with a respective one of said upper and lower wall portions and having their axes lying generally normal to said upper and lower wall portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 2 characterized in that the sidewalls of said tubular struts flare slightly relative to the longitudinal axis thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 2 characterized in that the opposite end portions of said tubular struts are generally frustoconical in shape with their smaller ends adjoining and integrally connected to one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 2 characterized in that portions of said upper and lower wall portions lie in different generally parallel planes and in that certain of said tubular struts are longer than others thereof and disposed between more widely spaced portions of said upper and lower wall portions of said pallet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said upper wall portion is formed with shaLlow upwardly facing channels opening laterally through the sidewall portion of said pallet to provide drainage from portions of said upper wall spaced inwardly of pallet perimeter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 6 characterized in that said shallow channels are distributed over a major portion of said upper wall and serve as drainage, ventilating and flow passages for fluids and additionally to stiffen and reinforce said upper wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said relatively wide shallow channels in lower wall portion are spaced and proportioned to receive the prongs of forklift equipment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 8 characterized in that the lower wall of said pallet is proportioned to nest within the complementally shaped bottom of an identical one of said pallets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said lower wall portion is formed with three rows of hollow bosses arranged lengthwise and crosswise of the underside of said pallet and spaced to accept the prongs of a forklift device inserted from any edge of said pallet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 10 characterized in the provision of tubular struts disposed between said upper and lower wall portions having their opposite ends normal to and integral with the adjacent one of said wall portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 11 characterized in that some of said tubular struts are longer and disposed within said bosses and other shorter ones thereof are disposed between adjacent rows of said bosses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A plastic pallet as defined in claim 11 characterized in that said tubular bosses are arranged in parallel rows within said bosses with one end integral with the bottom of an associated boss and its other end integral with the upper one of said wall portions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-08 | 1974-08-10 | 1975-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-08 | 1978-08-10 | 1979-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-08-10 | 1983-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |