Low Profile, Coated Pallet Assembly

Abstract

A low profile, coated pallet assembly constructed generally of wood, including a generally planar top platform formed of plywood, spacers to provide apertures for a forklift, bottom runners, and is completely encapsulated or coated by a polymeric material. The spacers may include a hollow or foam core to reduce pallet weight but not compromise strength. The bottom runners enhance pallet stability and strength. The polymeric material provides surface friction, resistance to surface damage, and overall integrity to provide a unitary, integral pallet assembly when a substantially uniform coating is applied after pallet components are assembled and affixed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 152,254, filed Apr. 24, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is generally directed to a pallet assembly, and more particularly to a reinforced structural supporting pallet assembly having a low profile and a protective polymeric coating material applied to its outer surfaces.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Generally, pallets are known to provide support structures for transport of supplies. Pallets are typically designed with apertures so that a forklift, pallet jack, front loader, or other device can be inserted underneath a top deck to lift and transport the pallet. This design allows the pallets to be easily lifted, moved, and loaded onto a transport vehicle for shipment to various facilities, points of sale, etc. Because of the usefu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about an improved pallet assembly that is reinforced and has a low profile. The pallet is made of wood and has a flat top deck made of plywood with a thickness of 0.5 inches. The deck is coated with a thin layer of polyurea material, which provides a smooth surface, increased strength, and resistance to damage. The bottom of the pallet has reinforcing runners made of wood to provide stability and strength. The pallet is lightweight and can support heavy loads. The invention solves the problem of traditional pallets being too heavy or too thick while still providing adequate strength for transporting goods. The polyurea coating is applied to all surfaces of the pallet and provides additional friction and abrasion resistance.

Problems solved by technology

The multiple recesses of the pad thus fail to communicate with the opening, blocking any path along the underside from the periphery of the pad to the cable opening itself.

On the contrary, a wood pallet gives off moisture, splinters, harbors bugs and mold, and is a fire hazard; a remedy to these downsides includes applying a polymeric coating to the entirety of a wood pallet.

Moreover, wood may need fasteners, which can damage materials; use of adhesives is a way around this damage.

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