Gate Pallet Systems, Inc.

Jefferson Smurfit Corporation (u.s.)

Jefferson Smurfit Corporation

Arthur M Wagner

Ted D Kilpatrick

Donald G Young

Jerome A Wilson

In a pallet, each of a plurality of similar stringers is folded from a single sheet of paperboard material and has at least two downwardly opening notches, and each of a plurality of similar braces is folded from a single sheet of paperboard material and has an upwardly opening notch. The upwardly opening notch of each brace is interengaged with one of the downwardly opening notches of the stringers, except that at least one of the stringers is not interengaged with such a brace at one or more of the downwardly opening notches. Each downwardly opening notch of each stringer is shaped so as to be deeper at the outer panels of such stringer and so and to so as to be shallower at two inner panels of such stringer. Each upwardly opening notch of each brace is shaped so as to interengage with such a notch of one of the stringers and so as to have a groove receiving portions of the inner panels of the stringer having the interengaging notch. The stringers and the braces are secured adhesively to one another at the interengaging notches.

Pallet having notched stringer and notched brace

A predominantly paperboard pallet is disclosed. Each of two outer stringers and one middle stringer or each of two outer stringers and two middle stringers is folded so as to have a given cross-section, preferably trapezoidal and tapering downwardly. Plural decking members having generally planar lower edges extend transversely through apertures in the respective stringers and are secured adhesively to the respective stringers. Each of two or four braces is folded so as to have a smaller cross-sections, preferably trapezoidal and tapering upwardly, and so as to have a generally planar upper edge. The middle stringer or middle stringers and the plural braces have interengaging notches and are secured adhesively to one another. The upper edge of each brace is secured adhesively to the lower edge of a selected decking member, on opposite sides of a selected stringer, which may be an outer stringer or a middle stringer. Each brace may have two notches, each receiving a portion of one of the middle stringers, whereupon each middle stringer has two notches with each notch receiving a portion of one such brace.

Pallet having notched stinger and notched brace

A pallet stringer, generally trapezoidal when viewed endwise, is folded from a corrugated cardboard sheet so as to have six panels on each side of a vertical plane and a lower panel intersected by the plane, namely an outer panel extending upwardly from the lower panel, an outer panel extending inwardly from the upwardly extending outer panel, toward and approximately to the generally vertical plane, an inner panel extending downwardly from the inwardly extending outer panel, toward and approximately to the lower panel, an inner panel extending outwardly from the downwardly extending inner panel, overlying the lower panel, and extending toward and approximately to the upwardly extending outer panel, an inner panel extending upwardly and inwardly from the inner panel overlying the lower panel, and extending toward and approximately to the downwardly extending inner panel, and an inner panel extending outwardly from the upwardly and inwardly extending inner panel, underlying the inwardly extending outer panel, and extending toward and approximately to the upwardly extending outer panel. The improved stringer may be advantageously combined with a decking member extending through aligned apertures in certain panels. Certain panels are secured adhesively to other panels.

Pallet stringer

A predominantly paperboard pallet comprises longitudinally extending outer stringers, made from an intermediate article folded from a corrugated paperboard sheet so as to have a lower panel and six panels on each side of a vertical plane bisecting the lower panel. On each side thereof, an outer panel extends upwardly and outwardly from the lower panel, an outer panel extends inwardly from the upwardly and outwardly extending panel, to the bisecting plane, an inner panel extends downwardly from the inwardly extending panel, approximately to the lower panel, an inner panel overlies the lower panel and extends outwardly from the downwardly extending panel, to the upwardly and outwardly extending panel, an inner panel extends upwardly and inwardly, to the downwardly extending panel, and an inner panel underlies the inwardly extending panel and extends outwardly, to the upwardly and outwardly extending panel. The underlying panel is secured adhesively to the inwardly extending panel. The overlying panel is secured adhesively to the lower panel. The lower panel is severed longitudinally, at the bisecting plane, so as to provide the outer stringers. Each outer stringer has two side panels provided by the upwardly and downwardly extending panels of the intermediate article, from one side of the bisecting plane, and a lower panel provided by a severed portion of the lower panel. A preferred embodiment further comprises a middle stringer, an upper sheet with two outer flaps, and a lower sheet with two outer flaps.

Paperboard pallet with half stringers

A spacer comprises two interlocked beams, each folded from a sheet of corrugated paperboard so as to have a base panel and panels on each side of a plane intersecting the base panel approximately at a right angle. In each beam, the panels on each side include a side panel extending from the base panel, an outer panel extending inwardly from the side panel approximately to the intersecting plane, an inner panel extending from the inwardly extending outer panel approximately to the base panel, and panels bracing and reinforcing such beam. Each beam has a notch opening at the base panel and receiving a portion of the other beam. Two tongues including portions of the base panel and portions of the side panels project toward each other and project partly over the notch. Each beam has recesses extending along folds and receiving the projecting tongues of the other beam.

Predominantly paperboard spacer comprising interlocked beams

A pallet comprises a plurality of stringers extending longitudinally and a plurality of decking members extending transversely. As folded from corrugated paperboard, each stringer has an upper panel and six panels on each side of a generally vertical plane intersecting the upper panel. The panels on each side include an outer panel extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper panel, an outer panel extending inwardly from the downwardly and outwardly extending outer panel, an inner panel extending upwardly from the inwardly extending outer panel and secured to the like panel on the other side, an inner panel extending outwardly from the upwardly extending inner panel and secured adhesively to the upper panel, an inner panel extending downwardly and inwardly from the outwardly extending inner panel, and an inner panel extending outwardly from the downwardly and inwardly extending inner panel and secured adhesively to the inwardly extending outer panel. As folded from corrugated paperboard, each decking member has a generally planar upper edge and extends through aligned apertures in the downwardly and outwardly extending outer panels, the downwardly and inwardly extending inner panels, and the upwardly extending inner panels. The upper edges of the decking members are secured adhesively to the outwardly extending inner panels. Two longitudinally spaced sets of aligned slots in the downwardly and outwardly extending outer panels, in the downwardly and inwardly extending inner panels, and in the upwardly extending inner panels accommodate a lift fork.

Paperboard pallet with decking members adjacent to inner panels of

A paperboard pallet having a trapezoidal profile is disclosed, which comprises two outer stringers, an additional stringer therebetween, an upper sheet, and a lower sheet. Each stringer has a trapezoidal profile. The upper sheet is secured adhesively to a broad, upper end of each stringer. The lower sheet has two outer flaps, each being folded upwardly and being secured adhesively to an outer wall of a respective one of the outer stringers. The upper sheet may have two outer flaps, each being folded downwardly and being secured adhesively to such an outer wall. Several alternative arrangements are disclosed, which include one wherein a lower base of a paperboard tray defines the upper sheet, another wherein a lower base of a paperboard carton defines the upper sheet, and others wherein blocks cut from such stringers replace the stringers.

Paperboard pallet

A pallet comprises at least one relatively long, longitudinally extending stringer folded from a single sheet of corrugated paperboard material of a given cross-section, preferably trapezoidal, and two relatively short, transversely extending braces, each folded from a single sheet of corrugated paperboard of a similar cross-section, preferably inverted. The stringer has notches receiving portions of the braces. Each brace has a notch receiving a portion of the stringer. The notches interfit with each other and are dimensioned so that the stringer and the braces are coplanar at their upper and lower edges. The stringer and the braces are secured adhesively to each other at the interengaging notches. In one contemplated embodiment, plural decking members are employed. In other contemplated embodiments, an upper sheet and a lower sheet are employed. In certain contemplated embodiments, the stringer with the braces is a middle stringer between two outer stringers.

A pallet stringer, generally trapezoidal when viewed endwise, is folded from a corrugated paperboard sheet to have five panels on each side of a vertical plane and a lower panel intersected by the plane, namely an outer panel extending upwardly and outwardly from the lower panel, another outer panel extending inwardly from the upwardly extending outer panel, toward the plane, an inner panel extending downwardly from the inwardly extending outer panel, toward the lower panel, another inner panel extending upwardly and outwardly from the downwardly extending panel, toward the inwardly extending outer panel, at an acute angle relative to the downwardly extending panel, and an inner panel extending inwardly from the upwardly and outwardly extending inner panel, toward the downwardly extending inner panel. The inwardly extending inner panels may have tabs extending into decking member apertures in other panels. Certain panels are secured adhesively to other panels.

A pallet made predominantly of corrugated paperboard comprises a first decking sheet defining a first deck and a second decking sheet defining a second deck. The first and second decks are planar. The first decking sheet is folded to form two outer stringers extending longitudinally. Each outer stringer has a box-like profile, which is defined by an outer panel extending vertically from the first deck, a panel extending inwardly from the outer panel and secured adhesively to the second deck, an inner panel extending vertically from the inwardly extending panel, a panel extending outwardly from the inner panel, a panel extending vertically from the outwardly extending panel and secured adhesively to the outer panel, a diagonal panel extending diagonally from the vertically extending panel secured adhesively to the outer panel and bracing the box-like profile, and a panel extending outwardly from the diagonal panel and secured adhesively to the outwardly extending panel that is secured adhesively to the first deck. A middle stringer is interposed between the outer stringers, and between the first and second decks, and is secured adhesively to the first and second decks. Two transverse braces are interengaged with the middle stringer via interengaging notches in the transverse braces and in the middle stringer. The transverse braces are secured adhesively to the middle stringer and to the first and second decks. Each transverse brace has two opposite ends spaced respectively from the outer stringers.

Growing community of inventors

Geneva, IL, United States of America

Arthur M Wagner