Having Corrugated, Grooved, Or Notched Load-contacting Surface Patents (Class 108/57.29)
  • Patent number: 11634165
    Abstract: Robotic vehicle and use thereof for displacing a holder for goods, which is for instance loaded with goods, which vehicle can be operated in an empty position and a loaded position, comprising of (1) moving the robotic vehicle to a position under the holder in a first direction, wherein the robotic vehicle is in the empty position, wherein a holding means is countersunk in a body of the vehicle; (2) lifting the holder, wherein the robotic vehicle lifts the holder by performing a vertical movement of the holding means relative to the wheels of the vehicle, such that the holding means comes into contact with an underside of the holder, wherein the robotic vehicle transfers to the loaded position; (3) rotating driven wheels of the robotic vehicle from the first direction to the second direction without the body of the vehicle being rotated, and (4) displacing the robotic vehicle in the loaded position in a second direction, wherein the first and second direction enclose a mutual angle of between 60 and 120 degre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Eurotec B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Bakker, Bastiaan Dirk De Gier, Jacobus Van Den Berg, Jeroen Van Den Berg
  • Patent number: 11576489
    Abstract: A shelf structure has a frame member, a layer member and at least one reinforcement board. An outer surface of the frame member has a plurality of parallel ribs and an inner surface of frame member has a contacting face between each two ribs. An upper end and a lower end of the frame member respectively has an upper portion and a lower portion parallel with each other. A lower surface of the upper portion has at least one protruding rib. The lower portion is smaller than the upper portion. The layer member is assembled in the frame member and overlaps the upper portion of the frame member. The reinforcement board has a length equal and parallel to two opposite sides of the frame member and secured to the other two opposite side of the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Chia-Nan Ke
  • Patent number: 11229287
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shelf (1) for a storage system. The shelf is made of sheet metal and, comprises a top surface including an area with an expanded metal mesh panel. The shelf further comprises at least one unexpanded area (7) in between two expanded areas, along the length of shelf. This facilitates the attachment of reinforcement structures to the shelf which provides for a shelf capable of carrying a greater load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Elfa International AB
    Inventor: Peter Nilsson
  • Patent number: 11203369
    Abstract: A dolly assembly includes a dolly having an upper surface and a lower surface, and an aperture passing into at least the lower surface, and a ramp having an extension that extends beyond an edge of the ramp, the extension having at least one upward-facing ramp nub that, when positioned in the aperture, the ramp and the dolly are locked together as a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventor: Howard McMillan
  • Patent number: 10362761
    Abstract: An animal enclosure may include a planar floor having a first and a second side. Walls may be attached to the second side of the planar floor in proximity to edges of the planar floor, and a plurality of joists between the walls supporting the planar floor. A first flange portion may cover a portion of the planar floor and a second flange portion may cover a portion of a wall. A corner flange may extend a perimeter of the floor and the walls to resist wear and fluid damage. A raised animal bed may be disposed above the floor and a drain for hygienic purposes. A layer of elastomeric material is disposed over the planar floor, corner flange, and walls. Fence segments each have a frame attached to the plurality of walls to enclose an animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Inventor: Michael A. Stella
  • Patent number: 10160188
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of increasing the bending strength of a board consisting of paper, the increased bending strength being obtained without largely increasing the thickness of the board. The present invention provides a board consisting of paper, the board comprising a board-shaped structure and a paperboard layer which is adhered to the board-shaped structure. The board-shaped structure includes a core, a first paper liner layer, and a second paper liner layer, the first and second paper liner layers being adhered to the core so that the core is sandwiched and held between the first and second paper liner layers. The paperboard layer is adhered to the first paper liner layer, the thickness of the board-shaped structure is in the range of approximately 15 mm to approximately 40 mm, the thickness of each of the first paper liner layer and the second paper liner layer is in the range of approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: HISAFUMI YOSHII, ECOBOARD CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hisayoshi Yoshii
  • Patent number: 9120596
    Abstract: A stackable pallet (10) for use in transportation of goods and for stacking in a rotated stacking configuration with at least one second substantially same stackable pallet, the first-mentioned stackable pallet (10) including a substantially planar body (12) having an upper face (14) and a lower face (16), a plurality of substantially parallel elongate support members (18) depending from the lower face (16), a plurality of substantially parallel elongate slots (20), each slot open to at least the upper face (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: 1-P.A.L. PTY LTD
    Inventor: Matthew Dunn
  • Publication number: 20150040803
    Abstract: A pallet having a unique runner system where each runner opens into the upper deck of the pallet or opens away from the upper deck, and each runner is formed of a construction of z girts back to back resulting in a flattened “V” or “U”. Each runner may optionally include an elongated notch on its bottom surface or an opening to allow forklift tines to slide into for easy transport of the pallet. The pallet may also include cross runners of similar construction for additional strength. The pallet's construction allows the pallet to be made of plastic material, perhaps molded, providing lighter weight and longer durability than its wooden cousins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Ryan Burk
  • Patent number: 8863674
    Abstract: A pallet (10) including a deck (12), a frame (114A, 114B, 114C and 114D) and one or more elements (114H). The deck is for carrying cargo. The frame is about a perimeter of the pallet and is formed of horizontally extending tubular portions. The elements support the frame above a support surface to overlie one or more openings for receiving the tines of a lifting device. The tubular portions include lengthwise corrugations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Unitload Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Peter Smolenaers
  • Patent number: 8656843
    Abstract: A pallet rail includes an elongate support box and a plurality of separately formed reinforcing tubes. The support box is formed from a paper blank that is folded along parallel fold lines. The reinforcing tubes are positioned within the support box to reinforce the box. Two side walls have arcuate corners to define two opposing longitudinal ends of the support box having curved lower profiles. Another pallet rail includes an elongate support box, an adjacent end wall, and a plurality of separately-formed reinforcing tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Conitex-Sonoco, LLC
    Inventor: David Wesley Monteith
  • Publication number: 20130206043
    Abstract: A pallet includes a lower structure and an upper structure. The lower structure includes a stringer extending across the lower structure. The stringer includes a corner column portion spaced away from central column portion to define a side opening below a bridge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Rehrig Pacific Company
  • Publication number: 20120279885
    Abstract: A skid pallet comprising an inner container made of plastic, comprising a lockable filler neck and a discharge nozzle for connecting a removal fitting as well as an outer jacket made of a metal lattice or metal plate. The skid pallet is equipped to be handled by forklifts, a storage and retrieval machine or similar transport equipment and is equipped with a pallet floor, which is supported on support feet of a central skid and two outer skids. The central skid and the outer skids are connected to one another by a skid bridge forming a pallet base, which can be handled independent from the pallet floor, and that, for establishing a non-positive plug-in connection with the pallet base, the pallet floor furthermore encompasses engagement devices, which are assigned to the support feet and which interact with assigned engagement devices of the support feet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Udo Schütz
  • Publication number: 20120000401
    Abstract: A pallet made up of plural hollow sections of generally rectangular transverse profile formed from metal tubes, the sections having upper walls facing in the same direction and being secured together in side-by-side and/or end-to-end array to constitute a load-bearing platform. The lower wall of each section may have a longitudinal central rib projecting toward the upper wall for additional strength. The tubes can be hollow transversely corrugated cylinders of metal such as aluminum, used as cores for winding strip material. A method of making the pallet includes the steps of deforming plural metal tubes with generally radially directed pressure to produce the pallet sections, and securing the sections together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas Charles Strizki
  • Publication number: 20100095875
    Abstract: A pallet may include a deck having a load carrying surface and a lower surface, and at least two spaced apart support legs. The legs may have one or more passages formed therethrough at a level beneath the lower surface of the deck to enable receipt of packaging material through the legs and beneath the deck to facilitate securing an object to the deck. The legs and deck may be made out of plastic materials, and may be formed in one-piece or in separate pieces connected together by complementary and mated connection features. The deck may include a plurality of friction elements adapted to engage an object on the deck to, for example, reduce slippage of the object relative to the deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Magline, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Hailston, Andrew P. Richard
  • Patent number: 7644666
    Abstract: A pallet includes parallel channels or corrugations in an upper surface of the deck. Perpendicular lower channels or corrugations are formed on a lower surface of the deck. The upper and lower channels or corrugations support one another and provide increased stiffness to the deck. The pallet is designed such that it can be rotomolded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Justin M. Smyers
  • Publication number: 20090211498
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pallet and a pallet support. The pallet comprises a carrier and a plurality of pallet supports. Each pallet support comprises: a cover member, a retaining board, a retaining wall, a cannular piece, and a base member. The retaining board comprises a first hole; the cover member comprises a second hole, and the base member comprises a third hole. The retaining wall and the cannular piece are located on the base member, wherein the retaining board is located above the retaining wall; the cannular piece is connected to the cover member by passing through the first hole, such that the carrier can be supported between the cover member and the retaining board. The retaining board and the retaining wall are both made of paper material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Ming-Ho Shea
  • Publication number: 20090188412
    Abstract: A pallet for storage and transport of goods consists of an upper deck that serves as a standing surface for the goods, standing feet that can be assembled onto the underside of the upper deck, and accommodation channels formed into the upper deck, for affixing at least one reinforcement strip. The upper deck is divided into at least two rectangular partial regions, and each partial region has an accommodation channel for a reinforcement strip, which is disposed in the diagonal of the partial region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Dubois
  • Publication number: 20090026426
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a truck crane with a winch, in particular a hoisting winch, which is mounted on the uppercarriage, wherein the truck crane includes means for raising and/or lowering the winch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Hans-Dieter Willim
  • Patent number: 7469643
    Abstract: There is disclosed a reusable shipping pallet formed from plastic parts and a method of assembling the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Belle Isle, Gerald Davis
  • Publication number: 20080202391
    Abstract: A pallet for storing and transporting goods by a load platform (2) supported by parallel supports (4), characterised in that:—the load platform (2) comprises a plurality of continuous parallel grooves (6),—the supports (4) are tubular and comprise parallel continuous grooves (16, 18) in their side walls (6) and base (14), in the upper edge of the side walls (16) they comprising recesses (20) complementary to the grooves (6) of the platform (2), the axis of said supports (4) being perpendicular to the grooves (6) of the load platform (2),—the supports (4) are provided with a plurality of internal baffles (26, 32),—cut-out holes (22) are provided in the side walls (12) of the tubular supports (4) for the passage of a fork of a lifting means, each cut-out hole being bounded lowerly and upperly by strips of the support side wall (12),—the lower surface of the platform (2) is provided with reinforcement elements positioned between said supports (4) and said platform (2) at said cut-out holes (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Roberto Pisano
  • Patent number: 7188817
    Abstract: A plastic molded deck board provides a sturdy, durable, lightweight, economical, readily identifiable, and easily handled surface for supporting cargo on top of trailer load beams. The deck board defines a platform having a top face for supporting cargo, a bottom face and a plurality of side faces. The top face defines a plurality of protrusions having variable shapes and heights and rubber stoppers for providing surface friction. The bottom face defines a plurality of side walls, a plurality of angled cross walls, a first platform channel and optionally a second platform channel disposed between the plurality of angled cross walls for receiving a center load beam of a cargo trailer. The top face defines recessed slots for receiving the angled cross walls of another deck board such that two or more deck boards can be securely stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Aero Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven A. Henning
  • Patent number: 6910668
    Abstract: A plastic molded deck board provides a sturdy, durable, lightweight, economical, readily identifiable, and easily handled surface for supporting cargo on top of trailer load beams. The deck board defines a platform having a top face for supporting cargo, a bottom face and a plurality of side faces. The top face defines a plurality of protrusions having variable shapes and heights and rubber stoppers for providing surface friction. The bottom face defines a plurality of side walls, a plurality of angled cross walls, a first platform channel and optionally a second platform channel disposed between the plurality of angled cross walls for receiving a center load beam of a cargo trailer. The top face defines recessed slots for receiving the angled cross walls of another deck board such that two or more deck boards can be securely stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Aero Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven A. Henning
  • Patent number: 6703110
    Abstract: A non-skid surface for containers having a generally planar base layer with an upper surface, a lower surface, and a surface area. A plurality of bumps are disposed spaced apart over and projecting upward relative to the upper surface over a substantial portion of the surface area of the base layer. The bumps are shaped and arranged to accept a container placed on the non-skid surface such that a support rim of a bottom of the container registers between bumps and rests solely on the upper surface of the base layer. The bumps are shaped and arranged to accept a container in this manner in a plurality of positions over the surface area. A method of forming the non-skid surface can include selecting at least a size and a shape of a first container bottom rim. A plurality of first container rim locations are plotted in a first repeating location pattern of a desired spacing. Each of the plurality of first container rim locations corresponds to the first container bottom rim size and shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventor: David M. Stitchick
  • Patent number: 6582179
    Abstract: A contoured layer pad has first and second pockets with the pockets receiving different portions of unstable articles, such as the base and neck portions of containers. The pockets have end portions at opposite sides with side portions extending from the end portions, and the pockets at the opposite sides are associated and/or in substantial alignment. The contoured layer pad is positioned between first and second layers of the articles with opposite end portions of the articles received in the pockets so that the middle portions of the articles are maintained in close proximity to one another to improve the stability of the layers of articles. The contoured layer pad may be formed to have central and peripheral portions and/or to receive articles in nested relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Goldco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Simkowski
  • Patent number: 6541097
    Abstract: A method for the production of ribbed board product, such as fiberboard, flakeboard, or waferboard, which resists fracturing during manufacture. The ribbed board product made according to the invention can be used as decking and in packaging and shipping components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventors: Steven K. Lynch, Bei-Hong Liang, Frederick Frein, Karine A. Luetgert, Dennis J. Farrell
  • Patent number: 6530476
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interface between stacked arrays of containers having container tops. The interface includes a pallet loaded with a stacked array of containers and a layer of exposed container tops adjacent the pallet. A plastic coupling member is positioned between the layer of exposed container tops and the pallet. The plastic coupling member includes a contoured surface configured with an array of indentations formed therein and properly spaced to mate with each of the layer of exposed container tops. The array of indentations is sufficiently deep to prevent relative lateral displacement of the coupling member with respect to the layer of exposed container tops. A method of vertically stacking crates using such an interface is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Trenton M. Overholt
  • Patent number: 6517926
    Abstract: A plastic strip for supporting and spacing wood products for kiln drying or air drying. The plastic strip is rectangular and adapted to withstand high temperature, moisture and pressure under continuous re-use in the temperatures, pressures and moisture of the kiln drying process. The strip is ventilated to inhibit moist areas remaining on the wood products in the overlap between the strips and the wood products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventors: William N. Therrien, Timothy Byman
  • Patent number: 6240854
    Abstract: A palletizing system for a wheeled item comprising an undercarriage and wheels extending from the undercarriage. The pallet includes a plurality of ramps on a base frame sloping from a support toward the base frame and the palletizing system includes at least one selectively removable bridging member for placement in one of the plurality of ramps for forming a track along which the wheels of the item can roll over the one of the plurality of ramps. The support and the plurality of ramps are structured and arranged so that when the bridging member is removed from the at least one of the plurality of ramps and the wheeled item is shifted on the wheels from the support surface along the plurality of ramps, the undercarriage of the wheeled item comes to rest on the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Burnham Service Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Julius F. Heil
  • Patent number: 6237509
    Abstract: A synthetic resin pallet capable of enhancing a strength against a bending force acting in a direction right-angled to a loading surface without an increase in weight of the whole pallet. The synthetic resin pallet is constructed such that pallet constructive members taking configurations of the pallet being divided into upper and lower members are formed by, e.g., injection molding, then set facing to each other and integrally welded. A reinforced tape using a fiber reinforced material which is bendable is attached for reinforcement by the heat welding inside a groove formed on a surface of any one or both of the pallet constructive members in order to resist a bending force acting in a direction orthogonal to the surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignees: Nippon Plastic Pallet Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ishido, Yuzo Hayakawa, Isami Koyama