Abstract: A pallet includes a deck having columns supporting the deck. The deck includes a plurality of ribs extending downwardly from an upper sheet. A reinforcement sheet is secured to lower ends of the ribs. The reinforcement sheet is a coextruded sheet having a first material selected to bond well with the ribs and a second material selected for other improved physical properties. In the example disclosed herein, the second material is chosen for improved fire retardant properties. As one example, the reinforcement sheet can be vibration welded or hot plate welded to the lower ends of the ribs, thereby providing a strong weld between the reinforcement sheet and the ribs, which provides increased performance of the upper deck while the fire retardant layer of the reinforcement sheet provides fire retardant properties to one of the largest surfaces on the pallet.

Abstract: An air cargo pallet with a central panel created from a plurality of sandwiched layers, including a foam core disposed between an upper skin layer having a resin and fiber combination and a lower skin layer having a resin and fiber combination. The central panel is reinforced with additional fibers extending through the lower skin layer, the foam core and the upper skin layer. An interface layer is disposed around the periphery of the foam core and bonded between the upper skin layer and the lower skin layer to complete the central panel. The pallet is then formed by snap fitting a plurality of rails around the circumference of the central panel by connection to the interface layer.

Abstract: A panel structure having a low-density core that can withstanding loads normal to a first primary surface, and a first facing of high-density sheet material that can extend along the first primary surface. The high-density sheet material can be laminated on the core such that the laminated core and facing cooperatively resist bending loads and loads along the primary surface. The first facing can extend from the first primary surface on a side of the core along a secondary surface, which can be non-parallel to the first primary surface. The first facing can bend along a score line between the first primary surface and the secondary surface.

Abstract: A pallet structure having a deck having an upper surface that can hold or bear a load, a first runner core below the deck, and a shell of sheet material that can cover a portion of a surface of the first runner core or deck, wherein the shell comprises a material that provides a higher impact resistance than the material comprising the first runner core or deck covered by the shell.

Abstract: A composite structural material suitable, for example, as a replacement for wooden boards, is disclosed. It comprises a dimensionally stable core material ensheathed in a dimensionally stable, laminar covering that is adherent to the core material. The laminar covering is comprised of at least one layer of parallel cords (19) bonded to at least one layer of a rigidified web material (10) selected from the group consisting of paper and cloth. Suitable core materials include polyurethane foam (38), optionally filled with particles (32) of granulated rubber, expanded perlite, expandable polymer beads, and/or glass microspheres. The parallel cords (19) preferably are supplied in the form of a strip of polyester cloth, as the warp cords thereof. The web material (10) preferably is kraft paper that is rigidified with an epoxy resin.

Abstract: An ultralight unit load device comprising a ruggedized quadrangular composite structure with a cellular load-bearing core sealed in successive ordered-polymer stiffening plies and trimmed at the outer edges with a hollow, multi-chambered profile of lightweight material fixed with flush attachment means so as to present a flat surface for easy loading and unloading of payloads.

Abstract: A pallet and method of assembly of a pallet are disclosed. The pallet preferably employs a two part construction including a deck and a plurality of plastic spacers separately fabricated from the deck and coupled to the deck. The plurality of spacers may be provided in sections which are modular and are configured to be nested with each other when not assembled to a pallet. The deck may be made of simple plywood construction.

Abstract: The invention provides a very simple solution to the manufacturing problem of making thick optical tables which are needed for some applications. The solution adopted is to manufacture individual units according to standard procedures for making optical tables and then to bond them together to make a thicker optical table. Accordingly the invention provides a method of manufacturing an optical table comprising making two or more subassemblies, wherein each subassembly is made by bonding a core to upper and lower skins, and then bonding the subassemblies together to form the optical table. The optical, table. can be conventionally mounted on vibration isolation supports.

Abstract: A plastic pallet assembly is formed from plastic lumber by melting sections of runners and cross members and contacting them to join said runners and said cross members to form a pallet. A machine having an assembly table, cross members for supporting and moving pallet runners in a vertical direction, a support table for a pallet cross member, hot plates moveable in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction for insertion between the runners and the cross member, and a force bar moveable in a vertical direction for applying a force to the runners, hot plates and cross member.

Abstract: A hollow-chamber lightweight component is described which at least comprises a shell-shaped housing part (1) made of high-strength material. a ribbed supporting structure (2) made of plastic, in particular of thermoplastic material, and at least one cover plate (4) or covering shell (20) made of a high-strength material which is, in particular. different from plastic and a method of producing the lightweight component is described. The supporting structure (2) is up against the inside of the housing part (1) and is joined, in particular. to the housing part (1). The cover plate (4) or covering shell (20) largely covers the space formed from housing part (1) and supporting structure (2) and is joined in its peripheral region at least with one part of the boundary (10) of the housing part (1).

Abstract: A slip sheet pallet comprising a first sheet engageable with a stacked array which is to be supported; a second sheet attached to the first sheet; at least one flap connected to and extending outwardly from at least one of the first and second sheets and gripable by a lift truck gripping assembly; at least one of the first and second sheets comprising a compound sheet with a plurality of distinct connected layers.