Patent ID: 7908979
Filing Date: 2011-03-22
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
1. A rackable pallet having load bearing capabilities on which one or more articles may be placed for storage and/or transportation, including: a body having a platform that includes an upper side face upon which the article or articles may rest and a plurality of supports that depend from an underside face of said platform, said supports being adapted to provide support for said platform and to space said platform above a foundation or a structure on which the pallet rests, said body being constructed from predominantly one or more light weight materials having no or little inherent load bearing capacity; an external skin that is bonded to and envelopes the underside face of said platform and said supports and at least some of the upper side face of said platform, the external skin includes a first sheet that is vacuum formed onto and covers the underside face and the supports, the first sheet having a first peripheral edge portion, and a second sheet that is vacuum formed onto and covers the at least some of the upper side face, the second sheet having a second peripheral edge portion, the second peripheral edge is pressed against exposed portions of a side wall of the body, and the first peripheral edge portion is folded over and heat bonded to the second peripheral edge portion, and a plurality of bridges that extend between adjacent supports, said bridges being spaced from the underside of said platform and adapted to provide support for the pallet when at least some of said bridges rest upon frame members of a rack, and whereby in use a forklift having a plurality of tines may be used to move the pallet and wherein each tine may be locatable between adjacent supports and/or between the underside of said platform and one or more bridges.