Pallet constructed of rubber composite

Abstract

The pallet constructed of a rubber composite is made from rubber that includes recycled rubber, natural rubber, sulfur and a filler material. The pallet has an upper member and a lower member that interconnect to resemble a traditional American model wooden pallet. Although an assembly of just two molded components, it appears to be constructed of a number of planks attached to two or more cross beams. In an alternative embodiment, it resembles a European model wooden pallet by appearing to be constructed of a number of planks attached to two grids, each of which is attached to opposite surfaces on a plurality of support blocks.

1 . A pallet constructed of rubber composite, comprising: 
 a molded upper member constructed of a rubber composite; and    a molded lower member constructed of a rubber composite; and    means for interlocking the upper and lower members in order to form a pallet.    
   
   
       2 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said rubber composite is composed of at least 20% rubber.  
   
   
       3 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said rubber composite is composed of recycled rubber, natural rubber, sulfur and a filler material.  
   
   
       4 . The pallet according to  claim 3 , wherein said filler material is selected from the group consisting of coal ash and plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said rubber composite is composed of about twenty pounds of recycled rubber, about ten pounds of natural rubber, about five pounds of sulfur and about ten pounds of filler material.  
   
   
       6 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said upper member comprises a plurality of planks and a plurality of crossbeams, each of the planks having a top and a bottom, each of the crossbeams having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side, the bottom of each of the planks being attached to the top of each of the crossbeams; and    said lower member comprises a plurality of planks and a plurality of crossbeams, each of the planks having a top and a bottom, and each of the crossbeams having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side, the top of each of the planks being attached to the bottom of each of the crossbeams;    the crossbeams in said upper member and the crossbeams in said lower member are equal in number; and    said means for interlocking comprises at least one notch defined in each of the crossbeams of said upper member and a corresponding holding wedge formed on the second side of each of the crossbeams of said lower member, the notch and the wedge being aligned and forming a snap fit to interlock said upper and lower members.    
   
   
       7 . The pallet according to  claim 6 , wherein said planks in said upper member extend beyond a periphery of all of said crossbeams in order to form an overhang around a perimeter of the pallet for facilitating shrink wrapping of items placed on the pallet.  
   
   
       8 . The pallet according to  claim 6 , further comprising a retaining wall extending upward from a periphery of said upper member for retaining items placed on the pallet.  
   
   
       9 . The pallet according to  claim 6 , wherein said rubber composite is composed of at least 20% rubber.  
   
   
       10 . The pallet according to  claim 6 , wherein said rubber composite is composed of recycled rubber, natural rubber, sulfur and a filler material.  
   
   
       11 . The pallet according to  claim 10 , wherein said filler material is selected from the group consisting of coal ash and plastic.  
   
   
       12 . The pallet according to  claim 6 , wherein said rubber composite is composed of about twenty pounds of recycled rubber, about ten pounds of natural rubber, about five pounds of sulfur and about ten pounds of filler material.  
   
   
       13 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said upper member comprises a plurality of planks, a plurality of blocks, and a support grid, each of the planks having a top and a bottom, each of the blocks having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side, the support grid having a top and a bottom, bottom of each of the planks being attached to the top of the support grid, the top of each of the blocks being attached to the bottom of the support grid; and    said lower member comprises a plurality of planks, a plurality of blocks, and a support grid, each of the planks having a top and a bottom, each of the blocks having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side, the support grid having a top and a bottom, the top of each of the planks being attached to the bottom of the support grid, and the bottom of each of the blocks being attached to the top of the support grid;    the blocks in the upper member and the blocks in the lower member being equal in number; and    said means for interlocking comprises at least one notch defined in the first side of each of the blocks in said upper member, and a corresponding holding wedge formed on the second side of each of the blocks in said lower member, the notch and the holding wedge being aligned and forming a snap fit to interlock said upper and lower members.    
   
   
       14 . The pallet according to  claim 13 , wherein said planks in said upper member extend beyond a periphery of all of said blocks in order to form an overhang around a perimeter of the pallet for facilitating shrink wrapping of items placed on the pallet.  
   
   
       15 . The pallet according to  claim 13 , further comprising a retaining wall extending upward from a periphery of said upper member for retaining items placed on the pallet.  
   
   
       16 . The pallet according to  claim 13 , wherein said rubber composite is composed of at least 20% rubber.  
   
   
       17 . The pallet according to  claim 13 , wherein said rubber composite is composed of recycled rubber, natural rubber, sulfur and a filler material.  
   
   
       18 . The pallet according to  claim 17 , wherein said filler material is selected from the group consisting of coal ash and plastic.  
   
   
       19 . The pallet according to  claim 13 , wherein said rubber composite is composed of about twenty pounds of recycled rubber, about ten pounds of natural rubber, about five pounds of sulfur and about ten pounds of filler material.