Metal pallet structure

Abstract

A metal pallet structure including a top decking comprising top deck members and leading edge members, a bottom decking comprising bottom deck members, and stringers separating the top decking from the bottom decking and supporting the top decking. The bottom deck members and top deck members are provided longitudinally, each deck member itself extending laterally. Replaceable leading edge members are provided at longitudinal ends of the metal pallet structure and are supported by end top decking members. End stringers are provided at the lateral ends of and between the bottom deck members and the top deck members. The end stringers include at least one notch for receiving tines of a typical fork lift. A central stringer may be provided between the lateral ends of the bottom deck members and the top deck members for providing support to the top deck members.

1 . A pallet structure comprising: 
 a top decking comprising a plurality of top deck members and first and second leading edge members, the top deck members and leading edge members each extending across the pallet structure;    a bottom decking comprising at a first and a second bottom deck member; and    two end stringers, the end stringers separating the top decking from the bottom decking and supporting the top decking, each end stringer including two side walls and a beam extending between the side walls.    
   
   
       2 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , wherein the top deck members and leading edge members each extend laterally across the pallet structure, the top deck members and the leading edge members being provided in a longitudinal direction to form the top decking.  
   
   
       3 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , wherein each end stringer comprises a support section, an R-beam section, and a top section, the beam forming a bottom of the R-beam section.  
   
   
       4 . The pallet structure of  claim 3 , wherein the beam divides the R-beam section and the support section, the R-beam section and the support section being of approximately equal proportions.  
   
   
       5 . The pallet structure of  claim 3 , wherein the top section is configured for supporting the top deck members and leading edge members, the top section including a base extending between the side walls of the stringer, an extension extending outwardly passed a first of the side walls, and an upward extension extending upwardly from a second of the side walls to form an upward extension of the second side wall, the upward extension folding back towards the first side wall to form a pocket for receiving an edge of the top deck members and leading edge members.  
   
   
       6 . The pallet structure of  claim 3 , further including a plurality of end caps for capping ends of the stringers.  
   
   
       7 . The pallet structure of  claim 6 , wherein each end cap comprises a generally planar outer surface, first and second R-beam section flanges, first and second support section flanges, and a beam receiving opening, and wherein the end cap snaps onto the end of the stringer, the R-beam section flanges being received by the R-beam section of the stringer, the support section flanges being received by the support section of the stringer, and the beam receiving opening receiving the beam of the stringer.  
   
   
       8 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , further including at least one central stringer for separating the top decking from the bottom decking and additionally supporting the top decking, the at least one central stringer comprising two side walls and having a beam between the side walls.  
   
   
       9 . The pallet structure of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one central stringer includes a top section configured for supporting the top deck members and two leading edge members, the top section including a base extending between the side walls of the stringer, a first extension extending outwardly passed a first of the side walls, and a second extension extending outwardly passed a second of the side walls, the base, first and second extensions forming a generally planar surface upon which the top deck members may be set.  
   
   
       10 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , at least one notch being formed in at least one of the end stringers, the notch being configured to receive tines of a forklift, wherein the notch is formed by cutting a portion of the side walls of at least one of the end stringers.  
   
   
       11 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , at least one notch being formed in at least one of the end stringers, the notch being configured to receive tines of a forklift, wherein the notch is formed by deforming a portion of the side walls of at least one of the end stringers.  
   
   
       12 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , wherein the notch is generally formed as an arc.  
   
   
       13 . The pallet structure of  claim 12 , wherein the notch includes an upper limit, the upper limit of the notch being approximately contiguous with the beam.  
   
   
       14 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , wherein the top deck members include first and second end top deck members, the first end top deck member being provided at a first end of the pallet structure and the second top deck member being provided at a second end of the pallet structure.  
   
   
       15 . The pallet structure of  claim 14 . wherein each end top deck member comprises a side portion, a central portion, and a leading side portion, the side potion having a bottom, a top and two side walls, the leading side portion having a bottom and a side wall, the bottom and the side wall together forming a ledge for receiving an end of each leading edge, and the central portion extending between the side portion and the leading side portion, the central portion and top of the side portion forming a generally planar upper surface of the end top deck member.  
   
   
       16 . The pallet structure of  claim 15 , wherein the first leading edge member is positioned at a first end of the pallet structure and the second leading edge member is positioned at a second end of the pallet structure, the first and second leading edge members being positioned in the ledges of the first and second end top deck members, respectively.  
   
   
       17 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , wherein the top deck members further include at least one central top deck member, the at least one central top deck member being provided between the first and second end top deck members.  
   
   
       18 . The pallet structure of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one central top deck member comprises first and second side portions and a central portion, each side portion having a bottom, a top, and side walls, the central portion extending between the tops of the side portions, the tops of the side portions and the central portion together forming a planar upper surface of the central top deck member.  
   
   
       19 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second leading edge members are replaceable.  
   
   
       20 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , wherein each second leading edge member is formed generally rectangularly having a top, a bottom, a leading side, and an inner side, and wherein the top and the leading side are textured to provide a wear edge.  
   
   
       21 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom deck members are configured to have a low profile.  
   
   
       22 . The pallet structure of  claim 21 , wherein the first bottom deck member is provided at a first end of the pallet structure and the second bottom deck member is provided at a second end of the pallet structure.  
   
   
       23 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , further including at least one additional bottom deck member.  
   
   
       24 . The pallet structure of  claim 1 , wherein the top deck members, the bottom deck members, and the end stringers are formed of aluminum.  
   
   
       25 . A pallet structure having first and second longitudinal ends and first and second lateral ends, the pallet structure comprising: 
 a top decking comprising first and second end top deck members, at least one central top deck member, and first and second leading edge members;    a bottom decking comprising first and second bottom deck members; and    two end stringers and at least one central stringer, the stringers separating the top decking from the bottom decking and supporting the top decking, each stringer including two side walls and a beam extending between the two side walls;    at least one notch being formed in at least one of the end stringers, the notch being configured to receive tines of a forklift.    
   
   
       26 . The pallet structure of  claim 25 , wherein a notch corresponding to the at least one notch is formed in the at least one central stringer.  
   
   
       27 . The pallet structure of  claim 25 , wherein each stringer comprises a support section, an R-beam section, and a top section, the beam forming a bottom of the R-beam section.  
   
   
       28 . The pallet structure of  claim 27 , wherein the top section of each end stringer is configured for supporting the top deck members and leading edge members, the top section including a base extending between the side walls of the stringer, an extension extending outwardly passed a first of the side walls, and an upward extension extending upwardly from a second of the side walls to form an upward extension of the second side wall, the upward extension folding back towards the first side wall to form a pocket for receiving a lateral edge of the top deck members and leading edge members.  
   
   
       29 . The pallet structure of  claim 27 , further including a plurality of end caps for capping longitudinal ends of the stringers.  
   
   
       30 . The pallet structure of  claim 29 , wherein each end cap comprises a generally planar outer surface, first and second R-beam section flanges, first and second support section flanges, and a beam receiving opening, and wherein the end cap snaps onto the longitudinal end of the stringer, the R-beam section flanges being received by the R-beam section of the stringer, the support section flanges being received by the support section of the stringer, and the beam receiving opening receiving the beam of the stringer.  
   
   
       31 . The pallet structure of  claim 25 , wherein the notch is formed by cutting a portion of the side walls of at least one of the end stringers.  
   
   
       32 . The pallet structure of  claim 25 , wherein the notch is formed by deforming a portion of the side walls of at least one of the end stringers.  
   
   
       33 . The pallet structure of  claim 25 , wherein the notch is generally formed as an arc.  
   
   
       34 . The pallet structure of  claim 33 , wherein the notch includes an upper limit, the upper limit of the notch being approximately contiguous with the beam.  
   
   
       35 . The pallet structure of  claim 25 , wherein the first end top deck member is provided at the first longitudinal end of the pallet structure and the second top deck member being provided at the second longitudinal end of the pallet structure.  
   
   
       36 . The pallet structure of  claim 35 . wherein each end top deck member comprises a side portion, a central portion, and a leading side portion, the side potion having a bottom, a top and two side walls, the leading side portion having a bottom and a side wall, the bottom and the side wall together forming a ledge for receiving a lateral end of each leading edge, and the central portion extending between the side portion and the leading side portion, the central portion and top of the side portion forming a generally planar upper surface of the end top deck member.  
   
   
       37 . The pallet structure of  claim 36 , wherein the first leading edge member is positioned at the first longitudinal end of the pallet structure and the second leading edge member is positioned at the second longitudinal end of the pallet structure, the first and second leading edge members being positioned in the ledges of the first and second end top deck members, respectively.  
   
   
       38 . The pallet structure of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second leading edge members are replaceable.