Lightweight, boxed stringer useful in forming pallets for transporting products

Abstract

A lightweight, boxed stringer useful in forming pallets for transporting products. The lightweight, boxed stringer is formed using a unique box container which encloses a lightweight core material. The core material may comprise a cardboard honeycomb or a plastic foam. The lightweight core material is enclosed by the side panels of the box container which also has elongated end tabs. These end tabs are folded over a sheet material to form a unitized pallet structure comprising two or more stringers in substantially parallel alignment and the sheet material placed on the stringers and enclosed by the end tabs.

1 . A lightweight, boxed stringer useful in forming a pallet comprising a box container which in its unfolded, flattened form comprises a central rectangular panel; two side panels contiguous to the central rectangular panel, both of said side panels having creases extending the length of the side panels and being located at a distance from the side edges of the central rectangular panel substantially equal to the height of a lightweight core material which is placed on the central rectangular panel; said side panels being folded over on top of and enclosing said lightweight core material; two end tabs contiguous to the two ends of the central rectangular panel, both of said end tabs being creased enabling the end tabs to be folded over to enclose the two ends of the lightweight core material and to enclose a sheet material which is to be placed on top of the side panels folded over the lightweight core material, with the length of the end tabs being sufficient that the end tabs overlap each other when folded over the lightweight core material and the sheet material whereby the end tabs can be attached to one another.  
   
   
       2 . The lightweight, boxed stringer of  claim 1  in which the lightweight core material is selected from the group consisting of cardboard honeycomb material and a plastic foam.  
   
   
       3 . The lightweight, boxed stringer of  claim 1  in which the lightweight core material is cardboard honeycomb material.  
   
   
       4 . The lightweight, boxed stringer of  claim 1  in which the end tabs are attached to one another by means selected from the group consisting of interlocking slots in the end tabs, adhesives and mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       5 . A pallet for transporting products comprising at least two lightweight, boxed stringers in substantially parallel alignment, said lightweight, boxed stringers comprising a box container which in its unfolded, flattened form comprises a central rectangular panel; two side panels contiguous to the central rectangular panel, both of said side panels having creases extending the length of the side panels and being located at a distance from the side edges of the central rectangular panel substantially equal to the height of a lightweight core material which is placed on the central rectangular panel; said side panels being folded over on top of and enclosing said lightweight core material; two end tabs contiguous to the two ends of the central rectangular panel, both of said end tabs being creased whereby the end tabs are folded over to enclose the two ends of the lightweight core material and to enclose a sheet material which is placed on top of the side panels folded over the lightweight core material, and means firmly attaching the end tabs to one another, whereby the lightweight, boxed stringers are firmly attached to the sheet material so as to form a unitized pallet.  
   
   
       6 . The pallet of  claim 5  in which the sheet material is selected from the group consisting of plywood, particle board, gypsum wallboard and plastic sheets.  
   
   
       7 . The pallet of  claim 5  in which the lightweight core material is selected from the group consisting of cardboard honeycomb material and a plastic foam.  
   
   
       8 . The pallet of  claim 6  in which the lightweight core material is a cardboard honeycomb material.  
   
   
       9 . The pallet of  claim 5  in which the means firmly attaching the end tabs to one another comprises a linking piece which is attached to the end tabs, which are shortened, by means selected from the group consisting of interlocking slots, adhesives and mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       10 . The pallet of  claim 5  in which a sheet material is placed on top of the side panels folded over the lightweight core material, with the length of the end tabs being sufficient to enclose both the sheet material and a layer of boxed strip products which are placed on top of the sheet material, whereby the lightweight, boxed stringers are firmly attached to the sheet material and the layer of boxed strip products so as to form a unitized pallet.  
   
   
       11 . The pallet of  claim 5  in which the length of the end tabs is sufficient that the end tabs overlap each other and are firmly attached to one another by means selected from the group consisting of interlocking slots, adhesives and mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       12 . The pallet of  claim 11  in which the end tabs are attached to one another by interlocking slots in the end tabs.  
   
   
       13 . A pallet for transporting products comprising at least two lightweight, boxed stringers in substantially parallel alignment, said lightweight, boxed stringers comprising a box container which in its unfolded, flattened form comprises a central rectangular panel; two shortened side panels contiguous to the central rectangular panel, both of said side panels having creases extending the length of the side panels and being adjacent to the side edges of the central rectangular panel with the height of the side panels when folded at right angles to the central panel being substantially equal to the height of a lightweight core material which is placed on the central rectangular panel; two end tabs contiguous to the two ends of the central rectangular panel, both of said end tabs being creased whereby the end tabs are folded over to enclose the two ends of the lightweight core material and to enclose a sheet material which is placed on top of the lightweight core material in the tray-like boxed container, and means firmly attaching the end tabs to one another, whereby the lightweight, boxed stringers are firmly attached to the sheet material so as to form a unitized pallet.  
   
   
       14 . The pallet of  claim 13  in which the sheet material is selected from the group consisting of plywood, particle board, gypsum wallboard and plastic sheets.  
   
   
       15 . The pallet of  claim 12  in which the lightweight core material is selected from the group consisting of cardboard honeycomb material and a plastic foam.  
   
   
       16 . The pallet of  claim 12  in which the lightweight core material is a cardboard honeycomb material.  
   
   
       17 . The pallet of  claim 12  in which the end tabs are attached to one another by means selected from the group consisting of interlocking slots in the end tabs, adhesives and mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       18 . The pallet of  claim 12  in which the means firmly attaching the end tabs to one another comprises a linking piece which is attached to the end tabs, which are shortened, by means selected from the group consisting of interlocking slots, adhesives and mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       19 . The pallet of  claim 12  in which the length of the end tabs is sufficient that the end tabs overlap each other and are firmly attached to one another by means selected from the group consisting of interlocking slots, adhesives and mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       20 . The pallet of  claim 18  in which the end tabs are attached to one another by interlocking slots in the end tabs.