Wire mesh pallet and method of producing a wire mesh pallet

Abstract

A wire mesh pallet is presented. The wire mesh pallet includes a wire mesh, the wire mesh including a plurality of integral legs, the legs formed by bending of the wire mesh. The wire mesh pallet further includes at least one truss device, the truss device capable of limiting or controlling an amount of flex of said wire mesh pallet.

1 . A wire mesh pallet comprising:
 a wire mesh, said wire mesh including a plurality of integral legs, said legs formed by bending of the wire mesh; and   at least one truss device, said truss device capable of limiting an amount of flex of said wire mesh pallet; said truss device in mechanical communication with said wire mesh pallet, said truss device traversing at least a portion of said wire mesh pallet.   
   
   
       2 . The wire mesh pallet of  claim 1  wherein said truss device comprises at least one of the group consisting of a truss wire, said truss wire traversing at least a section of said wire mesh pallet; a truss clip, said truss clip traversing at least a section of a leg of said wire mesh pallet; a truss leg wire, said truss leg wire traversing at least a section of a leg of said wire mesh pallet, and a cover, said cover traversing at least a section of said wire mesh pallet. 
   
   
       3 . The wire mesh pallet of  claim 1  further comprising a runner, said runner in mechanical communication with a bottom of a first leg and a bottom of at least one other leg. 
   
   
       4 . The wire mesh pallet of  claim 1  wherein said wire mesh comprises:
 a plurality of line wires spaced apart from each other and generally parallel to each other;   a plurality of cross wires spaced apart from each other and generally parallel to each other, said cross wires in mechanical communication with said line wires, said cross wires generally perpendicular to said line wires; and   wherein said line wires and said cross wires define a generally rectangular shape for supporting a load thereon.   
   
   
       5 . The wire mesh pallet of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of additional cross wires which function as bottom wires after the wire mesh pallet is formed, the bottom wires generally parallel to the cross wires and in mechanical communication with the line wires. 
   
   
       6 . The wire mesh pallet of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of cross wires which function as leg reinforcement wires after the wire mesh pallet is formed, the leg reinforcement wires in mechanical communication with and extending along at least one side of a first leg and one side of a second leg. 
   
   
       7 . The wire mesh pallet of  claim 1  further comprising at least one lip, said at least one lip extending along at least a portion of at least one side of said wire mesh pallet. 
   
   
       8 . The wire mesh pallet of  claim 1  wherein said wire mesh is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic. 
   
   
       9 . The wire mesh pallet of  claim 1  further comprising a coating. 
   
   
       10 . The wire mesh pallet of  claim 9  wherein said coating is applied before the bending of said wire mesh. 
   
   
       11 . The wire mesh pallet of  claim 9  wherein said coating is applied after the bending of said wire mesh. 
   
   
       12 . A method of manufacturing a wire mesh pallet comprising:
 producing a wire mesh;   bending said wire mesh at a plurality of predetermined locations to form a plurality of support legs; and   adding at least one truss device to said wire mesh pallet, said truss device capable of limiting an amount of flex of said wire mesh pallet; said truss device in mechanical communication with said wire mesh pallet, said truss device traversing at least a portion of said wire mesh pallet.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said truss device comprises at least one of the group consisting of a truss wire, said truss wire traversing at least a section of said wire mesh pallet; a truss clip, said truss clip traversing at least a section of a leg of said wire mesh pallet; a truss leg wire, said truss leg wire traversing at least a section of a leg of said wire mesh pallet, and a cover, said cover traversing at least a section of said wire mesh pallet. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising adding a runner, said runner in mechanical communication with a bottom of a first leg and a bottom of at least one other leg. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said wire mesh comprises:
 a plurality of line wires spaced apart from each other and generally parallel to each other;   a plurality of cross wires spaced apart from each other and generally parallel to each other, said cross wires in mechanical communication with said line wires, said cross wires generally perpendicular to said line wires; and   wherein said line wires and said cross wires define a generally rectangular shape for supporting a load thereon.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said wire mesh includes a plurality of additional cross wires which function as bottom wires after the wire mesh pallet is formed, the bottom wires generally parallel to the cross wires and in mechanical communication with the line wires 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said wire mesh includes a plurality of cross wires which function as leg reinforcement wires after the wire mesh pallet is formed, the leg reinforcement wires in mechanical communication with and extending along at least one side of a first leg and one side of a second leg 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising coating said wire mesh. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said coating is applied at a time selected from the group consisting of before forming said wire mesh pallet and after forming said wire mesh pallet. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising coating said truss device.