Reinforced pallet

Abstract

A pallet assembly includes an upper deck having an upper panel portion from which a plurality of ribs extend downward. A plurality of channels are formed in an underside of the upper deck. The pallet assembly includes a plurality of columns below the upper deck. A plurality of reinforcement assemblies, including an inner reinforcement member, are each received within an outer case. The inner reinforcement members are received in the channels in the upper deck.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet assembly comprising:
 an upper deck having an upper panel portion from which a plurality of ribs extend downward, a plurality of channels formed in an underside of the upper deck;   a plurality of columns below the upper deck;   a plurality of reinforcement assemblies each including an inner reinforcement members each received within a first outer case, the inner reinforcement assemblies received in the plurality of channels, a plurality of second outer cases received in the channels, the second cases not containing inner reinforcement members therein.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer cases are integrally molded with the columns. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement assemblies are receivable in the plurality of channels in a first orientation and are receivable in the plurality of channels in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , further including end caps covering longitudinal ends of the plurality of inner reinforcement members. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inner reinforcement members each have a hollow rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer cases are configured such that they can be received in the channels without the inner reinforcement members. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second outer cases are plastic and the inner reinforcement members are metal. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first outer cases are configured such that they can be received in the channels without the inner reinforcement members. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement assemblies are receivable in the plurality of channels in a first orientation and are receivable in the plurality of channels in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet assembly of  claim 9 , further including end caps covering longitudinal ends of the plurality of inner reinforcement members. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the inner reinforcement members have a hollow rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet assembly of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of columns each include at least one channel formed at an upper end thereof, the plurality of reinforcement assemblies and the second outer cases received in the channels at the upper ends of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of columns each include at least one channel formed at an upper end thereof, the plurality of reinforcement assemblies and the second outer cases received in the channels at the upper ends of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         14 . A pallet assembly comprising:
 an upper deck having an upper panel portion from which a plurality of ribs extend downward, a plurality of channels formed in an underside of the upper deck;   a plurality of columns below the upper deck; and   a plurality of reinforcement assemblies including a plurality of inner reinforcement members each received within a first outer case, the inner reinforcement members received in the plurality of channels, wherein the outer case has a three-sided cross-section with an open side, such that the outer case has a U-shaped cross section, wherein the upper panel portion covers the inner reinforcement members on the open side of the outer case.   
     
     
         15 . A pallet assembly comprising:
 an upper deck having an upper panel portion from which a plurality of ribs extend downward, a plurality of channels formed in an underside of the upper deck;   a plurality of columns below the upper deck;   a plurality of plastic outer cases having a hollow rectangular cross section, the plastic outer cases received in the plurality of channels; and   a plurality of inner reinforcement members received within some, but not all, of the plurality of outer cases.   
     
     
         16 . The pallet assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the inner reinforcement members are metal. 
     
     
         17 . The pallet assembly of  claim 16 , further including end caps covering longitudinal ends of the outer cases. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of outer cases are receivable in the plurality of channels in a first orientation and are receivable in the plurality of channels in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet assembly of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of columns each include at least one channel formed at an upper end thereof, the plurality of inner reinforcement members and the plurality of plastic outer cases received in the channels at the upper ends of the plurality of columns.