Central pallet connector or post for use with grabber arms of a forklift

Abstract

A plastic center connector or post for a plastic pallet assembly configured to facilitate engagement by grabber arms of a forklift and/or projections from the grabber arms. The center connector having an integrally formed first flange extending from a top surface of the connector for snap-fittingly connecting the connector to a top deck of the pallet assembly, and an integrally formed first flange extending from a bottom surface of the connector to snap-fittingly connect the connector to a bottom deck of the pallet assembly.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A center connector for a connecting a top deck and a bottom deck of a pallet assembly comprising: 
 a pallet connector sized to allow a first grabber arm positioned between a first tine and a second tine of a forklift to engage and hold the pallet connector, the pallet connector having a first side, an opposing second side, a first end, an opposing second end, and having a top surface and a bottom surface;    a first top flange extending from the top surface for snap-fittingly connecting the pallet connector to a top deck of a pallet assembly; and,    a first bottom flange extending from the bottom surface for snap-fittingly connecting the pallet connector to a bottom deck of a pallet assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the connector is a one piece molded plastic having a plurality of ribs.  
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of ribs extend outward from a central portion of the pallet connector toward the first side and the second side of the pallet connector.  
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of ribs extend outward from a central portion of the pallet connector toward the top surface and the bottom surface of the pallet connector.  
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the pallet connector is sized to allow the first grabber arm and a second grabber arm positioned between a first tine and as second tine of the forklift to engage and hold the pallet connector.  
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 5  further comprising a first recess in the first side of the pallet connector and a second recess in the second side of the pallet connector, the first recess adapted to receive a contacting member of the first grabber arm, and the second recess adapted to receive a contacting member of the second grabber arm.  
     
     
         7 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a first recess in the first side of the pallet connector and a second recess in the second side of the pallet connector, the first recess adapted to receive a cam extending from the first grabber arm, and the second recess adapted to receive a cam extending from the second grabber arm.  
     
     
         8 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a prong at a distal end of the top flange.  
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a second top flange extending from the top surface for snap-fittingly connecting the pallet connector to a top deck of a pallet assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a prong at a distal end of the bottom flange.  
     
     
         11 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a second bottom flange extending from the bottom surface for snap-fittingly connecting the pallet connector to a bottom deck of a pallet assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a first brace member extending from the top surface and a second opposing brace member extending from the top surface spaced apart from the first brace member a sufficient distance to allow a first rib portion extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the top deck to fit between the first brace member and the second brace member.  
     
     
         13 . The connector of  claim 12  wherein the first and second brace members are positioned proximate the first end of the pallet connector and the pallet connector further comprising a third brace member extending from the top surface proximate the second end of the pallet connector and an opposing fourth brace member extending from the top surface proximate the second end of the pallet connector spaced apart a sufficient distance from the third brace member to allow a second rib portion extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the top deck to fit between the third brace member and the fourth brace member.  
     
     
         14 . The connector of  claim 13  wherein the top flange is positioned between the first and second brace members and the third and fourth brace members.  
     
     
         15 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a first brace member extending from the bottom surface and a second opposing brace member extending from the bottom surface spaced apart from the first brace member a sufficient distance to allow a first rib portion extending upwardly from a top surface of the bottom deck to fit between the first brace member and the second brace member.  
     
     
         16 . The connector of  claim 15  wherein the first and second brace members are positioned proximate the first end of the pallet connector and the pallet connector further comprising a third brace member extending from the bottom surface proximate the second end of the pallet connector and an opposing fourth brace member extending from the bottom surface proximate the second end of the pallet connector spaced apart a sufficient distance from the third brace member to allow a second rib portion extending upwardly from the top surface of the bottom deck to fit between the third brace member and the fourth brace member.  
     
     
         17 . The connector of  claim 16  wherein the bottom flange is positioned between the first and second brace members and the third and fourth brace members.  
     
     
         18 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a recess in the first side of the pallet connector adapted to receive a flange extending from the first grabber arm.  
     
     
         19 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the pallet connector has a width from the first side to the second side of approximately one to two inches.  
     
     
         20 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the pallet connector has a width from the first side to the second side of approximately five inches.  
     
     
         21 . A pallet assembly comprising: 
 a top deck;    a bottom deck:    a pallet connector positioned at a perimeter of the pallet assembly midway between a first corner and a second corner, the pallet connector sized to allow a first grabber arm positioned between a first tine and a second tine of a forklift to engage and hold the pallet connector, the pallet connector having a first side, an opposing second side, a first end, an opposing second end, and having a top surface and a bottom surface;    a first top flange extending from the top surface snap-fittingly connecting the pallet connector to the top deck of the pallet assembly; and,    a first bottom flange extending from the bottom surface snap-fittingly connecting the pallet connector to the bottom deck of the pallet assembly.    
     
     
         22 . A structure for connecting a top deck and bottom deck of a pallet comprising: 
 a generally rectangular box shaped connector having a first side, an opposing second side, a first end and an opposing second end, a generally hollow interior portion having a plurality of internal ribs extending from an interior surface of the first side to an interior surface of the second side, the connector sized to enable a first grabber arm positioned between a first tine and a second tine of a forklift mechanism to engage the connector and stabilize the pallet assembly.    
     
     
         23 . The structure of  claim 22  wherein the connector is connected to a top deck of a pallet by one of snap fitting, bonding and fastening.  
     
     
         24 . The structure of  claim 22  wherein the internal ribs form open generally rectangular compartments.  
     
     
         25 . The structure of  claim 22  wherein the connector is a molded plastic.  
     
     
         26 . The structure of  claim 22  wherein the first side and the second side include a scalloped outer surface.  
     
     
         27 . The structure of  claim 22  further comprising an outer sleeve surrounding the first side, the second side, the first end and the second end.  
     
     
         28 . The structure of  claim 27  wherein the outer sleeve is formed from a material different from a material of the pallet.  
     
     
         29 . The structure of  claim 24  further comprising a plurality of cross-ribbed strengthening posts positioned in the plurality of generally rectangular compartments.  
     
     
         30 . The structure of  claim 22  wherein the connector is connected to a bottom deck of a pallet by one of snap fitting, bonding and fastening.  
     
     
         31 . A pallet comprising: 
 a first plastic deck having a generally rectangular planar portion and an integrally formed connector extending outwardly proximate a perimeter of the first deck midway between a first corner and a second corner, the connector having a generally rectangular box shape having a first side, an opposing second side, a first end and an opposing second end, a generally hollow interior portion having a plurality of internal ribs extending from an interior surface of the first side to an interior surface of the second side, the connector sized to enable a first grabber arm positioned between a first tine and a second tine of a forklift mechanism to engage the connector and stabilize the pallet assembly, and,    a second plastic deck connected to the connector.    
     
     
         32 . The pallet of  claim 31  wherein the internal ribs form generally rectangular compartments in the connector, and further comprising a plurality of cross-ribbed posts integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the second deck, the posts positioned to be placed in the rectangular compartments.  
     
     
         33 . A pallet assembly comprising: 
 a first plastic deck having a generally rectangular planar portion and an integrally formed first connector portion extending outwardly from the planar portion proximate a perimeter of the first deck midway between a first corner and a second corner; the first connector portion having a generally rectangular shape; and,    a second plastic deck connected to the first plastic deck, the second plastic deck having a generally rectangular planar portion and an integrally formed second connector portion extending outwardly from the second deck planar portion, the second connector portion having a generally rectangular shape slightly larger than the rectangular shape of the first connector portion, the second connector portion positioned to surround the first connector portion, the second connector portion sized to enable a first grabber arm positioned between a first tine and a second tine of a forklift mechanism to engage the second connector portion and stabilize the pallet assembly.    
     
     
         34 . The pallet assembly of  claim 33  further comprising a plurality of interior strengthening ribs in an interior portion of the first connector portion.  
     
     
         35 . The pallet assembly of  claim 33  wherein the second connector portion has a width of approximately one to two inches.  
     
     
         36 . The pallet assembly of  claim 33  wherein the first connector portion is one of welded, bonded and joined to the second deck.  
     
     
         37 . The pallet assembly of  claim 33  wherein a distal portion of the second connector portion fits within a well in the first deck.  
     
     
         38 . The pallet assembly of  claim 33  wherein the first connector portion has a recess in a first side wall, and the second connector portion having a corresponding recess in a first side wall, wherein the recess in the side wall of the second connector portion is adapted to accommodate a projection from the first grabber arm.  
     
     
         39 . The pallet assembly of  claim 33  wherein the first deck is a bottom deck of the pallet assembly.  
     
     
         40 . A pallet assembly having a center connector configured to allow gripping by a grabber arm of a forklift comprising: 
 a first plastic deck having an integrally formed center connector located proximate a periphery of the deck between a first corner and a second corner of the deck, the connector is snap-fittingly connected to a second deck, the connector having sidewalls forming an outer profile configured for gripping by a first grabber arm of a forklift.    
     
     
         41 . The pallet assembly of  claim 40  further comprising a sleeve surrounding the sidewalls.  
     
     
         42 . The pallet assembly of  claim 41  wherein the sleeve is a removable piece.  
     
     
         43 . The pallet assembly of  claim 41  wherein the sleeve is integrally formed as part of a second deck.  
     
     
         44 . The pallet assembly of  claim 40  further comprising a second deck connected to the connector by a first flange, the second deck including ribbing to engage a distal portion of the connector proximate the first flange to inhibit twisting of the second deck with respect to the first deck about the connector.  
     
     
         45 . The pallet assembly of  claim 40  further comprising a second flange for snap-fittingly connecting the connector to a second deck.  
     
     
         46 . The pallet assembly of  claim 40  wherein the connector includes a first brace and a second brace extending from a distal end of the connector.  
     
     
         47 . The pallet assembly of  claim 46  further comprising a third brace and a fourth brace extending from the top of the connector.  
     
     
         48 . A plastic pallet assembly comprising: 
 a top deck having an integral downwardly projecting center post portion, and a bottom deck having an integral upwardly projecting post portion connected to the downwardly projecting post portion, the downwardly projecting center post portion and the upwardly projecting post portion forming a center post of the pallet assembly, the center post configured to enable grabber arms of a forklift to grip the center post.    
     
     
         49 . The plastic pallet assembly of  claim 48  wherein the center post includes recesses in side walls of the center post.  
     
     
         50 . The plastic pallet assembly of  claim 48  wherein the downwardly projecting portion and the upwardly projecting portion include matching ribs.  
     
     
         51 . The connector of  claim 5  further comprising a first recess in the first side of the pallet connector, the first recess adapted to receive a contacting member of the first grabber arm.