Plastic pallet having replaceable deck

Abstract

A plastic pallet is described having a removable deck, which deck may be removed by operation or destruction of fasteners such as pins or integral flared-over nubs or spin welded posts, which attach the deck to a circumscribing frame, or by machined away portions of the deck from the rest of the frame.

1 . A plastic pallet, comprising a deck component and a frame component, and wherein the deck component is removably secured to the frame component by a fastener.  
   
   
       2 . A plastic pallet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the deck component includes a plurality of fastener holes configured to receive fasteners to removably secure the deck component to the frame component.  
   
   
       3 . A plastic pallet in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the deck component is configured to receive deformable nubs provided on the frame component.  
   
   
       4 . A plastic pallet in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the nubs are configured to deform upon heating and/or application of force to a diameter greater than the diameter of the holes of the deck component.  
   
   
       5 . A plastic pallet in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the deformable nubs comprise a thermoplastic.  
   
   
       6 . A plastic pallet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the frame component includes a plurality of fastener holes configured to receive fasteners to removably secure the deck component to the frame component.  
   
   
       7 . A plastic pallet in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the fasteners comprise nubs protruding from a surface of the deck component.  
   
   
       8 . A plastic pallet in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the deck component comprises a lattice or grid that spans the interior of the top of the pallet and a top plate.  
   
   
       9 . A plastic pallet in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the lattice comprises a plurality of rails.  
   
   
       10 . A plastic pallet in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the rails are integral with the top plate deck component, and wherein the top plate is configured to be removed by machining.  
   
   
       11 . A plastic pallet in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the top plate is welded or adhered to the lattice and wherein the top plate is configured to be removed by machining  
   
   
       12 . A method of replacing a deck from a plastic pallet, comprising unscrewing a fastener connecting a deck component and a frame component and installing a new deck component, drilling out a fastener connecting a deck component and a frame component and installing a new deck component, melting a thermoplastic fastener connecting a deck component and a frame component and installing a new deck component, or machining away a deck component surface.  
   
   
       13 . A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein installing a new deck component comprises welding or adhering a substitute deck component to said frame component.