Pallet with pallet block protection system

Abstract

A pallet and a method of building a pallet is provided. The pallet includes a first deck, a second deck, and at least one pallet block connecting the first deck and the second deck. The pallet also includes a sleeve that is disposed around the at least one pallet block, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner wall having a first cross-sectional shape, and wherein the sleeve further comprises an outer wall having a second cross-sectional shape, wherein the first cross-sectional shape is different than the second cross-sectional shape.

1 . A pallet comprising: 
 a first deck;    a second deck;    at least one pallet block connecting the first deck and the second deck; and    a sleeve disposed around the at least one pallet block, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner wall having a first cross-sectional shape, and wherein the sleeve further comprises an outer wall having a second cross-sectional shape, and wherein the first cross-sectional shape is different than the second cross-sectional shape.    
     
     
         2 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pallet block comprises a plurality of pallet blocks connecting the first deck and the second deck, and wherein the sleeve is disposed around each of the plurality of pallet blocks.  
     
     
         3 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is sized and dimensioned to rotate freely around the at least one pallet block.  
     
     
         4 - 5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . The sleeve of  claim 3 , wherein the inner wall and the outer wall comprise one of a right circular cylinder, a right elliptical cylinder, or a prism.  
     
     
         7 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is partially disposed around the at least one pallet block.  
     
     
         8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve comprises one of a polypropylene sleeve and a high density polyethylene sleeve.  
     
     
         10 - 18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . A pallet comprising: 
 a first deck;    a second deck;    at least one pallet block connecting the first deck and the second deck;    a sleeve partially disposed around the at least one pallet block, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner wall having a first cross-sectional shape, and wherein the sleeve further comprises an outer wall having a second cross-sectional shape, and wherein the first cross-sectional shape is different than the second cross-sectional shape, and wherein a cross-section of the sleeve is larger than the cross-section of the at least one pallet block, and wherein a length of the sleeve is smaller than the length of the at least one pallet block, and wherein the sleeve is sized and dimensioned to enable the sleeve to rotate freely around the at least one pallet block.    
     
     
         20 . The pallet of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one pallet block comprises a plurality of pallet blocks connecting the first deck and the second deck, and wherein the sleeve is disposed around each of the plurality of pallet blocks.  
     
     
         21 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is fixedly attached to at least one of the first deck and the second deck.  
     
     
         22 . The sleeve of  claim 7  wherein the sleeve further comprises an aperture extending through a length of the inner wall and the outer wall.  
     
     
         23 . A pallet comprising: 
 a first deck;    a second deck;    at least one pallet block connecting the first deck and the second deck; and    a sleeve disposed around the at least one pallet block, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner wall having a first cross-sectional shape, and wherein the sleeve further comprises an outer wall having a second cross-sectional shape, and wherein at least one of the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape is non-cylindrical.    
     
     
         24 . The sleeve of  claim 23  wherein at least one of the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape is a polygon.  
     
     
         25 . The sleeve of  claim 23  wherein at least one of the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape is an ellipse.  
     
     
         26 . The sleeve of  claim 23  wherein at least one of the first cross-sectional shape and the second cross-sectional shape is a hexagon.