Turf pallet and system

Abstract

A lightweight turf pallet is formed of High Density Polyethylene and is formed by a twin-skin vacuum molding process under high pressure. The pallet has top and bottom faces each with an array of frusto-conical cavities formed in rows on each face, the cavities on opposed faces being coaxial and joined at their apices to form a web therebetween. A system for constructing a recreation or sporting surface comprising such pallets, together with corner joiner members and surface pads is also described and claimed.

1 . A lightweight turf pallet formed of plastic material, comprising: 
 spaced top and bottom faces defining a periphery;    at least two opposing edges interconnecting said spaced top and bottom faces along said periphery;    an array of substantially frusto-conical cavities being formed in each of said spaced top and bottom faces, the cavities on said spaced top and bottom faces being coaxial and being joined at their apices to form opposed cavities with a web therebetween, said web having at least one drainage hole therein, and said pallet being formed by a molding process and having a spaced steel reinforcing member molded between said top and bottom faces adjacent said bottom face and said cavities, said reinforcing member defining at least part of a tine pocket facilitating lifting and transportation of the pallet using a fork lift;    said reinforcing member extending between said opposing edges to span said pallet and forming a tubular open-ended rectangular section tine pocket spanning said pallet.    
   
   
       2 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , made primarily from high-density polyethylene.  
   
   
       3 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said pallet is formed by a twin-skin vacuum molding process under high pressure.  
   
   
       4 . The pallet according to  claim 3 , manufactured from two like parts arranged coplanar and joined along adjacent edges to form a rectangular pallet.  
   
   
       5 . The pallet according to  claim 4 , wherein said two like parts are joined by aluminum joining members that are slid between the two like parts from opposite edges and interlock with grooves provided in said adjacent edges.  
   
   
       6 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said cavities on said bottom face is arranged at each corner of said pallet and is positioned to receive a substantially complementary projection on a joining member for joining adjacent pallets to form an extended surface.  
   
   
       7 . The pallet according to  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing member includes: 
 a U-shaped channel member extending between said opposing edges of said pallet, having opposed sides ending in laterally opposing extremities, having an open side directed towards said bottom face of said pallet, and having outwardly directed flanges extending from said extremities; and    a steel plate spanning said pallet and being fixed to said flanges to cap said U-shaped channel member.    
   
   
       8 . The pallet according to  claim 7 , wherein said steel plate is further connected to a U-shaped channel member of a further pallet.  
   
   
       9 . A system for constructing a recreation or sporting surface, said system including a series of pallets as defined in  claim 1 , corner joiner members for joining the adjacent corners of four said pallets together, surface pads comprising a plastics sheet for placing on top of each said pallet to provide sound deadening in use, said surface pads having holes therein for drainage purposes, and natural or synthetic turf on top of said surface pads and retained thereon by an upstanding wall extending around the perimeter of the pallets when joined and forming a perimeter member.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said surface pads are formed of acrylonitrite butadiene styrene (ABS).  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said corner joiner members are plastics pads with upstands for engaging in corresponding said cavities in the underside of each pallet at said corners.  
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said corner joiner members have an upstanding central cruciform for locating and supporting the respective corners of the pallet.  
   
   
       13 . A system for constructing a recreation or sporting surface, comprising: 
 a first pallet according to  claim 1;  and    a second pallet according to  claim 1;     said first pallet and said second pallet being coplanar and joined along adjacent edges to form a rectangular pallet;    said reinforcing member of said first pallet and said reinforcing member of said second pallet being joined to form a common reinforcing member.    
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said reinforcing member of said first pallet and said reinforcing member of said second pallet are collinear.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said reinforcing member of said first pallet and said reinforcing member of said second pallet, each have a U-shaped channel member extending between said opposing edges of said pallet, having opposed sides ending in laterally opposing extremities, and having an open side directed towards said bottom face of said pallet; and    said reinforcing member of said first pallet and said reinforcing member of said second pallet share a steel plate connected to said U-shaped channel of said first pallet and said U-shaped channel of said second pallet to form a rectangular section tine pocket.    
   
   
       16 . A turf pallet, comprising: 
 a part having a top face and a bottom face;    a reinforcing member with a U-shaped cross section opening downward, said reinforcing member being disposed on said bottom face of said part and spanning said part.    
   
   
       17 . The turf pallet according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said bottom face has a channel formed therein; and    said U-shaped reinforcing member is disposed in said channel.    
   
   
       18 . The turf pallet according to  claim 16 , further comprising a plate connected to said U-shaped reinforcing member and disposed beneath said U-shaped pocket to define an open-ended pocket for receiving a forklift tine.  
   
   
       19 . The turf pallet according to  claim 16 , wherein said U-shaped reinforcing member has a flange on each opposing side of said channel, said flanges at least partially overlapping said bottom face of said part.  
   
   
       20 . The turf pallet according to  claim 19 , further comprising a plate connected to said U-shaped reinforcing member, disposed beneath said U-shaped pocket, and spanning said flanges to define an open-ended pocket for receiving a forklift tine.  
   
   
       21 . The turf pallet according to  claim 16 , further comprising a further part having a top face and a bottom face; 
 said reinforcing member being disposed on said bottom face of said further part and spanning said further part.