Snap-together pallet

Abstract

A pallet for use with a fork lift includes a top deck, a mid-top member and a base. The top deck has a plurality of ribs extending downwardly and a plurality of column-receiving recesses formed on the underside thereof. The base includes a plurality of columns projecting substantially vertically and received within the recesses of the top deck. Snap-tabs secure the columns to the deck. A generally planar mid-top member is secured to the plurality of ribs on the deck and has a plurality of openings into which are received the plurality of columns. The mid-top member is sandwiched between the ribs of the top deck and shoulders formed on the outer periphery of the columns.

1 . A pallet comprising:
 a deck;   a column; and   a generally planar member having an opening through which the column is received, wherein the generally planar member is spaced inwardly from a portion of a perimeter of the deck, and at least a portion of the deck directly contacts the generally planar member.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the deck has a generally planar upper surface. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the column is connected to the deck. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the generally planar member includes an opening, and the column is received in the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the column is one of a plurality of columns. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the generally planar member includes a plurality of openings, and each of the plurality of columns is received in one of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the pallet is substantially rectangular, and the plurality of columns includes a central column located in a center of the pallet, a corner column located in each corner of the pallet, and a side column located between two corner columns. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the column includes an end and an opposing end, and the end of the column has a first cross-sectional area and the opposing end of the column has a second cross-sectional area, and the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the column includes an end and an opposing end, wherein the end and the opposing end are located on opposing sides of a plane defined by the generally planar member. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the generally planar member circumscribes the column. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an upper end of the column protrudes through the generally planar member and is connected to the deck. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the column is hollow. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the generally planar member is a single, integrally molded, unitary construction. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the generally planar member is vibration welded to the deck. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the deck includes a plurality of ribs that connect the generally planar member and the deck. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the generally planar member is vibration welded to the plurality of ribs of the deck. 
     
     
         17 . The pallet as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of ribs are integral with the deck. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of ribs extend downwardly from the deck. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet as recited in  claim 15 , wherein one of the plurality of ribs intersects another of the plurality of ribs at an intersection, and the intersection defines a downward projection. 
     
     
         20 . A pallet comprising:
 a deck including a generally planar upper member and a plurality of ribs extending downward from the upper member;   a generally planar mid-top member connected to the plurality of ribs, the mid-top member including a plurality of openings therethrough, wherein a perimeter of the mid-top member is spaced inwardly from a perimeter of the deck; and   a plurality of columns extending downward from the deck through the plurality of openings in the mid-top member.   
     
     
         21 . The pallet of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of columns include a center column, a plurality of side columns and a plurality of corner columns. 
     
     
         22 . The pallet of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of openings through the mid-top member include a center opening through which the center column protrudes such that the mid-top member completely circumscribes the center column. 
     
     
         23 . The pallet of  claim 22  wherein the plurality of openings through the mid-top member include a plurality of side openings through which the side columns protrude, wherein the mid-top member does not completely circumscribe the side columns. 
     
     
         24 . The pallet of  claim 22  wherein the plurality of openings through the mid-top member include a plurality of corner openings through which the corner columns protrude, wherein the mid-top member does not completely circumscribe the corner columns. 
     
     
         25 . The pallet of  claim 20  wherein the deck includes a plurality of perimeter ribs extending downward from a perimeter of the upper member, wherein the mid-top member does not connect to the perimeter ribs. 
     
     
         26 . The pallet of  claim 25  wherein the plurality of perimeter ribs are generally transverse to the perimeter of the upper member and are tapered toward the perimeter of the upper member.