Reinforced pallet

Abstract

A pallet assembly includes an upper deck having an upper panel portion from which a plurality of ribs extend downward. A plurality of channels are formed in an underside of the upper deck. The pallet assembly includes a plurality of columns below the upper deck. A plurality of reinforcement assemblies, including an inner reinforcement member, are each received within an outer case. The inner reinforcement members are received in the channels in the upper deck.

1 . A pallet assembly comprising:
 an upper deck having an upper panel portion from which a plurality of ribs extend downward, a plurality of channels formed in an underside of the upper deck;   a plurality of columns below the upper deck; and   a plurality of reinforcement assemblies including an inner reinforcement member each received within an outer case, the inner reinforcement members received in the plurality of channels.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer case is integrally molded with the lower portion and the columns. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of second outer cases received in the channels, the second cases not containing inner reinforcement members therein. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement assemblies are receivable in the plurality of channels in a first orientation and are receivable in the plurality of channels in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , further including end caps covering longitudinal ends of the inner reinforcement member. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner reinforcement member has a hollow rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cases can be received in the channels without the inner reinforcement members. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer case is plastic and the inner reinforcement member is metal. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the outer cases can be received in the channels without the inner reinforcement members. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet assembly of  claim 9 , further including a plurality of second outer cases received in the channels, the second cases not containing inner reinforcement members therein. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement assemblies are receivable in the plurality of channels in a first orientation and are receivable in the plurality of channels in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet assembly of  claim 11 , further including end caps covering longitudinal ends of the inner reinforcement member. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inner reinforcement member has a hollow rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer case has a three-sided cross-section with an open side, such that the outer case has a U-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         15 . A pallet assembly comprising:
 an upper deck having an upper panel portion from which a plurality of ribs extend downward, a plurality of channels formed in an underside of the upper deck;   a plurality of columns below the upper deck; and   a plurality of plastic outer cases having a hollow rectangular cross section, the plastic outer cases received in the plurality of channels.   
     
     
         16 . The pallet assembly of  claim 15 , further including a plurality of inner reinforcement members received within some, but not all, of the plurality of outer cases. 
     
     
         17 . The pallet assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the inner reinforcement member is metal. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet assembly of  claim 17 , further including end caps covering longitudinal ends of the outer cases. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of outer cases are receivable in the plurality of channels in a first orientation and are receivable in the plurality of channels in a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation.