Molded plastic pallet having a snap in signal transmitter and method of making same

Abstract

A twin-sheet, thermoformed pallet is configured with a bottom-opening recess shaped to receive and hold in place a signal transmitting device. The recess has undercuts that allow the device to be snapped in. The recess has a lateral extrusion for a tool to pry the device out for replacement or servicing.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . In combination:
 a molded plastic pallet having a top load-carrying surface and bottom surface with integral uniformly spaced legs extending therefrom;   an internally-walled recess having a peripheral shape formed in the pallet and opening to the bottom surface;   the recess having a wall with a predetermined depth measured from the bottom surface and, at a fraction of said depth, a plurality of non-continuous undercuts formed therein;   the recess having a predetermined shape with at least one lateral extension formed therein between undercuts; and   a battery operated signaling device having a body with a peripheral shape generally corresponding to the peripheral shape of said wall exclusive of said extension and of a depth such as to allow the transmitter to snap into place within the undercuts so as to place the signaling device wholly above the bottom surface when the pallet is placed on a substantially horizontal support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The combination defined in  claim 1  wherein the signaling device is disk-shaped and the peripheral shape of the recess is generally cylindrical, and the extension is radial. 
     
     
         3 . The combination defined in  claim 1  wherein the undercuts are two in number and are uniformly and diametrically opposed to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The combination defined in  claim 1  wherein the number of undercuts is four and said four undercuts are uniformingly spaced but non-continuous so as to provide peripheral spaces between them, said at a least one extension extending from the recess between two of the undercut. 
     
     
         5 . The combination defined in  claim 1  wherein the pallet is of twin-sheet construction. 
     
     
         6 . The combination defined in  claim 1  wherein the signaling device is a GPS transmitter. 
     
     
         7 . The combination defined in  claim 1  wherein the signaling device is a transponder. 
     
     
         8 . A thermoformed twin sheet plastic pallet having a bottom surface and a recess formed in the bottom surface and having a side wall to receive therein a signal transmitter/transponder, the side wall of the recess is formed with snap tabs having undercuts which allow the device to be snapped in place are held by the undercuts, the recess having a lateral extension to allow the signal device to be removed for recovery and/or replacement purposes. 
     
     
         9 . A method of making a thermoformed pallet capable of removably carrying a signal transmitting device comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing an insert in a thermoforming mold configured to produce a recess in a pallet formed in said mold;   (b) thermoforming a pallet within said mold and around said mold insert and, therefore,   (c) snapping a signal transmitting device into said recess.