Pallet assembly and components thereof utilizing recycled materials

Abstract

A pallet assembly is disclosed, comprising extruded or pultruded lineal components with a composition including various recycled plastics, polymers, and metals. The assembly includes a lineal engagement stringer, a lineal stringer with a top wall and internal screw boss, and a lineal slat with a leg designed to fit into slots on the top wall of the lineal stringer. The components are made from materials such as low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, or rolled metals or alloys, providing a durable and versatile pallet solution for various applications.

Therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pallet assembly, comprising:
 (i) a lineal engagement stringer;   (ii) a lineal stringer having a top wall and an internal screw boss, the top wall of the lineal stringer defining a plurality of slots; and   (iii) a lineal slat having a leg, a portion of the leg configured to fit into a slot of the plurality of slots of the lineal stringer;   wherein the lineal engagement stringer, the lineal stringer, and the lineal slat are extruded lineal components having a homogenous and non-homogeneous composition comprising at least one of color blend recycled plastics and polymers, low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, or lineal components formed of rolled metals or rolled alloys.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each slot of the plurality of slots of the lineal stringer corresponds to an individual lineal slat. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each pair of slots of the plurality of slots of the lineal stringer corresponds to an individual lineal slat. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second lineal engagement stringer. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a second lineal stringer and a third lineal stringer;   wherein a second portion of the leg of the lineal slat is configured to fit into a slot of a plurality of slots of the second lineal stringer; and   wherein a third portion of the leg of the lineal slat is configured to fit into a slot of a plurality of slots of the third lineal stringer.   
     
     
         6 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second lineal engagement stringer; and   a second lineal stringer and a third lineal stringer,   wherein a second portion of the leg of the lineal slat is configured to fit into a slot of a plurality of slots of the second lineal stringer, and   wherein a third portion of the leg of the lineal slat is configured to fit into a slot of a plurality of slots of the third lineal stringer.   
     
     
         7 . The pallet assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the lineal engagement stringer and the second lineal engagement stringer sandwich the lineal stringer, the second lineal stringer, and the third lineal stringer. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the lineal engagement stringer further comprises an injection molded target insert of strong durable material for aiding in lifting the pallet assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the lineal stringer further comprises an injection molded target insert of strong durable material for aiding in lifting the pallet assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the homogenous and non-homogenous composition of the extruded lineal components of the pallet assembly further comprises embedded reinforcement fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the embedded reinforcement fibers are at least one of carbon fiber, fiber glass, bast fibers, plant-based or plant derived fibers or non-natural fibers, and shredded fibrous materials that are either in waste, virgin, or blended form. 
     
     
         12 . A method of using at least one of color blend recycled plastics and polymers, low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyamide, and polyethylene terephthalate, the method comprising:
 forming extruded lineal components for a pallet assembly using at least one of color blend recycled plastics and polymers, low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyamide, and polyethylene terephthalate, the extruded lineal components comprising:
 (i) a lineal engagement stringer; 
 (ii) a lineal stringer having a top wall and an internal screw boss, the top wall defining a plurality of slots; and 
 (iii) a lineal slat having a leg, a portion of the leg configured to fit into a slot of the plurality of slots of the lineal stringer. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising assembling the pallet assembly by pressing the leg of the lineal slat into the slot of the lineal stringer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising processing the lineal engagement stringer to have a target for lifting the pallet assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising inserting an injection molded target insert into the target of the lineal engagement stringer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising forming the injection molded target insert from a material different than that used for the extruded lineal components. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising processing the lineal stringer to have an injection molded target for lifting the pallet assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising inserting an injection molded target insert into a target of the lineal stringer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming the injection molded target insert from a material different than that used for the extruded lineal components. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein forming the extruded lineal components comprises blending reinforcement fibers into the at least one of color blend recycled plastics or polymers, low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyamide, and polyethylene terephthalate.