BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The general utility of pallets is well known for its use as a loading platform for storage and movement of products in quantity.

Pallets provide a stable base for a manufacturer or distributor of a product to stack items thereon allowing for ease of movement by use of a forklift or pallet jack. Pallets are constructed from wood, metal, or plastic, and designed to be placed under materials that are to be shipped or stored, providing a clearance underneath for placement of a forklift or pallet jack.

Pallets are reusable requiring that they be durable in construction, lightweight, and stackable. Ideally, the pallet should occupy a minimum amount of space, both vertically and horizontally.

The durability of a pallet is dependent on the type of material used for construction. Pallets constructed of wood will provide years of service if not exposed to harsh conditions that could cause rotting, or unusual loading situations which could cause collapse of the wood frame or wood components. Wood pallets are in constant need of repair wherein a damaged pallet slat is replaced with a new slat by either nailing or stapling to the base frame. A problem with wooden pallets is that wood is a porous material. When used in the food industry, wood can harbor bacterial growth which may contaminate food products.

Relatedly, insects and other pests can burrow into the wood and be transported into and infest a previously uncontaminated storage area.

Such pests can continue to reproduce and thrive in the wooden structure of the pallet.

-Additionally, the porosity of the wood allows for absorption of watef-Should. the,-pallet freeze, it can be easily cracked when loaded, even when supporting lightweight products. Should a pallet absorb water, the weight of th pallet can cause difficulties in moving ths pallet, andXor injurie to an individual manually moving

the pallet. Moreover, splintering from the wood requires an individual who handles the pallet to wear gloves, and otherwise take precautions to prevent from injuring himself during relocation of the pallet.

Wooden pallets also have a significant disadvantage in that they do not interlock or readily stack. Accordingly, should a number of wooden pallets be placed on top of each other, the possibility exists for the pallets to tip over. The is particularly true when any of the pallets within the stack slips away from a squarely stacked position above the underlying pallet.

An alternative to wooden pallets includes metal pallets, such as those formed by aluminum. Metal pallets are known for their durability under normal circumstances. However, aluminum pallets are expensive to manufacture and once damaged, cannot be readily repaired.

Should any interim damage occur such as breach of a weldment, the pallet could have a catastrophic failure under a loaded condition.

This could cause injury to operating personnel or damage to the materials positioned on the pallet.

Yet another material used for the construction of pallets is plastic. Plastic is capable of being sterilized, and is impervious to most environmental conditions. However, a plastic pallet is even more difficult to repair than metal. Should a portion of the pallet become damaged, the entire pallet is destroyed. The cost of such replacement makes the use of plastic pallets, as a direct replacement for wood pallets, cost prohibitive. Despite their superior strength over wood pallets, plastic pallets still cannot withstand unusually forceful abuse, such as when a forklift or semi-truck runs over a portion of the pallet. Such forces may cause the plastic pallet to crack, whereas a wood pallet may only need a section replaced.

Accordingly, what is lacking in the art is a lightweight, re- usable plastic pallet comprised of component parts that allow for modular construction and related ease of component replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an interlocking modular pallet apparatus-. comprised of moldei plastic component parta. The pallet includea four modular secti w psrt « khich auv30inod together through

interlocking flanges formed along the intersecting borders of each part. A pair of modular section parts, which are mounted diagonally from each other, employs a plurality of dovetailed flanges which extend downwards along the inner borders of the parts. The other pair of diagonally mounted section parts uses a plurality of dovetailed flanges which extend upwards and operable interlock with the downward extending flanges. Together, the four joined sections form a conventional sized pallet available for the loading and transportation of goods.

Each pallet section of the instant invention includes a platform area with an upper and lower surface. A plurality of legs extend downwardly from the bottom surface of each section to provide elevation of the platform. The elevation allows for insertion of a forklift, or a pallet jack under the platform sections. The legs include at least one tapered, or straight walled, structure under each corner of each modular section. The centermost corner of each section includes a quarter-portion of a cone, which when joined with the other platform sections forms a complete conical shape which serves as a center leg of the pallet. The conical shape is used to receive a ring of durable material, such as steel. The ring is forced down over the conical surface of the central leg structure, thereby drawing the four adjoining platform sections tightly together. The ring is then locked into place over a lip or tab section formed around the circumference of the conical central structure leg.

Each platform section includes a plurality of adjacent square- shaped through holes. This grid-like arrangement provides a strong, yet lightweight construction with considerable savings of plastic material. Such through holes also allow for thorough cleaning of the formed pallet structure, as water can easily pass through the holes.

Relatedly, items placed on the pallet can be washed down. Leaks from pallet materials can also occur without bothersome and/or dangerous pooling of such liquids on the platform surface.

A problem with conventional plastic pallets is that the hard plastic used to form a plastic pallet is- likely to have a surface with a low coefficient of friction compared to wood. Hence, boxes and other items placed on a plastic pallet will be subject to sliding

around. Additionally, a forklift placed under the pallet will encounter this same low friction surface and therefore a pallet might easily slip off the blades of the lift if a downward angle is encountered. Accordingly, a set of rubber pads are provided which fit into the through holes of the platform sections. Each upper surface of each pallet section includes two rubber pads positioned along the upper perimeter of the platform section. The pads thereby form a protective border against sliding materials around the upper surface of the pallet.

Correspondingly, a set of rubber pads is also included on the bottom surface of the platform sections, as positioned along the perimeter and in between the leg structures. These rubber pads provide a frictional surface for engagement with the blades of a fork or pallet lift. The upper and lower pads include interlocking appendages or flanges and aligned so as to interlock with each other when inserted into the through holes. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, yet durable pallet comprised of modular plastic parts which are interlockably connected to provide an elevated pallet platform surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pallet comprised of four modular platform sections.

It is a still another object of the present invention to provide a pallet where the modular platform sections have a grid or lattice- like structure.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pallet where each section includes at least three leg support structures and a center support structure extending from their bottom surfaces.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pallet where the center support structures of each platform section combine to form a conical support structure.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide a joining ring which frictionally fits over the conical support structure, with the ring tightly drawing and holding the platform sections together.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide frictional pads on the upper and lower surfaces of the pallet platform.

It is yet a related object of the present invention to provide frictional pads with interlocking flanges whereby the upper and lower pads are aligned interlocked together through the platform lattice around the perimeter of the platform.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method of constructing the pallet device.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a completed pallet device with the modular sections interlockably joined.

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of a completed pallet device with the modular sections interlockably joined.

Figure 3 is a top view of completed pallet device of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 4A provide an exploded view of the sides of two modular sections with interlocking flanges, generally along cut 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 illustrates a first pair and second pair of modular sections slidably joined together.

Figure 6 illustrates the first and second pairs being joined into a complete pallet.

Figure 7 is a partial top view of the center support structure with the joining ring.

Figure 8 is a cutaway side view along cut 8-8 of the center support structure and ring of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a side view of the upper rubber pad.

Figure 10 is a cutaway view along cut 10-10 of the rubber pad of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a side view of the lower rubber pad.

Figure 12 is a cutaway view along cut 11-11 of the rubber pad of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a side cutaway view of the upper and lower pads lockably joined together through a platform section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the invention will be described in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring now to Figure 1, a top perspective view of a complete pallet device 10 is shown which is comprised of a first 12, second 13, third 14, and fourth 15 modular sections. Each section 12-15 is interlockably joined to the next adjoining section along two sides by overlapping flanges 18 (See Figures 4 and 4A, described below). Each section 12-15 is comprised of a grid-like or lattice structure of square-shaped through holes 22. A series of protective rubber pads 20 are placed through the lattice holes 22 around the perimeter of the completed pallet on the upper surface. Rubber pads 20 provide a frictional surface to prevent items from slipping off the completed pallet device 10. As shown in Figure 13, described below, the upper surface pads 20 interlock with lower surface pads 21 through the lattice holes 22. The completed device 10 utilizes ten pairs of legs 24 and a central support structure 25 for elevating the platform 26 above the ground or floor.

Referring now to Figure 2, a bottom perspective view of the completed pallet device 10 of Figure 1 is shown, with the modular sections 12-15 interlockably joined. The interlocking flanges 18 alternate with every other flange to hook from above and then from below (See again Figures 4 and 4A, described below). The paired legs 24 are shown distributed across the bottom surface of the pallet 10.

Each modular section includes two tapered leg structures 30,32 extending downward from the outermost corner. Each modular section is rectangular in shape with long and short sides 34 and 36 respectively. The short side 36. includes a pair of tapered leg

structures 38,40 which are generally narrower in shape than leg structures 30,32. The long side 34 includes a single tapered leg structure 42. The central corners of modular sections 12-15 each include a quarter-section of a central support structure 44. When the sections 12-15 are joined together, the completed structure 44 is conical in shape. A metal ring 46 is then placed over the conical structure and pushed downward to tightly draw together and hold the interlockably joined modular sections. The ring 46 is pushed over a lip or tab section (See Figure 8) on the conical structure 44, locking the ring in place.

Referring now to Figure 3, a bottom view of the complete pallet device 10 is shown. The L-shaped alternating flanges 18 are shown interlocking the modular sections 12-15 together. The center support structure 44 is shown with the ring locked into place around the base of the cone. The paired legs 24 and center structure 44 are hollow in structure which saves material and weight without compromising strength.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 4A, a section of the interlocking surfaces between two modular sections 12 and 13 are shown, generally along cut 4-4 of Figure 3. The L-shaped flanges 18 are shown to extend out from the side surface 50, with the flanges 18 alternating between a downward facing flange 52 and an upward facing flange 54.

The flanges 52,54 are oriented along the upper and lower edges of the surface 50. A corresponding set of L-shaped flanges 18'extend out from the middle area of side surface 56. Flanges 18'alternate between an upward facing flange 52'and a downward facing flange 54' in a reverse fashion from flanges 52 and 54. Accordingly, Figure 4A shows the interlocking action that occurs between the flanges 18 and 18'when the surfaces 50 and 56 are brought together in a sliding fashion shown by the opposing arrows 51 and 57.

Referring now to Figure 5, steps are shown which can be conveniently used to construct a completed pallet. The first two modular sections 12 and 13 are slidably joined together as shown by the arrows 60 and 62, via the interlocking flanges described above.

Similarly, modular sections 14 and 15 are also joined together. The joined pairs 64 and 66 are then slidably interlocked together as shown

by arrows 68 and 70, via the interlocking flanges disposed there between.

Such construction, utilizing oblong or rectangular parts 12-15, forms a standard sized pallet as used in the industry. The present embodiment utilizes two molded identical parts 12 and 14, and 13 and 15, which can be readily interchanged. This allows the use of only two separate molds when forming pallet section parts. This invention also intends to encompass a square pallet, with identical square component sections having a standardized leg support pattern on each lower surface. Such identical component sections would allow the use of a single mold to form interchangable modular sections.

Referring now to Figure 7, upon joinder of the parts 12-15, the central conical shape support structure 44 is formed. The ring 46 is placed over the conical section 44 thereby drawing the component parts 12-15 together. Referring also to Figure 8, the ring 46 is forced down upon the expanding cone to interface with a lip or tab 72 around the base of the conical structure 44.

Referring now to Figure 9, pad 20 is shown which fits over adjacent lattice holes 22 on the upper surface of the platform sections 12-15. The pad 20 has three square-shaped inserts 74 which are sized to fit into the holes 22 and extend down from an upper pad surface 75. The pad 20 is used to provide a frictional substance on the top of the pallet 10, and is therefore typically made from rubber or like materials. Referring also to Figure 10, a cross sectional view of the pad 20 is shown along cut 10-10 of Figure 9. The side surfaces 76 and 78 of the inserts 74 have inward facing barbs or hooks 77,79 for interlocking with the bottom surface pad 21, described below.

Referring now to Figure 11, the bottom surface pad 21 is shown having three inserts 80 which extend from a pad surface 82. Pad 21, which attaches to the lower surface of the pallet, provides a frictional engagement surface for the blades of a lifting device.

Inserts 80 are sized to fit inside inserts 74 above. Referring also to Figure 12, a cross section view of the pad 21 is shown along cut 12-12 of Figure 11. Each insert 80 has outwardly facing barbed or hooked surfaces 81 and 83 on each side surface 84 and 86. Each insert

section also includes a through hole 88. The pads 20 and 21 might similarly include more or fewer inserts 74 and 80 depending upon the size pad needed to span more or fewer lattice holes 22.

Referring now to Figure 13, a cross sectional view of the inserts 74 and 80 are shown as inserted through a lattice hole 22. Through such interlocking of the barbs or hooks 77 and 83, and the barbs or hooks 79 and 81, the pads 20 and 21 can be securely attached to each other through the lattice network of the pallet device, as further shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and descriptions.