A pallet has a rectangular pallet deck with a generally planar upper surface, and a plurality of pallet feet connected by shear members at the four corners. The pallet has an open bottom with a clear span between the pallet feet to allow multiple pallets to be nested together. The pallet feet each have an L-shaped cross section. Holes are formed in the pallet deck to accommodate pallet feet of other pallets when the pallets are nested together. In one embodiment, pallets are nested together by offsetting the pallets in a longitudinal direction. In another embodiment, pallets are nested together by rotating the pallets a quarter turn relative to each other. A metal reinforcement frame is provided inside a plastic exterior to provide increased strength and reduced deflection.

A manufacturing method of a composite ribbed expanded polystyrene pallet, which includes prefabricating the base support according to the bottom shape of the body; placing the base support in a concave mold matched with the base support; placing the plural reinforcing ribs on a supporting bracket of a raised mold; forming a mold cavity; and injecting ore-expanded polystyrene particles to produce the body, meanwhile the body is combined with the base support to form the pallet; wherein the reinforcing ribs are fixed by the supporting bracket, one end of which is provided with a spring leaf configured to engage the plural reinforcing ribs, during production process, the free end of the spring leaf inserts into the process hole to fix the reinforcing ribs, after completion of forming process, the free end of the spring leaf is removed together with the raised mold, while the reinforcing ribs stay inside the body.

The present invention provides a movable load bearing structure with a surface that includes antimicrobial agents capable of eliminating, preventing, retarding or minimizing the growth of microbes and also minimizing cross-contamination when the load bearing structure is being reused for cargos that differ from a previously transported cargo, for example, different food types, such as poultry, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit. The load bearing structure may be a dunnage platform or a container for storing and/or shipping cargo.

The present invention provides a top frame made from a thermoset foam material. The top frame includes a pair of substantially parallel sides and a pair of substantially parallel ends connected to the sides to form a generally rectangular frame structure. The frame structure has an inner layer and outer surface defining a thickness. The thermoset foam material varies in density along the frame structure thickness such that the density of the thermoset foam material is greatest near the frame structure outer surface to form a hard outer shell.

A dismantlable pallet including a substantially planar, upper load bearing member with a reinforcing internal frame; a substantially planar, lower supporting base with a reinforcing internal frame configured to improve the structural rigidity and load bearing capacity of the base. The pallet further includes a plurality of spaced apart support members sandwiched between the load bearing member and the base defining apertures between the load bearing member and the base, rendering the pallet releasably engageable with conventional and compatible load transporting apparatuses; and at least one releasable fastener to secure the load bearing member to the base with their respective reinforcing internal frames and the support members sandwiched between the member and the base wherein the load bearing member and the base are made of a rubber compound selected from the group including hardness, tensile strength, tear resistance, abrasion resistance, temperature resistance, impact resistance, slip resistance and moisture resistance.

Exemplary embodiments of a multi-layer composite pulp product comprise one or more pulp layers, and one or more reinforcement layers disposed therebetween. Each of these layers preferably include a respective pattern of opposingly-defined cavities and protrusions, wherein the mutual disposition of the layers results in their patterns axially aligning with one another. The reinforcement layers may be comprised of a recycled plastic, a metallic mesh or a metallic sheet. One example process for manufacturing a multi-layer composite pulp product may comprise fabricating a reinforcement layer, forming a soggy first pulp layer, placing a reinforcement layer on the soggy first pulp layer, forming a soggy second pulp layer, and positioning the soggy second pulp layer on the reinforcement layer. A precursor wet composite may thereby be formed, and may be dried at a selected heating temperature and under a selected pressure.