Pallet assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190467-A1
Application number	US-201615346950-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 9, 2016
Priority date	Nov 9, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pallet includes an upper portion having an upper surface for supporting containers thereon. A first plurality of recesses in the upper surface have a first lower support surface spaced from the upper surface. A plurality of legs extend downwardly from the upper portion. The upper portion includes an overhang extending outward from one of the plurality of legs extending along each side of the pallet. In a disclosed method, containers are nested in a predetermined location on an upper surface of the pallet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A pallet comprising:
an upper portion including an upper surface for supporting containers thereon; a first plurality of recesses in the upper surface having a first lower support surface spaced from the upper surface; and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the upper portion, wherein the upper portion includes an overhang extending outward from one of the plurality of legs extending along each side of the pallet.

2 . The pallet of claim 1 , including a second plurality of recesses on the upper surface, wherein the first plurality of recesses at least partially circumscribe a first shape having a first dimension and the second plurality of recesses at least partially circumscribe a second shape having a second dimension greater than the first dimension.

3 . The pallet of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of recesses and at least one of the second plurality of recesses follows an arcuate shape recessed into the upper surface.

4 . The pallet of claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of recesses includes a second lower support surface spaced from the upper surface, the first lower support surface and the second lower support surface extend in a common plane.

5 . The pallet of claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of recesses intersect the second plurality of recesses.

6 . The pallet of claim 1 , where the first plurality of recesses includes pairs of first recesses that are centered on at least one of the plurality of legs.

7 . The pallet of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion includes an upper structure having a first upper deck portion defining the upper surface and a lower structure having a second upper deck portion that mates with the first upper deck portion.

8 . The pallet of claim 7 , wherein a lower side of the first upper deck portion includes a first plurality of ribs that mate with a second plurality of ribs on an upper side of the second upper deck portion to form a plurality of box shaped structures.

9 . A pallet comprising:
an upper portion including an upper surface for supporting containers thereon; a first plurality of recesses in the upper surface having a first lower support surface spaced from the upper surface, wherein the first plurality of recesses at least partially circumscribe a first shape having a first dimension; a second plurality of recesses in the upper surface having a second lower support surface spaced from the upper surface, wherein the second plurality of recesses at least partially circumscribe a second shape having a second dimension greater than the first dimension; and a plurality of legs extending downward from the upper portion.

10 . The pallet of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of legs includes a leg extending along each side of the pallet and the upper surface extends outward from an outer surface of each of the legs to form an overhang.

11 . The pallet of claim 9 , wherein the first lower support surface and the second lower support surface are located in a common plane and the first lower support surface and the second lower support surface intersect.

12 . The pallet of claim 9 , wherein the first plurality of recesses at least partially form a ring.

13 . The pallet of claim 9 , wherein the upper portion includes an upper structure having a first upper deck portion defining the upper surface and a lower structure having a second upper deck portion that mates with the first upper deck portion.

14 . The pallet of claim 13 , wherein a lower side of the first upper deck portion includes a first plurality of ribs that mate with a second plurality of ribs on an upper side of the second upper deck portion to form a plurality of box shaped structures.

15 . The pallet of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of recesses and at least one of the second plurality of recesses follows an arcuate shape recessed into the upper surface.

16 . A method of storing goods on a pallet comprising the steps of:
selecting a predetermined location on an upper surface of an upper portion of the pallet to accept a container, wherein the predetermined locating includes at least one first recess circumscribing a first shape having a first dimension for accepting a base portion of the container and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the upper portion; and nesting a base portion of the container in the predetermined location.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the predetermined location includes at least one second recess circumscribing a second shape for accepting a second container having a second dimension greater than the first dimension.

18 . The method of claim 16 , including supporting a portion of the base of the container on a first lower support surface of the at least one first recess, wherein the plurality of legs includes a leg extending along each side of the pallet and the upper surface extends outward from an outer surface of each of the legs forming an overhang.

19 . The method of claim 18 , including storing the pallet on a rack system and accepting a portion of the rack into a void at least partially defined by the overhang and one of the plurality of legs.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the predetermined location includes a pair of first recesses centered on at least one of a plurality of legs.

Assignees

• Rehrig Pacific Co

Inventors

• Clark Suzanne Whitfield
• Kalinowski Dane Gin Mun
• Apps William P

Classifications

• B65D2519/00273

  made of more than one piece · CPC title

• B65D19/04

  with bodies moulded or otherwise fabricated in one piece · CPC title

• B65D2519/00308

  grid type, e.g. perforated plate · CPC title

• B65D2519/00815

  on the pallet · CPC title

• B65D19/44 Primary

  Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms · CPC title