Adjustable pallet
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsMichael J. MacPherson, Jason S. Lee, Clinton W. Erie, Ryan Paske
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Adjustable pallets are provided which include a deck to support a product for shipping. The deck is selectively positionable in a raised position, as a horizontal support surface for the product, and in a lowered position, closer, at least in part, to a floor to facilitate loading the product on or unloading the product from the pallet. Further, the adjustable pallet includes a movable support, the movable support includes an inclined plane. The deck rests on the movable support in the raised position, and the deck traverses, at least in part, the inclined plane of the movable support when the deck is transitioned between the raised position and the lowered position.
Claims20
An adjustable pallet comprising:
- a deck to support a product for shipping, the deck being selectively positionable in a raised position, as a horizontal support surface for the product, and in a lowered position, closer, at least in part, to a floor to facilitate unloading the product from the pallet;
- and
- a movable support, the movable support including an inclined plane, the deck resting on the movable support in the raised position, and the deck being capable of traversing, at least in part, the inclined plane of the movable support when the deck is transitioned between the raised position and the lowered position.
An adjustable pallet comprising:
- a deck to support a product for shipping, the deck being selectively positionable in a raised position, as a horizontal support surface for the product, and in a lowered position, closer, at least in part, to a floor to facilitate unloading the product from the pallet;
- a movable support, the movable support including an inclined plane, the deck resting on the movable support in the raised position, and the deck being capable of traversing, at least in part, the inclined plane of the movable support when the deck is transitioned between the raised position and the lowered position;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism mechanically coupled to a pallet structure of the adjustable pallet disposed below the deck, the adjustment mechanism extending between the pallet structure and the movable support, wherein the adjustment mechanism operatively moves the movable support horizontally to allow the deck to traverse, at least in part, the inclined plane of the movable support, and thereby transition between the raised position and the lowered position, the adjustment mechanism being a mechanical adjustment mechanism comprising a horizontally-extending threaded rod.
A method of fabricating an adjustable pallet, the method comprising:
- providing a deck to support a product for shipping, the deck being selectively positionable in a raised position, as a horizontal support surface for the product, and in a lowered position, closer, at least in part, to a floor to facilitate unloading the product from the pallet;
- and
- supporting the deck, at least in part, by a movable support, the movable support including an inclined plane, the deck resting on the movable support in the raised position, and the deck traversing, at least in part, the inclined plane of the movable support when the deck is transitioned between the raised position and the lowered position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.