Pallet and panel storage system and related methods
OwnerMark Harold Costelloinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are systems, apparatus and methods for transporting a palletized stack of bottles or other similar bulk-produced containers using a unique pallet base and a unique set of side panels that may be engaged with the base and with each other in order to protect the stacks of bottles on the pallet base during shipping and transport. Embodiments of the invention dampen vibrations, protect the bottles from exterior contaminants, and allow the bottles to be viewed from the outside. Embodiments of the invention also provide reusable pallet systems that are easy to assemble and disassemble, and ship back for reuse.
Claims15
An apparatus for use in transporting a stack of fragile containers comprising:
- a. a rectangular pallet base having a flat top surface with a plurality of openings along a perimeter of said surface;
- b. a pair of first panels, each such first panel having top, bottom, right, and left edges, an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior and exterior surfaces being along a first plane, wherein at least one male connecting member is provided on said bottom edge for engagement with one of said plurality of openings in said pallet base, and wherein a pair of rods are provided at upper corners of said interior surface, each rod extending outward in a direction that is perpendicular to said first plane;
- c. a second pair of panels, each such second panel having top, bottom, right, and left edges, an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior and exterior surfaces being along a second plane that is perpendicular to said first plane, wherein at least one male connecting member is provided on said bottom edge for engagement with one of said plurality of openings in said pallet base, and wherein a pair of slots are provided at ends of said right and left edges for receiving said pair of rods;
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- d. a lid for engagement over said panels when assembled together, wherein the rods and slots comprise metals that magnetically attract.
A pallet panel container system for use in transporting a stack of fragile containers comprising:
- a. a rectangular pallet base having a flat top surface with a plurality of openings along a perimeter of said surface;
- b. a plurality of panels, each panel having top, bottom, right, and left edges, an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a vibration dampening element on said interior surface, wherein at least one male connecting member is provided on said bottom edge for engagement with one of said plurality of openings in said pallet base, wherein a plurality of first attractive elements are provided on one of said right edges or said left edges, and a plurality of second attractive elements are provided on the other of said right edges or said left edges, wherein said first and second attractive elements comprise metals that magnetically attract;
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- c. a lid for engagement over said panels when four of said panels are assembled together.
A method of securing stacks of bottles for transport comprising the steps of:
- a. loading stacks of bottles onto a rectangular pallet base, the pallet base comprising a flat top surface with a plurality of openings along a perimeter of said surface, wherein the stacks are separated by slip sheets;
- b. engaging male connecting members located on bottom edges of left and right side panels with openings on opposite sides of the pallet base, each such side panel further comprising a top, right, and left edges, an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior and exterior surfaces being along a first plane, and wherein a pair of metallic slots are provided at ends of said right and left edges;
- c. tilting each of said side panels up to a generally vertical position;
- d. engaging male connecting members located on bottom edges of front and rear panels with openings on opposite sides of the pallet base between said side panels, each such front and rear panel further comprising top, right, and left edges, an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior and exterior surfaces being along a second plane, and wherein a pair of magnetic rods are provided at upper corners of said interior surface, each rod extending outward in a direction that is perpendicular to said second plane;
- e. tilting each of said front and rear panels up to a generally vertical position and inserting said rods into said slots for temporary magnetic engagement to form a four-sided enclosure around said stacks of bottles;
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- g. placing a lid on the four-sided enclosure to form a completed container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.