Pallet for pressurized gas cylinders

A pallet comprising:

• (a) first structure defining a floor having an elevated top surface;
• (b) second structure defining a substantially continuous side wall extending upwardly above the top surface of the floor structure and having opposite end formations leaving an open side wall portion therebetween;
• (c) first and second gate means, each being connected to at least one of the first and second structures and each being movable between a retaining position bridging the open side wall and a loading position providing substantially no obstruction to loading and unloading of the pallet through the open side wall portion;
• (d) the first gate means being operable to bridge the open side wall portion so as to provide a continuation of upper portions of the continuous side wall;
• (e) the second gate means being operable to bridge the open side wall portion so as to provide a continuation of lower portions of the continuous side wall;
• (f) the first gate means being nestable within one of the end formations of the side wall when the first gate means is in its loading position;
• (g) the first gate means being non-removably connected to said one end formation by a pair of interfitting parts, one being carried on the first gate means and the other being carried on said one end formation;
• (h) said one end formation including a first hollow upstanding post within which the first gate means is nestable when the first gate means is in its loading position;
• and,
• (i) the first gate means including a channel-shaped bar, the one part is an L-shaped bracket secured to the bar, and the other part is an L-shaped bracket secured to the first post.

A pallet comprising:

• (a) first structure defining a floor having an elevated top surface;
• (b) second structure defining a substantially continuous side wall extending upwardly above the top surface of the floor structure and having opposite end formations leaving an open side wall portion therebetween;
• (c) first and second gate means, each being connected to at least a selected one of the first and second structures and each being movable between a retaining position bridging the open side wall portion and a loading position providing substantially no obstruction to loading and unloading of the pallet through the open side wall portion;
• (d) the first gate means being operable to bridge the open side wall portion so as to provide a continuation of upper portions of the continuous side wall;
• (e) the second gate means being operable to bridge the open side wall portion so as to provide a continuation of lower portions of the continuous side wall;
• (f) the end formations including first and second spaced upstanding posts;
• (g) the second gate means including a platform member which extends alongside at least a selected one of the first and second posts when the second gate means is in its retaining position;
• (h) latching means being provided on at least said selected post for releasably retaining the second gate means in its retaining position;
• (i) the latching means including a collar which is slidably carried on said selected post for movement along the post between latching and unlatchng positions;
• (j) said selected post being provided with a first stop formation for engaging one side surface of the platform-like member when the second gate means is in its retaining position;
• and,
• (k) the collar being provided with a second stop formation for engaging the opposite side surface of the platform-like member when the second gate means is in its retaining position;
• (l) whereby the first and second stop formations are operable to releasably latch the platform-like member therebetween when the platform-like member is in its retaining position.

A pallet for receiving, retaining and transporting pressurized gas cylinders, comprising:

• (a) structure defining a relatively rectangular floor having an elevated top surface;
• (b) four posts extending upwardly from the four corners of the floor structure;
• (c) three fixed side walls extending about the perimeter of the floor structure on three sides thereof and connecting with the four posts whereby the floor structure, the posts and the fixed side walls cooperate to define a rigid framework against which gas cylinders may be received and retained;
• (d) upper and lower movably mounted gate member means for defining, respectively, upper and lower portions of a fourth side wall;
• (e) upper gate mounting means mounting the upper gate member means for pivotal movement between a retaining position extending between two of the posts to a loading position nested vertically within one of the two posts;
• and,
• (f) lower gate mounting means mounting the lower gate member means for pivotal movement between an upstanding retaining position extending between the two posts, and a downwardly inclining ramp-forming position for facilitating the loading of gas cylinders onto the upper surface of the floor structure.