Stackable pallet packaging

A returnable package for an article comprising:

• a horizontally extending lower pallet which serves as the bottom of said package, said lower pallet having an upper major side surface and having a lower major side surface, said upper major side surface of said lower pallet having surface means for receiving thereon a said article;
• an upper pallet which serves as the top of said package, said upper pallet being substantially identical to said lower pallet, said upper pallet having an upper major side surface which is substantially identical to said upper major side surface of said lower pallet, said upper pallet having a lower major side surface which is substantially identical to said lower major side surface of said lower pallet;
• said upper major side surface of said lower pallet facing upward in a first direction, said lower major side surface of said upper pallet facing downward in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said lower major side surface of said upper pallet being presented toward said upper major side surface of said lower pallet;
• a plurality of elongate load-bearing support posts extending between said lower pallet and said upper pallet in a direction generally perpendicular to said upper major side surface of said lower pallet, each one of said plurality of support posts having a lower end portion engaging said lower pallet and an upper end portion engaging said upper pallet, said plurality of support posts supporting said upper pallet on said lower pallet at a location spaced upward from said lower pallet to at least partially define an article-receiving chamber between said upper pallet and said lower pallet;
• and
• a plurality of connector members releasably interconnecting said support posts with said upper pallet and with said lower pallet;
• wherein said lower pallet includes six feet for supporting said lower pallet on a floor surface, said lower pallet having a score line dividing said lower pallet into first and second pallet portions, said first pallet portion having four of said six feet and said second pallet portion having the remaining two of said six feet, said first pallet portion being of a standard pallet size whereby said lower pallet can be separated at said score line for forming a standard size pallet comprising said first pallet portion including said four of said six feet.

A returnable package for an article, comprising:

• a horizontally extending lower pallet which serves as the bottom of said package, said lower pallet having an upper major side surface and having a lower major side surface, said upper major side surface of said lower pallet having surface means for receiving thereon a said article;
• an upper pallet which serves as the top of said package, said upper pallet being substantially identical to said lower pallet, said upper pallet having an upper major side surface which is substantially identical to said upper major side surface of said lower pallet, said upper pallet having a lower major side surface which is substantially identical to said lower major side surface of said lower pallet;
• said upper major side surface of said lower pallet facing upward in a first direction, said lower major side surface of said upper pallet facing downward in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said lower major side surface of said upper pallet being presented toward said upper major side surface of said lower pallet;
• a plurality of elongate load-bearing support posts extending between said lower pallet and said upper pallet in a direction generally perpendicular to said upper major side surface of said lower pallet, each one of said plurality of support posts having a lower end portion engaging said lower pallet and an upper end portion engaging said upper pallet, said plurality of support posts supporting said upper pallet on said lower pallet at a location spaced upward from said lower pallet to at least partially define an article-receiving chamber between said upper pallet and said lower pallet;
• and
• a plurality of connector members releasably interconnecting said support posts with said upper pallet and with said lower pallet;
• wherein said lower pallet includes first and second support means for supporting said lower pallet on a floor surface and said lower pallet has a score line dividing said lower pallet into first and second pallet portions, said first pallet portion of said lower pallet having said first support means and said second pallet portion of said lower pallet having said second support means, said first pallet portion being of a standard pallet size, said lower pallet being separable at said score line to form a standard size pallet comprising said first pallet portion.

A returnable package for an article, comprising:

• a horizontally extending lower pallet which serves as the bottom of said package, said lower pallet having an upper major side surface and having a lower major side surface, said upper major side surface of said lower pallet having surface means for receiving thereon a said article;
• an upper pallet which serves as the top of said package, said upper pallet being substantially identical to said lower pallet, said upper pallet having an upper major side surface which is substantially identical to said upper major side surface of said lower pallet, said upper pallet having a lower major side surface which is substantially identical to said lower major side surface of said lower pallet;
• said upper major side surface of said lower pallet facing upward in a first direction, said lower major side surface of said upper pallet facing downward in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said lower major side surface of said upper pallet being presented toward said upper major side surface of said lower pallet;
• a plurality of elongate load-bearing support posts extending between said lower pallet and said upper pallet in a direction generally perpendicular to said upper major side surface of said lower pallet, each one of said plurality of support posts having a lower end portion engaging said lower pallet and an upper end portion engaging said upper pallet, said plurality of support posts supporting said upper pallet on said lower pallet at a location spaced upward from said lower pallet to at least partially define an article-receiving chamber between said upper pallet and said lower pallet;
• and
• a plurality of connector members releasably interconnecting said support posts with said upper pallet and with said lower pallet;
• wherein each one of said lower pallet and said upper pallet and said plurality of support posts and said plurality of connector members is recyclable and is free of a fixed attachment to each other one of said lower pallet and said upper pallet and said plurality of support posts and said plurality of connector members, said package when disassembled including no components which require separation prior to recycling;
• and
• wherein said lower pallet includes first and second support means for supporting said lower pallet on a floor surface and a score line dividing said lower pallet into first and second pallet portions, said first pallet portion having said first support means and said second pallet portion having said second support means, said first pallet portion being of a standard pallet size, said lower pallet being separable at said score line to form a standard size pallet comprising said first pallet portion.

A package comprising:

• a lower pallet having an upper major side surface for receiving an article and a lower major side surface;
• an upper pallet identical to said lower pallet and similarly oriented to said upper pallet, said upper pallet having an upper major side surface and a lower major side surface;
• a plurality of load-bearing support posts supporting said upper pallet on said lower pallet at a location spaced upward from said lower pallet to at least partially define between said upper pallet and said lower pallet an article-receiving chamber;
• and
• a plurality of connector members releasably interconnecting said support posts with said upper and lower pallets;
• said package being disassemblable into a disassembled condition including no components which require separation prior to recycling;
• wherein each one of said lower pallet and said upper pallet and said plurality of support posts and said plurality of connector members is recyclable and is free of a fixed attachment to each other one of said lower pallet and said upper pallet and said plurality of support posts and said plurality of connector members;
• said upper and lower pallets being nestable, the combined vertical height of said upper and lower pallets when nested being less than the total of their individual heights and said upper and lower pallets when thus nested having respective portions which are separated from each other and which define between them space for receiving the forks of a fork lift;
• said support posts being clampable between said upper and lower pallets when said upper and lower pallets are nested;
• said lower pallet including surface means for defining a plurality of storage spaces for receiving said support posts in an orientation generally parallel to said upper major side surface of said lower pallet when said pallets are nested, said upper pallet being disposed in closely spaced relation to said lower pallet when said pallets are nested, said support posts being disposed intermediate said upper pallet and said lower pallet and being clamped therebetween when said pallets are nested.