US 6,327,984 B1Granted

Nestable shipping pallet with adjustable deck

AssigneeU.S. Plastic Lumber

InventorsMichael T. McCann, Daniel C. Mullock

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Abstract

A pallet having a body topped by a deck with foldable deck flaps. The deck has two or more foldable flaps near each edge of the body platform, and a center portion. With the flaps folded into their down position, the pallet provides a nearly solid upper deck support for the load articles. With the flaps folded into their stowing position, the tops of the hollow legs are exposed so as to allow other unloaded pallets to be stacked and nested upon the pallet. The flaps may be interchanged with other flaps of alternate dimensions so as to provide a pallet with adjustable deck dimensions. Multiple attachment points for the flaps such that the flaps may be attached at positions with more or less overhang from the edges of the body, providing a more convenient method of deck dimension adjustment without the need for a variety of flap sizes.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A stackable, nestable pallet for bearing and positioning a load on a support surface, comprising:

a main pallet subassembly having a generally rectangular body having an upper surface and a lower surface, a plurality of hollow spacing members depending from said lower surface providing a space between said support surface and said lower surface, said hollow spacing members open for mechanical nesting reception of similar such hollow spacing members from other similar pallets, said main pallet subassembly further including a deck center portion integral to or affixed to said upper surface of said body, said deck center portion having a top load surface and at least two side edges;
and
at least two foldable flap members removably and rotatably affixed to said main pallet subassembly such that said flap members may be placed in one of at least two positions, the first position in a down position coplanar with said top load surface of said deck center portion thereby providing a load bearing surface covering said hollow spacing members, and the second position in a stowage position folded so as to expose said hollow spacing members for said reception of other nestable pallets for stacking of a plurality of pallets.

A method of producing a stackable, nestable pallet for holding and conveyance of cargo, able to support a load of cargo on a support surface and compatible with general cargo handling equipment such as forklifts and pallet trucks, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a main pallet subassembly having a generally rectangular body, an upper surface and a lower surface, a plurality of hollow spacing members depending from said lower surface for providing a space between said support surface and said lower surface, said hollow spacing members formed open towards said upper surface for mechanical nesting reception of similar such hollow spacing members from other similar pallets;
providing on said main pallet subassembly a deck center portion integral to or affixed to said upper surface of said body, said deck center portion having a top load surface and at least two side edges;
and
affixing at least two foldable flap members to said main pallet subassembly such that said flap members may be placed in one of at least two positions, the first position in a down position coplanar with said top load surface of said deck center portion thereby providing a load bearing surface covering said hollow spacing members, and the second position in a stowage position folded so as to expose said hollow spacing members for said reception of other nestable pallets for stacking of a plurality of pallets.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.