Expandable pallet
AssigneeRehrig Pacific Company
InventorGerald B. Koefelda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An expandable pallet which includes a pair of deck members which have at least one column member extending therebetween. The pair of deck members are expandably movable along the column member between a first and second position. The first position is defined by a minimum predetermined distance between the deck members, and the second position is defined by a maximum predetermined distance between the deck members. The column may comprise a cylindrical member having a radially extending upper flange and lower flange.
Claims20
An expandable pallet, comprising:
- a pair of deck members having at least one column member extending therebetween, the column member having a first end movably disposed within one of the pair of deck members and a second end movably disposed within the other of the pair of deck members, the pair of deck members being expandably movable along the column member between a first and second position, the first position defined by a minimum predetermined distance between the deck members, and the second position defined by a maximum predetermined distance between the deck members.
An expandable pallet comprising:
- a lower deck member;
- and
- an upper deck member disposed above the lower deck member and movably attached to the lower deck member by a connection member extending therebetween, the connection member having an upper end engaging the upper deck member and a lower end engaging the lower deck member, the upper deck member movable along the connection member relative to the lower deck member from a minimum position wherein the upper deck member is disposed proximate the lower deck member, to an expanded position wherein the upper deck member is relatively distal from the lower deck member wherein the upper deck member and lower deck member include corresponding openings aligned with each other.
An expandable pallet adapted to be transported by a device having a fork member, the pallet comprising:
- a lower deck member having a lower deck recess formed therein;
- an connection member having a lower end axially received within the lower deck recess, and an upper end;
- and
- an upper deck member disposed above the lower deck member, the upper deck member having an upper deck recess formed therein for axially receiving the upper end of the connection member, the upper deck member movably attached to the lower deck member along the connection member, the upper deck member defining at least one side opening with the lower deck member for receiving the fork member, the upper deck member movable with respect to the lower deck member between a minimum position wherein the upper deck member is disposed proximate the lower deck member, to an expanded position wherein the upper deck member is spaced apart from the lower deck member.
A pallet comprising:
- a top deck and a bottom deck movably connected to each other, the bottom deck having a bottom deck upper surface and bottom deck lower surface, and the top deck having a top deck upper surface and a top deck lower surface, the bottom deck upper surface and top deck lower surface facing each other;
- and
- a column member having a top column end movably disposed between the top deck upper and lower surfaces, and a bottom column end movably disposed between the bottom deck upper and lower surfaces,
- wherein in a first orientation, the bottom deck upper and top deck lower surfaces are disposed proximate each other, and wherein when in a second orientation, the bottom upper and top lower surfaces are disposed relatively distal from each other a predetermined distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.