Pallet cover
AssigneeAtlas Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMichael D. Austin, James H. Niedzielski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pallet cover has a top panel and side panels hinged to the top panel for swinging movements from a substantially vertical position depending from the top panel through an arc sufficient to enable each side panel to overlie the top panel. The pallet is provided with supports which enable it to be stacked with one or more other pallets and the cover is notched to accommodate the stacking supports and provide an interlock therewith to ensure retention of the cover on the associated pallet.
Claims22
A cover for a pallet or the like having a base forming an upper surface on which articles removably may be supported, said cover comprising a substantially planar upper panel of such rigidity as to be form-stable and having an area corresponding substantially to that of said surface so that said panel may overlie and cover said surface and articles supported thereon;
- a plurality of side panels;
- and hinge means joining each of said side panels to a different edge of said upper panel for independent swinging movements through an arc from a first position depending from said upper panel to a second position overlying said upper panel, the area of each of said side panels being such that when said upper panel overlies and is spaced above said base and when said side panels are in said first position each said side panel may substantially occupy the space between said upper panel and said base.
A cover for use with a pallet of the kind having a base forming an upper surface on which articles removably may be supported and a plurality of spaced apart, substantially uniform height, upwardly projecting positioning elements removably carried by said base for maintaining articles in selected positions on said surface, said cover comprising a substantially planar upper panel of such rigidity so as to be form-stable and of such area as to occupy an operative position overlying said surface and articles supported thereon and be spaced therefrom a distance corresponding substantially to the height of said elements;
- and a plurality of side panels of such rigidity as to be form-stable and hingedly joined to different edges of said upper panel for swinging movements when said upper panel occupies said operative position through an arc between a first position in which each of said side panels depends from said upper panel and spans the space between said upper panel and said surface, to a second position in which each of said side panels overlies said upper panel, each of said side panels having an area sufficient to occupy and substantially fill the associated space.
A pallet and cover combination comprising a pallet having a base including a surface on which articles may be supported;
- a cover having an upper panel of such rigidity as to be form-stable and overlying and vertically spaced from said surface and having an area corresponding substantially to that of said surface;
- said cover having a plurality of side panels hingedly joined to different edges of said upper panel for swinging movements through an arc between a first position in which each of said side panels depends from said upper panel and spans the space between said upper panel and said surface, to a second position in which each of said side panels overlies said upper panel;
- and
- each of said side panels having an area sufficient to occupy and substantially fill the associated space when said side panels are in said first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.