Collapsible pallet system and methods

• US 20100012000A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman H. Gordon
• Original Assignee: Norman H. Gordon
• Inventors: Gordon, Norman H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,316,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/56.300
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/20 made wholly or mainly of paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00019 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00054 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00129 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00139 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00159 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00174 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00228 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00243 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00432 Non-integral, e.g. inserts B65D2519/00462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00597 integrally formed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00631 sidewalls not connected to each other, e.g. spaced apart frames
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00641 Structures intended to be disassembled
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00651 integrally formed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00676 Structures intended to be disassembled
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00925 with semi-detachable components, i.e. with some side walls hinged to each other or to a base panel and the other side walls being detachable to allow collapsing of the container

Abstract

The present invention is directed to formable pallets that are easy to construct into a generally stably product receiving state and easy to collapse into a storage/transport state. The pallet includes one or more display elements which may be integrated with the supporting platform to achieve point of purchase objectives. The display element may be a separate component that is removeable from the pallet or the display element may be configurable from the pallet such as by unfolding and/or folding portions of the supporting platform.

Claims

1. A pallet for the display of product, comprising:

a support element;

a platform with an inside surface and an outside surface;

a hinge element connecting said platform to said support element; and

a display element, wherein said display element is displayable from at least said inside surface of said platform upon opening said platform via said hinge element.

2. The pallet according to claim 1, wherein said display element further comprises one or more score line elements for folding and unfolding to erect the display from said display element.

3. The pallet according to claim 1, wherein said display element is removeable from said inside surface of said platform of the pallet.

4. The pallet according to claim 1, wherein said display element further comprises display information.

5. The pallet according to claim 1 further comprising one or more fastening components, wherein said one or more fastening components secure said display element to the pallet.

6. The pallet according to claim 1, wherein said display element forms a bin display.

7. A pallet fabricated of a sheet of material for receiving product, comprising:

a support element;

a platform including a first platform side and a second platform side, said first platform side being opposite said second platform side;

a first hinge element connecting said first platform side to said support element;

a second hinge element connecting said second platform side to said support element; and

a display element, wherein said display element is displayable upon opening outward relative to the center of the pallet said first platform side from said first hinge and said second platform side from said second hinge.

8. The pallet according to claim 7, wherein said display element further comprises one or more score line elements for folding and unfolding to erect the display from said display element.

9. The pallet according to claim 7, wherein said display element is removeable from said platform of the pallet.

10. The pallet according to claim 7, wherein said display element further comprises display information.

11. The pallet according to claim 7 further comprising one or more fastening components, wherein said one or more fastening components secure said display element to the pallet.

12. The pallet according to claim 7, wherein said display element forms a container display.

13. A method of forming a point of purchase display from a pallet, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheet of material forming a support element and a supporting platform, wherein a display element is displayable from at least an inside surface of the supporting platform;

opening the supporting platform by moving the supporting platform outward via a hinge element;

erecting the display element to form a point of purchase display.