Stackable pallet packaging

• US 5,413,224 A
• Filed: 07/23/1993
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plymar, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PLY Mar Incorporated
• Inventors: Marron, John V., Plamper, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US08/096,776
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 206/335, 206/386, 206/515, 206/517, 206/597, 206/600, 206/511, 206/512, 206/505, 206/507, 220/1.5, 220/4.27
• US Class Current: 206/600
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/188 the container being formed by two mating halves
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/18 made wholly or mainly of plastics material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00039 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00109 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00179 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00213 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00233 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00621 sidewalls directly connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00661 side walls maintained connected to pallet by means of auxiliary locking elements, e.g. spring loaded locking pins
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00711 removable lid or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00815 on the pallet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00975 through the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/6872 tractors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

A package for an article such as a garden tractor includes a bottom platform having first and second opposite major side surfaces, the first major side surface for receiving thereon the article. A top platform is substantially identical to the bottom platform and has first and second opposite major side surfaces. A plurality of load-bearing support members support the top platform on the bottom platform at a location spaced upward from the bottom platform when the package is in an assembled condition to at least partially define an article-receiving chamber therebetween. The first major side surface of the top platform faces in the same direction as the first major side surface of the bottom platform when the package is in the assembled condition, so that the top platform can serve as the bottom platform for another article package above. A plurality of connector members releasably interconnect the support members with the top and bottom platforms when the package is in the assembled condition. All parts of the package are recyclable. The package in a disassembled condition is returnable and is then reusable for shipping the same type of product or, when the platform is separated at a score line to form a standard-size pallet, for carrying a different product.

Claims

1. 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 upper pallet is movable from said location spaced upward from said lower pallet to a nested position disposed in closely spaced relation to and nested with said lower pallet, a portion of said upper major side surface of said lower pallet engaging a portion of said lower major side surface of said upper pallet when said pallets are nested, said lower pallet including surface means configured the same as said support posts for defining a plurality of storage spaces for receiving said support posts in a storage orientation extending generally parallel to said upper major side surface of said lower pallet, each one of said support posts having an elongate central portion with side surfaces extending between said end portions of said one support post, said side surfaces of said elongate central portions of said support posts engaging said lower major side surface of said upper pallet and engaging said upper major side surface of said lower pallet when said support posts are in said storage orientation.

2. A package as set forth in claim 1 wherein the combined vertical height of said upper and lower pallets when nested is less than the total of their individual heights and said pallets when thus nested have respective portions which are separated from each other and which define between them space for receiving the forks of a fork lift.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. A package as set forth in claim 6, said lower pallet including a plurality of support portions 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 a first group of said support portions and said second pallet portion having the remaining ones of said support portions, 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.

8. A package as set forth in claim 6 wherein said pallets are made of molded wood products and said support posts are made of molded wood products and said connector members are spring clips made of spring steel.

9. A package as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a single intermediate pallet disposed intermediate said upper pallet and said lower pallet, said intermediate pallet being substantially identical to said upper pallet and to said lower pallet, said intermediate pallet being oriented substantially identical to said upper pallet and to said lower pallet and having a lower major side surface presented toward said upper major side surface of said lower pallet and having an upper major side surface presented toward said lower major side surface of said upper pallet, said intermediate pallet together with said upper pallet and said lower pallet defining in said article-receiving chamber an upper chamber portion and a lower chamber portion each for receiving an article, said single intermediate pallet forming the top of said lower chamber portion and forming the bottom of said upper chamber portion.