Shipping pallet and a package formed therefrom

• US RE32,344 E
• Filed: 09/28/1984
• Issued: 02/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc. (GGST LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bigelow-Sanford Incorporated
• Inventors: Wind, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/656,142
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 206/503, 206/509, 206/511, 206/512, 206/599, 206/600, 217/43 A, 108/52.1, 108/53.1, 108/53.3, 108/53.5, 108/57.1
• US Class Current: 206/599
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0018 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/004 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/06 with bodies formed by uniting or interconnecting two or more components
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00019 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00268 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00348 contact surface of other form
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00407 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00592 by means of hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00915 and one or more side walls being foldable along a median line
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0094 nestable
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00975 through the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00037 Bundles surrounded by carton blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00055 Clapping elements, also placed on the side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00117 : with protecting or supporting elements arranged between binder and articles or materials, e.g. for preventing chafing of binder

Abstract

A shipping container is provided comprising a pallet as the bottom thereof, an inverted identical pallet as the top thereof, and a peripheral sleeve forming load-bearing side walls mating with each pallet via a peripheral sleeve-receiving groove defined by a peripheral rim. The unitary pallet is configured so that a bottom pallet of one container will mate with the inverted top pallet of a lower container, when containers are stacked, in such a way as to prevent shifting between containers. Said pallets are also self-nesting for transport or storage when unloaded. The containers will stack even if vertically adjacent mutually inverse pallets are rotated 180° in a horizontal plane with respect to each other. This ability to tolerate a 180° rotation is provided by depending members and platform members of the pallet feet, oriented so that (i) a 180° rotation of the pallet in the plane of the pallet results in a depending member/platform member pattern the same as the pattern prior to rotation and (ii) a 180° rotation of the pallet about a center line lying in the plane of the pallet results in a depending member/platform member pattern which engages the unrotated depending member/platform member pattern in mutually abutting relationship. The pallets also have their feet so disposed to permit fourway fork lift entry. An alternative embodiment is provided wherein said pallets are nestable and stackable at 90° intervals of relative rotation.

The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/000,636, filed Sep. 24, 1984, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

Claims

1. A shipping pallet of .[.the type formed of a single sheet of material and constructed.]. .Iadd.the forkliftable type and of unitary plastic construction .Iaddend.for use with another substantially identical pallet so as to serve as a bottom or top wall of a shipping container for transporting and storing a load, said shipping pallet having a generally planar base and a plurality of foot means projecting from the base, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, and wherein each of the foot means comprises at least one projecting member and a .Iadd.substantially flat .Iaddend.platform member adjacent each projecting member, .Iadd.all of said projecting members being of hollow construction open at the upper end and tapered for nestability thereof when empty pallets are stacked with each other, said projecting members also having a height of a substantial portion of the overall height of the pallet and being arranged so as to define forklift passages between the projecting members of a substantially uniform overall height for receiving the arms of a forklift, said projecting members having flat bottom bearing surfaces for vertical load distribution and flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces for self aligning stackability, said flat tapered side walls having an overall height at least several times greater than their thickness and substantially the same as the forklift passages, .Iaddend.and said projecting members and said platform members .[.being so constructed and arranged relative to each other.]. .Iadd.of each foot means being symmetrically disposed with respect to the centerlines of the pallet such that said projecting members are in mirror image relation to the platform members of the corresponding foot means positioned on the opposite side of the centerlines, so .Iaddend.that the pallet when in use in a predetermined position of orientation, and at least another position of orientation 180°

out-of-phase therefrom, may be stacked in mating relation to a substantially identical inverted pallet and with the projecting members abutting the platform members of the inverted pallet and .Iadd.the flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces thereof .Iaddend.serving to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between the adjacent pallets in a plurality of directions .Iadd.and wherein said height and said hollow construction and said symmetrical arrangement of said projecting members are such that said projecting members may be nestably engaged with projecting members of another substantially identical unloaded pallet facing in the same direction and in a predetermined position of orientation and at least another position of orientation 180°

out-of-phase therefrom, whereby a relatively large number of unloaded pallets may be nestably stacked so as to occupy considerably less space when being stored or shipped.Iaddend..

2. A shipping pallet according to claim 1 wherein the pallet has substantially the same length as the width thereof, and wherein the projecting members and the platform members are so arranged relative to each other that the pallet when in use may be reoriented at any other position of orientation of an integral multiple of 90°

out-of-phase from its previous stacked position relative to the other shipping containers.

3. A shipping pallet according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said projecting members of all said foot means are arranged in such spaced relationship as to provide a pair of spaced parallel passages extending along opposite sides of a center line passing through the shipping pallet and another pair of spaced parallel passages extending transversely of the first-named passages, with the passages of each pair being arranged to accommodate the arms of a fork lift type transporting vehicle.

4. A shipping pallet according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a peripherally positioned rim extends around said planar base and projects outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite from said foot means and wherein a sleeve receiving groove is provided alongside and is surrounded by said rim.

5. A shipping pallet according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each of at least some of said projecting members of at least some of said corner foot means include a buttress support portion, and each of at least some of said platform members also include a buttress support portion to enhance the stability and strength of the pallet.

6. A shipping pallet according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said central foot means comprises at least a pair of projecting members diagonally offset along the opposite sides of a center line passing through the shipping pallet and also diagonally offset on opposite sides of another center line extending transversely of and across said first-named center line.

7. A shipping pallet according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said intermediate foot means each comprises a plurality of projecting members diagonally offset along opposite sides of a pallet center line passing therebetween.

8. A shipping pallet according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said central foot means comprises two pairs of projecting members with each pair being diagonally offset along opposite sides of a center line passing through the shipping pallet and also being diagonally offset on opposite sides of another center line extending transversely of and across said first-named center line, and wherein the intermediate foot means each comprises a pair of projecting members diagonally offset along opposite sides of a pallet center line passing therebetween.

9. A shipping container for containing and transporting a load therein and so constructed as to be adapted to be stacked in mating relation with other shipping container of substantially the same construction, said shipping container comprising upper and lower pallets of substantially identical construction .Iadd.and of the forkliftable type.Iaddend., said upper and lower pallets being inverted relative to each other so as to be adapted to be stacked in mating relation to the pallets of adjacent containers, means interconnecting the upper and lower pallets of the shipping container for maintaining the integrity of the shipping container, each of said pallets having a generally planar base and a plurality of foot means projecting from the base, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, each of the foot means comprising at least one projecting member and a .Iadd.substantially flat .Iaddend.platform member adjacent each projecting member, .Iadd.all of said projecting members being of hollow construction open at the upper end and tapered for nestability thereof when empty pallets are stacked with each other, said projecting members also having a height of a substantial portion of the overall height of the pallet and being arranged so as to define forklift passages between the projecting members of a substantially uniform overall height for receiving the arms of a forklift, said projecting members having flat bottom bearing surfaces for vertical load distribution and flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces for self aligning stackability, said flat tapered side walls having an overall height at least several times greater than their thickness and substantially the same as the forklift passages, .Iaddend.the projecting members and the platform members .[.of each pallet being so constructed and arranged relative to each other.]. .Iadd.of each foot means being symmetrically disposed with respect to the centerlines of the pallet such that said projecting members are in mirror image relation to the platform members of the corresponding foot means positioned on the opposite side of the centerlines, so .Iaddend.that the projecting members of each pallet are adapted to abut the platform members of a pallet of an adjacent shipping container .Iadd.and the flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces thereof serving .Iaddend.for providing a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent shipping containers, and wherein the projecting members and the platform members of each pallet are .[.also.]. .Iadd.thus .Iaddend.so constructed and arranged that the shipping container, when in the stack, is adapted to be reoriented in at least another position of orientation 180°

out-of-phase from its previous stacked position relative to other shipping containers in the stack, with the pallets of the reoriented shipping container still adapted to be in mating relation to the adjacent pallets of adjacent shipping containers in the stack and with the projecting members of each pallet of the reoriented shipping container adapted to be abutting the platform members of adjacent pallets .Iadd.and wherein said height and said hollow construction and said symmetrical arrangement of said projecting members are such that said projecting members may be nestably engaged with projecting members of another substantially identical unloaded pallet facing in the same direction and in a predetermined position of orientation and at least another position of orientation 180°

out-of-phase therefrom, whereby a relatively large number of unloaded pallets may be nestably stacked so as to occupy considerably less space when being stored or shipped.Iaddend..

10. A shipping container according to claim 9 wherein a peripherally positioned rim extends around each planar base and projects outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite from the foot means of the respective pallet, with a sleeve positioned between said upper and lower pallets of the container, and wherein each pallet is provided with a sleeve receiving groove therein extending alongside and surrounded by said rim with opposite end portions of said sleeve being positioned in the grooves in the upper and lower pallets.

11. A stack of shipping containers containing articles therein, each shipping container comprising upper and lower pallets of substantially the same construction .Iadd.and of the forkliftable type.Iaddend., said upper and lower pallets of each shipping container being inverted relative to each other and being in mating relation to the pallets of adjacent containers of the stack, means interconnecting the upper and lower pallets of each shipping container for maintaining the integrity of the shipping container, each of said pallets having a generally planar base and a plurality of foot means projecting from the base, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, each of the foot means comprising at least one projecting member and a .Iadd.substantially flat .Iaddend.platform member adjacent each projecting member, .Iadd.all of said projecting members being of hollow construction open at the upper end and tapered for nestability thereof when empty pallets are stacked with each other, said projecting members also having a height of a substantial portion of the overall height of the pallet and being arranged so as to define forklift passages between the projecting members of a substantially uniform overall height for receiving the arms of a forklift, said projecting members having flat bottom bearing surfaces for vertical load distribution and flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces for self aligning stackability, said flat tapered side walls having an overall height at least several times greater than their thickness and substantially the same as the forklift passages, .Iaddend.the projecting members and the platform members .[.of each pallet being so constructed and arranged.]. .Iadd.of each foot means being symmetrically disposed with respect to the centerlines of the pallet such that said projecting members are in mirror image relation to the platform members of the corresponding foot means positioned on the opposite side of the centerlines, so .Iaddend.that the projecting members of each pallet abut the platform members of a pallet of an adjacent shipping container .[.and provide.]. .Iadd.and the flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces thereof serving for providing .Iaddend.a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent shipping containers, and wherein the projecting members and the platform members of each pallet are .[.also.]. .Iadd.thus .Iaddend.so constructed and arranged that each shipping container of the stack may be reoriented at at least another position of orientation 180°

out-of-phase from its previous stacked position relative to the other shipping containers, with the pallets of the reoriented shipping container still being in mating relation to the adjacent pallets and with the projecting members of each pallet of the reoriented shipping container abutting the platform members of the adjacent pallets .Iadd.and wherein said height and said hollow construction and said symmetrical arrangement of said projecting members are such that said projecting members may be nestably engaged with projecting members of another substantially identical unloaded pallet facing in the same direction and in a predetermined position of orientation and at least another position of orientation 180°

out-of-phase therefrom, whereby a relatively large number of unloaded pallets may be nestably stacked so as to occupy considerably less space when being stored or shipped.Iaddend..

12. A stack of shipping containers according to claim 11 wherein each of the upper and lower pallets of the containers are of substantially the same length and width, and wherein the projecting members and platform members of each pallet are so constructed and arranged that each shipping container of the stack may be reoriented at any other position of orientation of an integral multiple of 90°

out-of-phase from its previous stacked position relative to the other shipping containers, with the pallets of the reoriented shipping container being in mating relation to the adjacent pallets and with the projecting members of each pallet of the reoriented shipping container abutting the platform members of the adjacent pallets.

13. A stack of shipping containers according to claim 11 wherein each of the upper and lower pallets has a greater length than width and may be reoriented at only said position of reorientation 180°

out-of-phase from its previous stacked position relative to the other shipping containers, with the pallets of the reoriented shipping container being in mating relation to the adjacent pallets and with the projecting members of each pallet of the reoriented shipping container abutting the platform members of the adjacent pallets.

14. A stack of shipping containers according to any one of claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein said foot means on each of said pallets are so constructed and arranged that the shipping containers may be forklifted from any side of the pallets.

15. A stack of shipping containers according to any one of claims 11, 12 or 13, wherein said projecting members of all said foot means of each pallet are arranged in such spaced relationship as to provide a pair of spaced parallel passages extending along opposite sides of a center line passing through the respective pallet and another pair of spaced parallel passages extending transversely of the first-named passages, with the passages of each pair being arranged to accommodate the arms of a fork lift type transporting vehicle.

16. A stack of shipping containers according to any one of claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein a peripherally positioned rim extends around each planar base and projects outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite from the foot means of the respective pallet and wherein a sleeve receiving groove is provided alongside and is surrounded by said rim.

17. A stack of shipping containers according to any one of claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein each of at least some of said projecting members of at least some of said corner foot means include a buttress support portion, and each of at least some of said platform members also include a buttress support portion to enhance the stability and strength of each respective pallet.

18. A stack of shipping containers according to any one of claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein each said central foot means comprises at least a pair of projecting members diagonally offset along opposite sides of a center line passing through the respective pallet and also diagonally offset on opposite sides of another center line extending transversely of and across said first-named center line.

19. A stack of shipping containers according to any one of claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein each intermediate foot means of each pallet comprises a plurality of projecting members diagonally offset along opposite sides of a respective pallet center line passing therebetween.

20. A stack of shipping containers according to any one of claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein said central foot means of each pallet comprises two pairs of projecting members with each pair being diagonally offset along opposite sides of a center line passing through the respective pallet and also being diagonally offset on opposite sides of another center line of the same pallet, with said other center line extending transversely of and across said first-named center line, and wherein each intermediate foot means of each pallet comprises a pair of projecting members diagonally offset along opposite sides of a pallet center line passing therebetween.

21. A shipping pallet of the .Iadd.forkliftable .Iaddend.type which when unloaded may be nestably stacked with other like pallets, said pallet being .[.formed of a single sheet of material and constructed.]. .Iadd.of unitary plastic construction .Iaddend.for use with another substantially identical pallet so as to serve as a bottom or top wall of a shipping container for transporting and storing a load, said shipping pallet having a generally planar base and a plurality of foot means projecting from the base, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, and wherein each of the foot means comprises at least one projecting member and .Iadd.a substantially flat .Iaddend.platform member adjacent each projecting member, .Iadd.all of said projecting members being of hollow construction open at the upper end and tapered for nestability thereof when empty pallets are stacked with each other, said projecting members also having a height of a substantial portion of the overall height of the pallet and being arranged so as to define forklift passages between the projecting members of a substantially uniform overall height for receiving the arms of a forklift, said projecting members having flat bottom bearing surfaces for vertical load distribution and flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces for self aligning stackability, said flat tapered side walls having an overall height at least several times greater than their thickness and substantially the same as the forklift passages, .Iaddend.and said projecting members and said platform members .[.being so constructed and arranged relative to each other.]. .Iadd.of each foot means being symmetrically disposed with respect to the centerlines of the pallet such that said projecting members are in mirror image relation to the platform members of the corresponding foot means positioned on the opposite side of the centerlines, so .Iaddend.that the pallet when in use in a predetermined position .[.or.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.orientation, and at least another position of orientation 180°

out-of-phase therefrom, may be stacked in mating relation to a substantially identical inverted pallet and with the projecting .[.member.]. .Iadd.members .Iaddend.abutting the platform members of the inverted pallet .[.and serving.]. .Iadd.and the flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces thereof serving .Iaddend.to provide a lateral .[.antishift.]. .Iadd.anti-shift .Iaddend.interengagement between the adjacent pallets in a plurality of directions, .Iadd.and .Iaddend.wherein the respective projecting members of each diagonally opposed pair of said corner foot means have .[.side engagement.]. .Iadd.said side wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces facing in opposite directions from .[.the.]. each other for providing the lateral .[.anit-shift.]. .Iadd.anti-shift .Iaddend.interengagement between adjacent pallets when in stacked relationship, and further wherein said .Iadd.height and said hollow construction and said symmetrical arrangement of said .Iaddend.projecting members are .[.hollow and constructed so as to be nestably engaged with.]. .Iadd.such that the .Iaddend.projecting members .[.of.]. .Iadd.may be nestably engaged with .Iaddend.another substantially identical unloaded pallet facing in the same direction and in any of said positions of orientation, whereby a relatively large number of unloaded pallets may be nestably stacked so as to occupy considerably less space when being stored or shipped.

22. A nestable shipping pallet according to claim 21 wherein said side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces of the projecting members of one of said pairs of diagonally opposed corner foot means extend at a substantially right angle with respect to the side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces of the projecting members of the other pair of diagonally opposed corner foot means, and wherein the side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces of each diagonally opposed pair of corner foot means extend substantially parallel to each other.

23. A shipping container for containing and transporting a load therein and so constructed as to be adapted to be stacked in mating relation with other shipping containers of substantially the same construction .Iadd.and of the forkliftable type.Iaddend., said shipping container comprising upper and lower pallets of substantially identical construction and which when unloaded may be nestably stacked with other like pallets, said upper and lower pallets being inverted relative to each other so as to be adapted to be stacked in mating relation to the pallets of adjacent containers, means interconnecting the upper and lower pallets of the shipping container for maintaining the integrity of the shipping container, each of said pallets having a generally planar base and a plurality of foot means projecting from the base, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, each of the foot means comprising at least one projecting member and a .Iadd.substantially flat .Iaddend.platform member adjacent each projecting member, .Iadd.all of said projecting members being of hollow construction open at the upper end and tapered for nestability thereof when empty pallets are stacked with each other, said projecting members also having a height of a substantial portion of the overall height of the pallet and being arranged so as to define forklift passages between the projecting members of a substantially uniform overall height for receiving the arms of a forklift, said projecting members having flat bottom bearing surfaces for vertical load distribution and flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces for self aligning stackability, said flat tapered side walls having an overall height at least several times greater than their thickness and substantially the same as the forklift passages, .Iaddend.the projecting members and the platform members .[.of each pallet being so constructed and arranged relative to each other.]. .Iadd.of each foot means being symmetrically disposed with respect to the centerlines of the pallet such that said projecting members are in mirror image relation to the platform members of the corresponding foot means positioned on the opposite side of the centerlines, so .Iaddend.that the projecting members of each pallet are adapted to abut the platform members of a pallet of an adjacent shipping container .Iadd.and the flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces thereof serving .Iaddend.for providing a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent shipping containers, and wherein the projecting members and the platform members of each pallet are .[.also.]. .Iadd.thus .Iaddend.so constructed and arranged that the shipping container, when in the stack, is adapted to be reoriented in at least another position of orientation 180°

out-of-phase from its previous stacked position relative to other shipping containers in the stack, with the pallets of the reoriented shipping container still adapted to be in mating relation to the adjacent pallets of adjacent shipping containers in the stack and with the projecting members of each pallet of the reoriented shipping container adapted to be abutting the platform members of adjacent pallets, the respective projecting members of each diagonally opposed pair of said corner foot means of each pallet having .Iadd.said .Iaddend.side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces facing in opposite directions from each other for providing the lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent pallets when in stacked relationship, and further wherein said .Iadd.height and said hollow construction and said symmetrical arrangement of said .Iaddend.projecting members of each pallet are .[.hollow and constructed so as to be nestably engaged with.]. .Iadd.such that the .Iaddend.projecting members .[.of.]. .Iadd.may be nestably engaged with .Iaddend.another substantially identical unloaded pallet facing in the same direction and in any of said positions of orientation, whereby a relatively large number of unloaded pallets may be nestably stacked so as to occupy considerably less space when being stored or shipped.

24. A shipping container according to claim 23 wherein said side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces of the projecting members of one of said pairs of diagonally opposed corner foot means of each pallet extend at a substantially right angle with respect to the side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces of the projecting members of the other pair of diagonally opposed corner foot means of each pellet, and wherein the side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces of each diagonally opposed pair of corner foot means of each pallet extend substantially parallel to each other.

25. A shipping container according to claim 23 wherein a periphery positioned rim extends around each planar base and projects outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite from the foot means of the respective pallet, with a sleeve positioned between said upper and lower pallets of the container, and wherein each pallet is provided with a sleeve receiving groove therein extending alongside and surrounded by said rim with opposite end portions of said sleeve being positioned in the grooves in the upper and lower pallets.

26. A stack of shipping containers containing articles therein, each shipping container comprising upper and lower pallets of substantially the same construction .Iadd.and of the forkliftable type .Iaddend.and which when unloaded may be stacked with other like pallets, said upper and lower pallets of each shipping container being inverted relative to each other and being in mating relation to the pellets of adjacent containers of the stack, means interconnecting the upper and lower pallets of each shipping container for maintaining the integrity of the shipping container, each of said pallets having a generally planar base and a plurality of foot means projecting from the base, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, each of the foot means comprising at least one projecting member and a .Iadd.substantially flat .Iaddend.platform member adjacent each projecting member, .Iadd.all of said projecting members being of hollow construction open at the upper end and tapered for nestability thereof when empty pallets are stacked with each other, said projecting members also having a height of a substantial portion of the overall height of the pallet and being arranged so as to define forklift passages between the projecting members of a substantially uniform overall height for receiving the arms of a forklift, said projecting members having flat bottom bearing surfaces for vertical load distribution and flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces for self aligning stackability, said flat tapered side walls having an overall height at least several times greater than their thickness and substantially the same as the forklift passages, .Iaddend.the projecting members and the platform members .[.of each pallet being so constructed and arranged.]. .Iadd.of each foot means being symmetrically disposed with respect to the centerlines of the pallet such that said projecting members are in mirror image relation to the platform members of the corresponding foot means positioned on the opposite side of the centerlines, so .Iaddend.that the projecting members of each pallet abut the platform members of a pallet of an adjacent shipping container .[.and provide.]. .Iadd.and the flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces thereof serving for providing .Iaddend.a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent shipping containers, and wherein the projecting members and the platform members of each pallet are .[.also.]. .Iadd.thus .Iaddend.so constructed and arranged that each shipping container of the stack may be reoriented in at least another position of orientation 180°

out-of-phase from its previous stacked position relative to the other shipping containers, with the pallets of the reoriented shipping container still being in mating relation to the adjacent pallets and with the projecting members of each pallet of the reoriented shipping container abutting the platform members of the adjacent pallets, the respective projecting members of each diagonally opposed pair of said corner foot means of each .[.pallets.]. .Iadd.pallet .Iaddend.having .Iadd.said .Iaddend.side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces facing in opposite directions from each other for providing the lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent pallets when in stacked relationship, and further wherein said .Iadd.height and said hollow construction and said symmetrical arrangement of said .Iaddend.projecting members of each pallet are .[.hollow and constructed so as to be nestably engaged with.]. .Iadd.such that the .Iaddend.projecting members .[.of.]. .Iadd.may be nestably engaged with .Iaddend.another substantially identical unloaded pallet facing in the same direction and in any of said positions of orientation, whereby a relatively large number of unloaded pallets may be nestably stacked so as to occupy considerably less space when being stored or shipped.

27. A stack of shipping containers according to claim 26 wherein said side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces of the projecting members of one of said pairs of diagonally opposed corner foot means of each pallet extend at a substantially right angle with respect to the side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces of the projecting .[.members.]. .Iadd.members .Iaddend.of the other pair of diagonally opposed corner foot means of each pallet, and wherein the side .[.engagement.]. .Iadd.wall bearing .Iaddend.surfaces of each diagonally opposed pair of corner foot means of each pallet extend substantially parallel to each other.