Patent ID: 7913630
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
1. A combination knockdown pallet structure and article container for facilitating the lifting and transportation of articles by means of a forklift vehicle, comprising: a knockdown pallet structure comprising a base panel having an upper surface portion, when said knockdown pallet structure is disposed in its normal operative orientation for use as a pallet structure, and an undersurface portion, when said knockdown pallet structure is disposed in said normal operative orientation for use as a pallet structure; a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members for accommodating the fork tines of a forklift vehicle; means for securing said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members upon said undersurface portion of said base panel; said base panel defining a first plane when effectively erected from a first knocked-down state to a second erected state; at least one elongated cross-brace member having a first end portion thereof attached to said upper surface portion of said base panel at a first predetermined location of said upper surface portion of said base panel; attachment means, fixedly mounted upon said upper surface portion of said base panel at a second predetermined location disposed transversely across from said first predetermined location at which said first end portion of said least one cross-brace member is attached to said upper surface portion of said base panel, for fixedly securing a second end portion of said at least one elongated cross-brace member; and means for pivotally attaching said first end portion of said at least one elongated cross-brace member to said upper surface portion of said base panel at said first predetermined location for movement within a second plane parallel to said first plane of said base panel when said base panel is disposed within said second erected state such that said at least one elongated cross-brace member is pivotally movable with respect to said upper surface portion of said base panel between a first operative, erected position at which said first end portion of said at least one cross-brace member is pivotally attached at said first end portion thereof to said first predetermined location of said upper surface portion of said base panel while said second end portion of said at least one elongated cross-brace member is fixedly attached to said attachment means fixedly mounted upon said upper surface portion of said base panel at said second predetermined location transversely across from said first predetermined location at which said at least one elongated cross-brace member is attached at said first end portion thereof to said upper surface portion of said base panel such that said at least one elongated cross-brace member is disposed transversely with respect to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members so as to operatively interconnect said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members together, and a second inoperative, knockdown position at which said at least one elongated cross-brace member is disposed atop said base panel so as to be oriented parallel to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members so as to be operatively disconnected from said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members and thereby permit said knock-down pallet structure to attain said knocked-down state; an article container adapted to be disposed atop said knockdown pallet structure when said combination knock-down pallet structure and said article container are disposed in said erected state; first fastener means, defined upon first side edge portions of said article container and said base panel of said knockdown pallet structure, for defining a pivotal locus about which said article container may be pivotally mounted upon said base panel of said knockdown pallet structure between a first knocked-down state and a second erected state with respect to said first knocked-down and second erected states of said knockdown pallet structure; and second fastener means, defined upon second opposite side edge portions of said article container and said base panel of said knockdown pallet structure, for releasably securing said second opposite side edge portion of said article container to said second side edge portion of said base panel of said knockdown pallet structure such that when said second fastener means, defined upon said second opposite side edge portion of said article container is released from said second fastener means, defined upon said second opposite side edge portion of said base panel of said knockdown pallet structure, said article container can be pivotally moved with respect to said base panel of said knockdown pallet structure so as to be disposed at its first knocked-down state at which said at least one elongated cross-brace member will be uncovered so as to be capable of movement between said first operative, erected position at which said first end portion of said at least one cross-brace member is pivotally attached at said first end portion thereof to said first predetermined location of said upper surface portion of said base panel while said second end portion of said at least one elongated cross-brace member is fixedly attached to said attachment means fixedly mounted upon said upper surface portion of said base panel at said second predetermined location transversely across from said first predetermined location at which said at least one elongated cross-brace member is attached at said first end portion thereof to said upper surface portion of said base panel such that said at least one elongated cross-brace member is disposed transversely with respect to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members so as to operatively interconnect said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members together, and said second inoperative, knock-down position at which said at least one elongated cross-brace member is disposed atop said base panel so as to be oriented parallel to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members so as to be operatively disconnected from said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members and thereby permit said knockdown pallet structure to attain a knocked-down compact state, whereas when said second fastener means, defined upon said second opposite side edge portion of said article container is secured to said second fastener means, defined upon said second opposite side edge portion of said base panel of said knockdown pallet structure, said article container can be pivotally moved with respect to said base panel of said knockdown pallet structure so as to be disposed at said second erected state wherein said article container will be disposed atop said base panel of said knockdown pallet structure and will cover said at least one elongated cross-brace member which is disposed transversely across said base panel of said knockdown pallet structure so as to be disposed at said first operative, erected position at which said at least one elongated cross-brace member operatively interconnects said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members together.