Patent ID: 8256615

Claim:
A container used to package an article for handling with tines of a forklift, comprising: a pallet to allow handling of the container with the forklift tines, the pallet including: a bottom deck on which the pallet rests; a top deck on which the article is placed; and a set of support members disposed between the top and bottom decks to form a hollow structure substantially rectangular in plan, with first and second pairs of opposed open sides substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom decks, the top deck defining first and second planes different from each other on a bottom side thereof inside the pallet hollow, the pallet hollow configured such that the forklift tines only enter through the first pair of opposed open sides in a given direction to contact the first plane of the top deck; an enclosure base placed on the pallet top deck to support the article thereon; an enclosure box placed above the pallet top deck around the enclosure base to enclose the article therewithin, the enclosure box including: a top wall to cover the article from above; first and second pairs of opposed side walls extending from the top wall to surround the article from all sides; an open bottom defined by the first and second pairs of side walls opposite to the top wall to allow entry of the article during installation to the pallet top deck; and a first set of through-holes defined in the first pair of side walls adjacent to the open bottom; at least one sheet passes through the pallet hollow structure and the at least one sheet is fastened to the enclosure box to connect the pallet to the enclosure box, the at least one sheet including: a center panel extending between the second pair of opposed open sides along the second plane and apart from the first plane inside the pallet hollow; a pair of side flaps extending upward from opposed ends of the center panel through the second pair of opposed open sides to beyond the first set of through-holes; and a second set of through-holes defined in the pair of side flaps to align with the first set of through-holes; and a set of fasteners passed through the first and second sets of through-holes to fasten the at least one sheet to the enclosure box from outside the enclosure box.