Pallet

Abstract

A half pallet for use with a pallet lift jack includes a deck from which extends a plurality of feet. A lateral projection extends inwardly from each of the feet. A vertical projection protrudes upwardly from an inner end of the lateral projection and is spaced from the foot such that a portion of a frame of the pallet lift jack can be received between the vertical projection and the foot to prevent outward deflection of the feet. A plurality of interlocking features is formed on the upper surface of the deck. In the example disclosed, each interlocking feature is a recess that receives both the foot and the lateral projection. The recess receives the foot and the lateral projection when in a stacked position and when in a cross-stacked position, thus providing increased stability to cross-stacked, empty half-pallets.

1 . A pallet including: 
 a deck; and    a plurality of feet extending downwardly from the deck, a first foot of the plurality of feet including a first lateral projection having an upper abutment surface and a vertical projection protruding upwardly from the upper abutment surface.    
   
   
       2 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the first lateral projection projects from the first foot toward another one of the plurality of feet and wherein the vertical projection is spaced inwardly from the first foot, thereby defining a receiving area therebetween.  
   
   
       3 . The pallet of  claim 2  wherein a second foot of the plurality of feet includes a second lateral projection extending toward the first foot.  
   
   
       4 . The pallet of  claim 3  wherein the first lateral projection projects from the first foot toward the second foot.  
   
   
       5 . The pallet of  claim 4  wherein the first foot and the second foot define a pallet jack opening therebetween, the first foot and a third foot defining a forklift opening therebetween.  
   
   
       6 . The pallet of  claim 5  further including a side wall extending downwardly from the deck between the first foot and the third foot, the forklift opening defined by the first foot, third foot and the side wall.  
   
   
       7 . The pallet of  claim 6  wherein the pallet jack opening is defined between the first foot, the second foot and the deck.  
   
   
       8 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the upper abutment surface is a recessed surface.  
   
   
       9 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the deck includes an upper surface having a plurality of interlocking features, each aligned with one of the plurality of feet.  
   
   
       10 . The pallet of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of feet can be interlocked with the plurality of interlocking features of a similar pallet stacked therebelow and can be interlocked with a subset of the plurality of interlocking features of a similar pallet cross-stacked therebelow.  
   
   
       11 . The pallet of  claim 1  stacked on a pallet lift jack including a lift mechanism mounted on a frame, the lift mechanism engaging an underside of the deck and causing the upper abutment surface of the pallet to bear against a portion of the frame, the portion of the frame disposed at least partially between the vertical projection and the first foot.  
   
   
       12 . A pallet including: 
 a deck having an upper surface with a plurality of interlocking features;    a first pair of feet extending downwardly from the deck and defining a pallet lift jack opening therebetween, at least one of the first pair of feet including an upper abutment surface, the first pair of feet of the pallet configured to interlock with the interlocking features of a similar pallet in a stacked orientation and configured to interlock with the interlocking features of the similar pallet in a cross-stacked orientation.    
   
   
       13 . The pallet of  claim 12  wherein each of the first pair of feet includes a first lateral projection.  
   
   
       14 . The pallet of  claim 13  wherein the first lateral projections project toward one another.  
   
   
       15 . The pallet of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of interlocking features includes a plurality of recesses.  
   
   
       16 . The pallet of  claim 15  wherein the plurality of recesses are complementary in shape to the first pair of feet and the first lateral projections.  
   
   
       17 . The pallet of  claim 16  wherein each of the plurality of recesses includes a foot portion for receiving one of the first pair of feet of the similar pallet and a first contiguous projection portion for receiving the first lateral projection when the similar pallet is stacked on the pallet in the stacked orientation.  
   
   
       18 . The pallet of  claim 17  wherein each of the plurality of recesses further includes a second projection portion contiguous with the foot portion for receiving the first lateral projection when the similar pallet is stacked on the pallet in the cross stacked orientation.  
   
   
       19 . The pallet of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of interlocking features includes corner interlocking features and side interlocking features, the first pair of feet received in corner interlocking features when in the stacked orientation, at least one of the first pair of feet received in one of the side interlocking features when in the cross stacked orientation.  
   
   
       20 . A pallet including: 
 a deck having an upper surface with a plurality of interlocking features, including a plurality of corner interlocking features and a plurality of side interlocking features; and    a plurality of laterally-spaced pairs of feet extending downwardly from the deck, the plurality of pairs of feet of the pallet configured to interlock with the interlocking features of a similar pallet in a stacked orientation and configured to interlock with the interlocking features of the one or more similar pallets in a cross-stacked orientation.    
   
   
       21 . The pallet of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of pairs of feet includes a first foot having a first lateral projection having an upper abutment surface and a vertical projection protruding upwardly from the upper abutment surface.