Knockdown pallet structure, and method of erecting and knocking-down the same

Abstract

A new and improved knockdown pallet structure comprises a relatively flexible base panel which is fabricated from a suitable woven plastic material, such as, for example, polypropylene, and a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending pockets are secured upon undersurface portions of the base panel so as to accommodate rigid support members, which may comprise rigid thermoplastic tubes or pipes, for accommodating the fork tines of a forklift truck when a pallet structure, having a palletized load disposed thereon, is to be lifted and transported. A pair of semi-rigid cross-brace members are respectively pivotally secured at first end portions thereof upon the pallet structure so as to be movable between a first operative position, at which the pair of semi-rigid cross-brace members will be disposed in a longitudinally spaced, laterally oriented mode, and a second position at which the pair of semi-rigid cross-brace members will be disposed in a laterally spaced, longitudinally oriented mode so as to be disposed parallel to the laterally spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members in order to permit the entire pallet structure to be rolled up, folded, or otherwise knocked-down, for compact storage and transportation purposes.

1 . A knockdown pallet structure for facilitating the lifting and transportation of a load by means of a forklift vehicle, comprising: 
 a base panel;    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 undersurface portions of said base panel; and    at least one cross-brace member movably mounted upon said base panel between a first operative, erected position at which said at least one 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 cross-brace member is disposed parallel to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members so as to be 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.    
   
   
       2 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said base panel comprises a woven fabric.    
   
   
       3 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said woven fabric comprises polypropylene.    
   
   
       4 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members comprise tubular pipe members.    
   
   
       5 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 each one of said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending tubular pipe members has a semi-circular cross-sectional configuration.    
   
   
       6 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 each one of said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending tubular pipe members is fabricated from polyvinylchloride (PVC).    
   
   
       7 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 pocket means fixedly mounted upon said base panel for fixedly securing said at least one cross-brace member at said first operative, erected position.    
   
   
       8 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said at least one cross-brace member comprises a pair of cross-brace members which are movably mounted upon said base panel so as to be disposed within a longitudinally spaced, transversely extending array when said pair of cross-brace members are disposed at said first operative, erected positions, and are disposed within a transversely spaced, longitudinally extending array when said pair of cross-brace members are disposed at said second inoperative, knocked-down positions.    
   
   
       9 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said pair of cross-brace members are pivotally mounted upon said base panel between said first operative, erected position and said second inoperative, knocked-down position.    
   
   
       10 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 pocket means fixedly mounted upon said base panel for fixedly securing said pair of cross-brace members at said first operative, erected positions.    
   
   
       11 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said means for securing said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members upon said undersurface portions of said base panel comprise: 
 a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending pocket structures.    
   
   
       12 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said means for securing each one of said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members upon said undersurface portions of said base panel comprise: 
 a pair of longitudinally spaced straps.    
   
   
       13 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a third longitudinally extending rigid support member interposed between said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members for imparting additional support to said pallet structure.    
   
   
       14 . The pallet structure as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pocket disposed atop said base panel; and    an auxiliary support panel disposed within said pocket so as to provide said pallet structure with additional support.    
   
   
       15 . A method of assembling and disassembling a knockdown pallet structure, comprising the steps of: 
 unrolling a base panel, having a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members fixedly secured thereon for accommodating the fork tines of a forklift vehicle, from a rolled-up compact state to an unrolled expanded state; and    moving at least one cross-brace member, mounted upon said base panel, from a first inoperative, knockdown position, at which said at least cross-brace member is disposed parallel to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members such that said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members are disconnected from each other, to a second operative, erected position at which said at least one 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 such that said pallet structure attains an assembled and erected state.    
   
   
       16 . The method of assembling and disassembling a knockdown pallet structure as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: 
 moving said at least one cross-brace member, mounted upon said base panel, from said second operative, erected position, at which said at least one 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, back to said first inoperative, knockdown position at which said at least cross-brace member is disposed parallel to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members such that said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members are disconnected from each other; and    rolling said base panel, having said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members fixedly secured thereon, from said unrolled expanded state back to said rolled-up compact state such that said pallet structure attains a disassembled knocked-down state.    
   
   
       17 . The method of assembling and disassembling a knockdown pallet structure as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising the step of: 
 pivotally moving said at least one cross-brace between said first inoperative, knockdown position, at which said at least cross-brace member is disposed parallel to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members such that said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members are disconnected from each other, and said second operative, erected position at which said at least one 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.    
   
   
       18 . A method of assembling and disassembling a knockdown pallet structure, comprising the steps of: 
 unfolding a base panel, having a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members fixedly secured thereon for accommodating the fork tines of a forklift vehicle, from a folded-up compact state to an unfolded expanded state; and    moving at least one cross-brace member, mounted upon said base panel, from a first inoperative, knockdown position, at which said at least cross-brace member is disposed parallel to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members such that said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members are disconnected from each other, to a second operative, erected position at which said at least one 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 such that said pallet structure attains an assembled and erected state.    
   
   
       19 . The method of assembling and disassembling a knockdown pallet structure as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of: 
 moving said at least one cross-brace member, mounted upon said base panel, from said second operative, erected position, at which said at least one 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, back to said first inoperative, knockdown position at which said at least cross-brace member is disposed parallel to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members such that said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members are disconnected from each other; and    folding said base panel, having said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members fixedly secured thereon, from said unfolded expanded state back to said folded-up compact state such that said pallet structure attains a disassembled knocked-down state.    
   
   
       20 . The method of assembling and disassembling a knockdown pallet structure as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising the step of: 
 pivotally moving said at least one cross-brace between said first inoperative, knockdown position, at which said at least cross-brace member is disposed parallel to said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members such that said pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rigid support members are disconnected from each other, and said second operative, erected position at which said at least one 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.