Reusable pallet container

Abstract

A reusable pallet container is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a pallet container for holding vehicle windshields for storage, transportation or otherwise is disclosed. The pallet container includes a frame structure defining a base, and a periphery, wherein one or more side restraints are provided to be mounted on-board the pallet container to inhibit movement of windshields internally of the pallet container, wherein at least one of said one or more side restraints comprises a flexible fluid containing device.

1 . A pallet container for holding vehicle windshields for storage, transportation or otherwise, the pallet container comprising a frame structure defining a base, and a periphery, wherein one or more side restraints are provided to be mounted on-board the pallet container to inhibit movement of windshields internally of the pallet container, wherein at least one of said one or more side restraints comprises a flexible fluid containing device. 
     
     
         2 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible fluid containing device of said at least one of said side restraints is positioned at opposing ends of the pallet container. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet container according to  claim 2 , wherein said flexible fluid containing device of said at least one of said side restraints comprises an inflatable flexible walled device. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet container according to  claim 3 , wherein said inflatable flexible walled device comprises an air bag. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said one or more side restraints is secured to said frame structure of said pallet container. 
     
     
         6 . A pallet container for holding vehicle windshields for storage, transportation or otherwise, the pallet container comprising a frame structure defining a base, and a periphery, wherein the frame structure is expandable from a minimum dimension windshield containing configuration to a maximum dimension windshield containing configuration; wherein in the maximum dimension containing configuration the pallet container is extended in both height and in length when compared to the minimum dimension configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet container according to  claim 6 , wherein said pallet container is collapsible from a windshield containing configuration to a stowed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet container according to  claim 7 , wherein said pallet container has opposing side frames arranged to be hinged or pivoted to fold down from an erect condition to a collapsed condition. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet container according to  claim 8 , wherein when said pallet container is in the collapsed condition, said opposing side frames are positioned laying adjacent the base of said pallet container. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet container according to  claim 8 , wherein said pallet container comprises a connecting frame extending between said opposing side frames, the connecting frame arranged to be hinged or pivoted to fold down from an erect condition to a collapsed condition. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet container according to  claim 8 , wherein said opposing side frames are extendible in effective length to vary the height of the side frames. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet container according to  claim 11 , wherein the side frames comprise telescoping side frame elements. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet container according to  claim 12 , wherein said side frame elements extend in a longitudinal direction of the pallet container to connect the opposing side frames, wherein said side frame elements are extendible in effective length to vary the length of the pallet container. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet container according to  claim 6 , wherein the pallet container comprises stacking formations enabling like pallet containers to be stacked one on top of another. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet container according to  claim 6 , further comprising one or more side restraints that are mounted on-board the pallet container to inhibit movement of windshields internally of the pallet container, wherein a said side restraint comprises a flexible fluid containing device. 
     
     
         16 . A pallet container for holding vehicle windshields for storage, transportation or otherwise, the pallet container comprising a frame structure defining a base, and a periphery, wherein the pallet container is collapsible from a windshield containing configuration to a stowed configuration, and comprises:
 opposing side frames arranged to be hinged or pivoted to fold down from an erect condition to a collapsed condition; and,   a connecting frame extending between the opposing side frames, the connecting frame arranged to be hinged or pivoted to fold down from an erect condition to a collapsed condition.   
     
     
         17 . The pallet container according to  claim 16 , wherein in the collapsed condition the opposing side frames and the connecting frame are positioned laying adjacent the base of the pallet container. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet container according to  claim 17 , wherein the connecting frame and opposing side frames have formations arranged to complementarily engage one another in the pallet container erected configuration and be releasable to disengage permitting re-orientation to the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet container according to  claim 16 , wherein the side frames comprise telescoping side frame elements. 
     
     
         20 . The pallet container according to  claim 19 , wherein said side frame elements extend in a longitudinal direction of the pallet container to connect the opposing side frames, wherein said side frame elements are extendible in effective length to vary the length of the pallet container.