Lift and pallet

Abstract

A pallet lift includes a pair of outer tines movable between an expanded position spaced outward away from inner tines and a retracted position adjacent the inner tines. The inner and outer tines are supported by wheels at locations spaced away from the lift mechanism. A pallet includes a plurality of nestable feet that open outwardly of the pallet to reduce the footprint. A second pallet includes a side wall extending downward from side edges of the pallet to define an opening adjacent outer feet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet lift comprising:
 a lift mechanism;   at least one inner tine secured to the lift mechanism;   at least one wheel supporting the at least one inner tine and spaced away from the lift mechanism along a longitudinal axis of the at least one inner tine;   a pair of outer tines secured to the lift mechanism positioned outward of the at least one inner tine, the pair of outer tines movable between an expanded position spaced outward away from the at least one inner tine and a retracted position adjacent the at least one inner tine.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet lift of  claim 1  wherein the at least one inner tine includes a pair of spaced apart inner tines. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet lift of  claim 2  wherein the each of the outer tines are adjacent one of the inner tines in the retracted position. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet lift of  claim 3  wherein the at least one wheel includes at least one wheel supporting each of the pair of inner tines. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet lift of  claim 4  further including at least one wheel supporting each of the pair of outer tines. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet lift of  claim 5  wherein each of the outer tines is movable to lift the at least one wheel prior to the outer tines being moved to the expanded position from the retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet lift of  claim 6  wherein each of the outer tines is pivotable relative to the pair of inner tines to lift the at least one wheel prior to the outer tines being moved to the expanded position from the retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet lift of  claim 4  wherein the pair of outer tines are not supported directly by wheels spaced outward of the lift mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . A nestable pallet comprising:
 a deck having end edges and side edges; and   a plurality of feet extending downward from each of the side edges of the deck, wherein the feet are hollow and configured to receive the feet of an identical pallet nested thereon, wherein the feet are U-shaped in cross-section, opening outward of the deck.   
     
     
         10 . The nestable pallet of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of feet are elongated in a direction parallel to the side edges of the deck. 
     
     
         11 . The nestable pallet of  claim 10  wherein each of the plurality of feet includes an inner wall, opposed side walls extending outward from the inner wall, and a bottom wall generally perpendicular to the side walls and inner wall. 
     
     
         12 . The nestable pallet of  claim 11  wherein each of the plurality of feet includes a generally horizontal reinforcing wall spaced above the bottom wall and generally parallel to the bottom wall. 
     
     
         13 . The nestable pallet of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of feet extending downward from each side edge of the deck includes three feet. 
     
     
         14 . A pallet comprising:
 a deck having end edges and side edges; and   a side wall extending downward from each of the side edges, each side wall forming an inner foot and two outer feet, each side wall forming at least one ledge having a lower surface spaced downward from the deck, each ledge adjacent one of the outer feet and having an opening formed therethrough.   
     
     
         15 . The pallet of  claim 14  wherein the at least one ledge includes a ledge adjacent each of the outer feet. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet of  claim 15  wherein the deck includes a recess above each of the plurality of feet configured to receive the foot of an identical pallet stacked thereon. 
     
     
         17 . The pallet of  claim 15  wherein the side walls each form a key feature inward of each ledge, each key feature projecting downward and inward toward the inner foot. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet of  claim 17  wherein each side wall defines a first opening between the ledge and the inner foot, and wherein each side wall defines a second opening below the ledge and between the outer foot and the inner foot. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet of  claim 18  wherein the key feature projects into the first opening. 
     
     
         20 . The pallet of  claim 19  wherein the key feature is at a height that aligns with the opening formed through the ledge.