Pallet with electronics housing

Abstract

A pallet includes a deck and a plurality of columns supporting the deck. A cover is removably secured over an opening in the deck or in one of the plurality of columns. The opening leads to a recess for receiving an electronic device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet comprising:
 a deck;   a plurality of columns supporting the deck; and   a cover removably secured over an opening in the deck or in one of the plurality of columns, wherein the opening leads to a recess for receiving an electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet of  claim 1  further including an electronic device in the recess. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein a housing includes the cover and further includes a body portion defining the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet of  claim 3  wherein the body portion is snap-fit to the deck. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet of  claim 3  wherein the body portion is snap-fit to the one of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet of  claim 3  wherein the body portion includes a flange on an outer surface of the deck. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet of  claim 3  wherein the cover is removably secured to the body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet of  claim 7  wherein the cover is threadably secured to the body portion. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the cover is secured over an opening in the deck. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the opening is in one of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet of  claim 10  wherein the opening is in the deck and in the one of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet of  claim 10  wherein the one of the plurality of columns includes an exterior wall having ribs extending inward therefrom and wherein the opening is a first opening through the exterior wall of the one of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet of  claim 12  wherein the one of the plurality of columns further includes a second opening through the exterior wall opposite the first opening, the pallet further including a cartridge inserted through the second opening and secured to the cover over the first opening. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet of  claim 13  further including an electronic device received in the cartridge, the electronic device including a battery. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the pallet is a nestable pallet. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the pallet includes runners connecting lower ends of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         17 . A pallet comprising:
 a deck;   a plurality of columns supporting the deck;   a cover removably secured over an opening leading to a recess within one of the plurality of columns; and   an electronic device received in the recess within the one of the plurality of columns.   
     
     
         18 . The pallet of  claim 17  wherein the electronic device includes a battery. 
     
     
         19 . A method for installing an electronic device in a pallet including:
 a) removing a cover over an opening to a recess in the pallet;   b) after step a), placing an electronic device in the recess in the pallet; and   c) after step b), securing the cover over the opening to the recess.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the electronic device is a first electronic device, the method further including:
 d) removing a second electronic device from the recess after step a) and before step b). 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the opening is formed through a deck of the pallet.