Order picker leg

Abstract

A pallet comprising a top deck and a bottom deck interconnected via a plurality of support legs that maintain the top deck and bottom deck in spaced relationship, defining fork receiving openings along a lateral edge of the pallet between the support legs, and wherein at least one support leg comprises an optionally replaceable component that is configured to engage a pallet securing device on a material handling vehicle to enable the pallet securing device to lock the pallet to the vehicle. Also, an optionally replaceable support leg for interconnecting upper and lower decks of a pallet, the support leg being configured to engage a pallet securing device on a material handling vehicle to enable the pallet securing device to lock the pallet to the vehicle.

1 . A pallet comprising:
 a top deck comprising a generally planar upper surface;   a bottom deck comprising a first series of plank members interconnected with a second series of plank members extending orthogonal thereto to form a grid structure;   wherein the top deck is interconnected to the bottom deck via a plurality of support legs that maintain the top deck and bottom deck in spaced relationship, such that fork receiving openings are defined along a lateral edge of the pallet between the support legs; and   wherein at least one support leg comprises an optionally replaceable component that is configured to engage a pallet securing device on a material handling vehicle to enable the pallet securing device to lock the pallet to the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support leg that is configured to engage a pallet securing device on a material handling vehicle is a replaceable component. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support leg that is configured to engage a pallet securing device on a material handling vehicle comprises at least one surface configured to engage the pallet securing device. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one surface configured to engage the pallet securing device comprises a textured surface. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet of  claim 4 , wherein the textured surface comprises one or more substantially vertically oriented projections. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet of  claim 4 , wherein the textured surface is configured to interlock with a gripping or clamping surface on the pallet securing device that contacts the textured surface. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet of  claim 6 , wherein the textured surface comprises one or more substantially vertical ribs configured to interlock with the gripping or clamping surface on the pallet securing device that contacts the textured surface. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one surface configured to engage the pallet securing device comprises a substantially vertical wall of the at least one support leg that is configured to engage a pallet securing device on a material handling vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one support leg that is configured to engage a pallet securing device on a material handling vehicle comprises two substantially vertical opposing walls, each comprising at least one surface configured to engage the pallet securing device. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet of  claim 9 , wherein the two substantially vertical opposing walls extend inward from a lateral edge of the pallet. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet of  claim 10 , wherein the two substantially vertical opposing walls are configured to conform to the pallet securing device. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet of  claim 11 , wherein the two substantially vertical walls generally converge as they extend inward from the lateral edge of the pallet. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet of  claim 11 , wherein the two substantially vertical walls in plan view form a key shape comprising a bow extending inward from the lateral edge of the pallet and a blade extending inward from the bow. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet of  claim 13 , wherein the two surfaces configured to engage the pallet securing device comprise a plurality of substantially vertical ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet of  claim 14 , wherein the vertical ribs are configured to interlock with a gripping or clamping surface on the pallet securing device. 
     
     
         16 . An optionally replaceable support leg for interconnecting upper and lower decks of a pallet, the support leg being configured to engage a pallet securing device on a material handling vehicle to enable the pallet securing device to lock the pallet to the vehicle, the support leg comprising at least two substantially vertical opposing walls, each extending inward and generally converging from a lateral edge of the pallet and each comprising at least one surface configured to engage the pallet securing device. 
     
     
         17 . The support leg of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one surface configured to engage the pallet securing device comprises a textured surface configured to interlock with a gripping or clamping surface on the pallet securing device. 
     
     
         18 . The support leg of  claim 17 , wherein the textured surface comprises one or more substantially vertically oriented projections. 
     
     
         19 . The support leg of  claim 18 , wherein the textured surface comprises one or more substantially vertical ribs configured to interlock with the gripping or clamping surface on the pallet securing device that contacts the textured surface. 
     
     
         20 . The support leg of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two substantially vertical walls in plan view form a key shape comprising a bow extending inward from the lateral edge of the pallet and a blade extending inward from the bow.