Pallet assembly

Abstract

A load supporting assembly structured to support and retain cargo intended to be loaded on and transported by a common commercial carrier, such as an aircraft, wherein the supporting assembly may be in the form of a pallet or alternatively a container having a base panel, side panel and one or more additional panels. Each of the panels include a peripheral flange or like portion extending at least along a majority of the length thereof, which is disposed and configured for fixed attachment to one or more track segments or one or more attachment members. The attachment members are disposed and structured to interconnect the various panels into a predetermined shape, without the use of conventional fasteners or connectors, dependent on the type of common carrier in which the load supporting container assembly is to be loaded.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A load supporting assembly comprising: 
 a) a base panel including a peripheral portion disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to said base,    b) said peripheral portion including at least one peripheral flange extending outwardly from said base panel,    c) at least one attachment member having a first slot formed therein and extending along a length thereof,    d) said first slot and said one flange member having substantially corresponding cross-sectional configurations, and    e) said one peripheral flange disposed in substantially enclosed relation within said first slot to at least partially define a gripping engagement between said base panel and said attachment member.    
     
     
         2 . An assembly as recited in    claim 1    further comprising at least one side panel secured to said attachment member and disposed in outwardly extending, substantially transverse relation to said base panel.  
     
     
         3 . An assembly as recited in    claim 2    wherein said one attachment member comprises a second slot disposed in spaced relation to said first slot and in receiving engagement with a portion of said side panel.  
     
     
         4 . An assembly as recited in    claim 3    wherein said side panel comprising at least one peripheral flange disposed in substantially enclosed relation within said second slot to at least partially define a gripping engagement between said side panel and said attachment member.  
     
     
         5 . An assembly as recited in    claim 4    wherein said one attachment member comprises a support segment disposed in interconnecting relation between said first and second slot.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly as recited in    claim 5    wherein said support segment comprises a predetermined one of a plurality of cross-sectional configurations dependent on a predetermined orientation of said side panel relative to said base panel.  
     
     
         7 . An assembly as recited in    claim 6    wherein said support assembly is configured to position said side panel in substantially perpendicular relation to said base panel.  
     
     
         8 . An assembly as recited in    claim 6    wherein said support segment is configured to position said side panel in substantially angular orientation relative to said base panel.  
     
     
         9 . An assembly as recited in    claim 8    wherein said support segment is configured to position said side panel in an angled substantially outboard orientation relative to said base panel.  
     
     
         10 . An assembly as recited in    claim 3    wherein said second slot comprises at least two bearing surfaces disposed in substantially transverse relation to one another.  
     
     
         11 . An assembly as recited in    claim 10    wherein a first of said bearing surfaces is disposed in substantially parallel relation to a central portion of said side panel.  
     
     
         12 . An assembly as recited in    claim 11    where a second of said bearing surfaces is angularly oriented relative to said first bearing surface.  
     
     
         13 . An assembly as recited in    claim 10    wherein said two bearing surfaces collectively comprise a substantially triangular configuration.  
     
     
         14 . An assembly as recited in    claim 3    wherein each of said first and second slots comprise an opening extending along a length thereof and dimensioned and disposed to allow passage of corresponding peripheral flanges of said base panel and said side panel respectively there through into enclosed relation within said first and second slot.  
     
     
         15 . An assembly as recited in    claim 3    wherein said one peripheral flange of both said base panel and said side panel each comprise an elongated configuration.  
     
     
         16 . An assembly as recited in    claim 15    wherein each of said first and second slots have an elongated configuration substantially corresponding to respective ones of said peripheral flanges of said base panel and said side panel.  
     
     
         17 . An assembly as recited in    claim 16    wherein each of said first and second slots comprise an opening extending along a length thereof and dimensioned and disposed to allow passage of a corresponding peripheral flange of said base panel and said side panel respectively there through into enclosed relation within said first and second slot.  
     
     
         18 . An assembly as recited in    claim 4    further comprising at least one second attachment member including a first and a second slot formed in spaced relation to one another by a second support segment; said side panel comprising a second peripheral flange.  
     
     
         19 . An assembly as recited in    claim 18    further comprising and at least a third panel including a peripheral portion disposed in substantially enclosed relation within said second slot of said second attachment member so as to at least partially define a gripping engagement between said second attachment member and said third panel and interconnecting relation between said base panel, and side panel and said third panel.  
     
     
         20 . An assembly as recited in    claim 1    further comprising an auxiliary attachment member having a first slot formed therein and correspondingly configured to receive said peripheral flange of said base panel therein; said auxiliary attachment member including a track assembly structured to removably secure a load retaining structure to said base panel.  
     
     
         21 . An assembly as recited in    claim 20    wherein said track assembly is disposed in substantially inboard, overlying relation to said peripheral flange of said base panel.  
     
     
         22 . A load supporting assembly structure to support a load within a commercial carrier, said load support assembly comprising: 
 a) a base panel including a peripheral portion disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to a central portion of said base,    b) said peripheral portion including a plurality of elongated peripheral flanges extending outwardly from said central portion of said base panel,    c) a plurality of first attachment members each having a first and a second slot formed therein and extending along the length thereof,    d) each of said first slots and said plurality of peripheral flanges having substantially corresponding cross-sectional configurations, and    e) each of said peripheral flanges disposed in substantially enclosed relation with a corresponding one of said first slots to at least partially define a gripping engagement between said base panel and each of said plurality of first attachment members.    
     
     
         23 . An assembly as recited in    claim 22    further comprising a plurality of side panels secured to corresponding ones of said first attachment members and disposed in outwardly extending, said substantially transverse relation to said base panel.  
     
     
         24 . An assembly as recited in    claim 23    wherein each of said side panel comprises at least one peripheral flange disposed in substantially enclosed relation with a corresponding one of said second slots to at least partially define a gripping engagement between of one of said side panels and a corresponding one of said first attachment members.  
     
     
         25 . An assembly as recited in    claim 24    wherein each of said first attachment members comprises a support segment disposed in interconnecting relation between said first and second slots; said support segment comprising anyone of a plurality of predetermined cross-sectional configurations dependent on a predetermine orientation of said side panel relative to said base panel.  
     
     
         26 . An assembly as recited in    claim 25    wherein at least one of support segments is configured to position said side panel in substantially perpendicular relation to said base panel.  
     
     
         27 . An assembly as recited in    claim 25    wherein at least of said support segments is configured to position one of said side panels in substantially angular orientation relative to said base panel.  
     
     
         28 . An assembly as recited in    claim 24    further comprising a plurality of second attachment members each including a first slot and a second slot interconnected in spaced relation by a support segment; said side panel each comprising a second peripheral flange, each of said second peripheral flanges disposed in substantially enclosed relation within corresponding ones of said second slots and at least partially define a gripping engagement between said base panel and each of said plurality of side panels.  
     
     
         29 . An assembly as recited in    claim 28    further comprising at least a third panel including a peripheral portion disposed in substantially enclosed relation within said second slot of at least one of said plurality of said second attachment members to at least partially define a gripping engagement between said second attachment member and said third panel and interconnecting relation between said base panel, said side panel and said third panel.  
     
     
         30 . An assembly as recited in    claim 28    wherein each of said second slots comprise at least two bearing surfaces disposed in substantially transverse relation to one another, said transverse relation substantially defined by a second bearing surface being angularly oriented relative to said first bearing surface.  
     
     
         31 . An assembly as recited in    claim 30    wherein said two bearing surfaces comprise a substantially triangular configuration.  
     
     
         32 . An assembly as recited in    claim 22    wherein each of said second slots comprise at least two bearing surfaces dispose in substantially transverse relation to one another, said transverse relation comprising said second bearing surface disposed in angularly oriented relation to said first bearing surface.  
     
     
         33 . An assembly as recited in    claim 32    wherein said two bearing surfaces collectively comprise a substantially triangular configuration.