Stackable pallet system having foldable end boards

Abstract

A stackable pallet system for storing and transporting a core-wound roll having a core, the pallet system includes a pallet, a pair of foldable end boards connected to the pallet and a pair of core supports, each disposed on an end board. The pallet includes a platform having a length, a width, a top surface and two longitudinal ends. When the pair of end boards are erected, they are disposed substantially in a parallel configuration and at substantially right angle to the platform. When the pair of end boards are folded, they are disposed substantially parallelly to the top surface; and a pair of core supports. Each end of the core is supported on one of the pair of core supports.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A stackable pallet system for storing and transporting a core-wound roll having a first core, said pallet system comprising:
 (a) a pallet comprising a platform having a length, a width, a top surface, a bottom surface and two longitudinal ends;   (b) a pair of end boards, wherein each end board is pivotably connected to one of said two longitudinal ends of said platform such that when said pair of end boards are erected, said pair of end boards are disposed substantially in a parallel configuration, each of said pair of end boards is disposed at substantially right angle to said platform and when said pair of end boards are folded, said pair of end boards are disposed substantially parallel to the top surface of said platform; and   (c) a pair of core supports, wherein each of said pair of core supports is disposed on one of said pair of end boards, wherein each end of the first core is supported on one of said pair of core supports.   
     
     
         2 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one glide structure configured to be glideable along at least one glide track disposed on said platform, said at least one glide structure is configured to be disposed on one of said two longitudinal ends, wherein at least one of said pair of end boards is pivotably connected to said at least one glide structure such that the distance between said pair of end boards is adjustable. 
     
     
         3 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 2 , further comprising a glide strip disposed between said glide structure and said platform, wherein said glide strip is adapted to facilitate the gliding of said glide structure with respect to said platform. 
     
     
         4 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of core supports comprises a removable cradle adapted to receive each end of the first core. 
     
     
         5 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 4 , wherein said removable cradle is a curvilinear portion having two ends and a central portion, each end of said curvilinear portion is terminated with a tab and a third tab is disposed at the central portion protruding outwardly from the central portion and each of said pair of core supports comprises slits adapted to receive said tabs such that said removable cradle is removably attached to one of said pair of core supports. 
     
     
         6 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of end boards further comprises:
 (a) a hook rotatably mounted to each of said pair of end boards such that the plane of rotation of said hook is substantially parallel to the end board to which said hook is attached; and   (b) at least one opening disposed on a portion of said platform and configured for receiving a portion of said hook,
 wherein when said hook is disposed in a first rotational position, said portion of said hook is disposed within said opening, immobilizing the end board to which said hook is attached and when said hook is disposed away from said first rotational position, the rotation of the end board is not restricted. 
   
     
     
         7 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , wherein each said core support further comprises a core retainer capable of removable attachment to each of said pair of end boards, said core retainer is adapted to secure one end of the first core from a direction substantially opposite that of each said core support. 
     
     
         8 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 7 , wherein said core retainer further comprises a retainer lip pivotably attached to a portion of said core retainer and said retainer lip is adapted to extend the reach of said retainer clip in a direction toward each said core support to accommodate a second spindle having a smaller diameter than the first core. 
     
     
         9 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of retaining brackets, each retaining bracket disposed at a bottom corner of said platform such that when disposed atop a second stackable pallet system with erected end boards, two of said plurality of retaining brackets are disposed on one of said two longitudinal ends and cooperate to encompass an open edge of one of the pair of end boards of the second pallet system. 
     
     
         10 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tabs, each tab disposed at a top corner of said platform such that when disposed below a second stackable pallet system each of said plurality of tabs engages a retaining bracket disposed at a bottom corner of the second pallet system. 
     
     
         11 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of end boards further comprises at least one recessed pocket disposed on at least one edge of each of said pair of end boards. 
     
     
         12 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of end board limiters, each end board limiter is disposed adjacent each said end board and configured to restrict rotation of each said end board to about 90 degrees with respect to the top surface of said platform. 
     
     
         13 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pads, wherein each of said plurality of pads is disposed at a bottom corner of said platform such that when disposed atop a second stackable pallet system with erected end boards, each of said plurality of pads provides friction surface to engage a corner of an open edge of an end board of the second stackable pallet system upon which the stackable pallet system is disposed. 
     
     
         14 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of strapping ports disposed on said top surface of said platform to facilitate strapping of said stackable pallet system. 
     
     
         15 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of teeth disposed on a portion of an open edge of each of said pair of end boards. 
     
     
         16 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 1 , wherein said stackable pallet system is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum and plastic. 
     
     
         17 . A stackable pallet system for storing and transporting a core-wound roll having a core, said pallet system comprising:
 (a) a pallet comprising a platform having a length, a width, a top surface, a plurality of top corners, a plurality of bottom corners and two longitudinal ends; and   (b) a pair of end boards, each said end board comprises a frame having a hinge edge, an open edge, a core support, a channel and a retainer, wherein said each end board is pivotably connected to one longitudinal end of said platform, said core support is centrally disposed on said frame and said channel connects said core support to said free edge; and,   wherein when said pair of end boards is erected, each said end board is disposed substantially perpendicularly to said top surface of said platform, each longitudinal end of the core is configured to slide through each of said channels to be seated on each of said core supports and each of said retainers is configured to seal one of said channels to prevent dislodgement of the core from said core supports and when said pair of end boards is folded, each said end board is disposed substantially coplanar to said top surface of said platform.   
     
     
         18 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of U-shaped rods, wherein each of said plurality of U-shaped rods is disposed at one of said plurality of bottom corners such that each pair of said plurality of U-shaped rods at each longitudinal end of said platform and each pair of said plurality of U-shaped rods disposed on one longitudinal end cooperate to encompass a second open edge of a second end board of a second pallet system when said pallet system is disposed atop the second pallet system. 
     
     
         19 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of U-shaped rods and a plurality of tabs, wherein each of said plurality of U-shaped rods is disposed at one of said plurality of bottom corners such that the valley of each of said U-shaped rod protrudes laterally from said platform to form a loop with said platform, each of said plurality of tabs is disposed at one of said plurality of top corners and said loop is configured to engage a tab of a second pallet system when said pallet system is disposed atop the second pallet system with its end boards disposed in folded condition. 
     
     
         20 . The stackable pallet system of  claim 17 , further comprising a glide structure at each longitudinal end of said pallet, wherein said glide structure is slidably connected to said top surface of said pallet, wherein one of said pair of end boards is pivotably connected to said glide structure.