Pallet having adjustable posts

Abstract

A pallet including a base and a plurality of adjustable posts, each adjustable post disposed on a corner of the base. Each post includes a base segment, a knuckle and a post extension. A knuckle is pivotably and slideably connected to each of the base segment and the post extension such that each portion of the post is capable of being disposed at right angle with respect to another in configurations for loading, unloading, storage and stacking. Prior to loading or unloading of contents onto and off from the pallet, each post may be disposed in a way that enhances access to the base or contents of the pallet. For storing and stacking the contents of the pallet, each post may be disposed in a way to form a periphery to protect the contents and to have sufficient strength to receive another pallet stacked on top of the pallet.

What is claimed herein is: 
     
         1 . A pallet for supporting and protecting materials to be stored or transported, said pallet comprising:
 (a) a base having a plurality of corners;   (b) a plurality of adjustable posts, each adjustable post comprising:
 (i) a base segment having a top end and a bottom end attached to one of said plurality of corners; 
 (ii) a post extension having a top end and a bottom end; 
 (iii) a knuckle having a top end, a bottom end; and 
 (iv) a pair of combined slideable and rotatable joints, a first one of said joints is adapted to connect said bottom end of said knuckle to said top end of said base segment such that said knuckle is pivotably and slideably connected to said base segment enabling said knuckle rotation in a first plane when said top end of said base segment becomes disengaged from said bottom cavity and a second one of said joints is adapted to connect said top end of said knuckle to said bottom end of said post extension such that said knuckle is pivotably and slideably connected to said post extension enabling said knuckle rotation in a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to said first plane when said post extension becomes disengaged from said top cavity, 
   
       whereby when the materials are to be loaded on said base, said plurality of adjustable posts are configured such that each knuckle is disposed in said first plane and extends outwardly from said base to provide space for loading the materials and when the pallet is to be transported without the materials, said plurality of adjustable posts are configured such that each knuckle is disposed in said first plane and extends inwardly toward said base to provide a compact pallet. 
     
     
         2 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein each joint of said pair of combined slideable and rotatable joints comprises a pin and an elongated slot configured to rotate about and slide along said pin. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein said base is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a cradle having a cross-sectional profile including a curvature adapted for supporting a roll. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bumpers, each bumper disposed on one post extension to prevent inadvertent contact of the materials with extraneous items. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a cradle having a cross-sectional profile including a curvature having a radius of from about 6 inches to about 16 inches, said cradle is adapted for supporting a roll. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein said top end of each said post extension further comprises a cavity and said bottom end of each said base segment further comprises a foot configured for insertion into the cavity of a top end of a post extension of a second pallet disposed below said pallet. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein said base comprising a surface material capable of receiving fasteners selected from the group consisting of nails and screws. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet of  claim 8 , wherein said surface material is selected from the group consisting of wood and plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of forklift pockets. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of end boards for supporting the materials. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein the materials comprise a roll. 
     
     
         13 . A pallet for supporting and protecting materials to be stored or transported, said pallet comprising:
 (a) a base having a plurality of corners;   (b) a plurality of adjustable posts, each adjustable post comprising:
 (i) a base segment having a first width, a top end, a bottom end attached to one of said plurality of corners; 
 (ii) a post extension having a second width, a top end and a bottom end; 
 (iii) a knuckle having a top end, a bottom end, a top cavity disposed on said top end of said knuckle, said top cavity having a top width greater than that of said second width, a bottom cavity disposed on said bottom end of said knuckle, said bottom cavity having a bottom width greater than that of said first width; and 
 (iv) a pair of combined slideable and rotatable joints, a first one of said joints is adapted to connect said bottom end of said knuckle to said top end of said base segment such that said knuckle is pivotably and slideably connected to said base segment enabling said knuckle rotation in a first plane when said top end of said base segment becomes disengaged from said bottom cavity and a second one of said joints is adapted to connect said top end of said knuckle to said bottom end of said post extension such that said knuckle is pivotably and slideably connected to said post extension enabling said knuckle rotation in a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to said first plane when said post extension becomes disengaged from said top cavity and said plurality of adjustable posts become erected when said top end of said base segment is inserted in said bottom cavity and said bottom end of said post extension is inserted in said top cavity, 
   
       whereby when the materials are to be loaded on said base, said plurality of adjustable posts are configured such that each knuckle is disposed in said first plane and extends outwardly from said base to provide space for loading the materials and when the pallet is to be transported without the materials, said plurality of adjustable posts are configured such that each knuckle is disposed in said first plane and extends inwardly toward said base to provide a compact pallet. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet of  claim 13 , wherein each joint of said pair of combined slideable and rotatable joints comprises a pin and an elongated slot configured to rotate about and slide along said pin. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet of  claim 13 , wherein said base is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet of  claim 13 , wherein said base comprises a cradle having a cross-sectional profile including a curvature adapted for supporting a roll. 
     
     
         17 . The pallet of  claim 13 , wherein said top end of each said post extension further comprises a cavity and said bottom end of each said base segment further comprises a foot configured for insertion into the cavity of a top end of a post extension of a second pallet disposed below said pallet. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet of  claim 13 , further comprising a pair of end boards for supporting the materials. 
     
     
         19 . A pallet for supporting and protecting materials to be stored or transported, said pallet comprising:
 (a) a base having a plurality of corners;   (b) a plurality of adjustable posts, each adjustable post comprising:
 (i) a base segment having a first width, a top end, a bottom end attached to one of said plurality of corners and an elongated slot disposed on a portion of said base segment and aligned in the lengthwise direction of said base segment; 
 (ii) a post extension having a second width, a top end, a bottom end and an elongated slot disposed on a portion of said post extension and aligned in the lengthwise direction of said post extension; 
 (iii) a knuckle having a top end, a bottom end, a top cavity disposed on said top end of said knuckle, said top cavity having a top width greater than that of said second width, a bottom cavity disposed on said bottom end of said knuckle, said bottom cavity having a bottom width greater than that of said first width, a top pin disposed on said top end of said knuckle, a bottom pin disposed on said bottom end of said knuckle, said knuckle is pivotably and slideably connected about said bottom pin to said elongated slot of said base segment such that said knuckle is capable of rotation in a first plane when said top end of said base segment becomes disengaged from said bottom cavity and said knuckle is pivotably and slideably connected about said top pin to said elongated slot of said post extension such that said knuckle is capable of rotation in a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to said first plane when said post extension becomes disengaged from said top cavity and said plurality of adjustable posts become erected when said top end of said base segment is inserted in said bottom cavity and said bottom end of said post extension is inserted in said top cavity, 
   
       whereby when the materials are to be loaded on said base, said plurality of adjustable posts are configured such that each knuckle is disposed in said first plane and extends outwardly from said base to provide space for loading the materials and when the pallet is to be transported without the materials, said plurality of adjustable posts are configured such that each knuckle is disposed in said first plane and extends inwardly toward said base to provide a compact pallet. 
     
     
         20 . The pallet of  claim 19 , wherein said base comprises a cradle having a cross-sectional profile including a curvature adapted for supporting a roll.