Plastic Wrap Securement For Plastic Pallet

Abstract

A pallet comprising means to secure a tarp or plastic covering is designed to minimize the amount of plastic wrap or tarp required and to be simply employed. The securement means of the present invention are at least partially integrated with the pallet and do not interfere with the other operative loading features of the tray or pallet. In general, the means to secure comprise an opening integral to a side or end of the pallet, opening to the bottom edge, and shaped to both accept and secure a portion of the covering.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet comprising means to secure a covering said pallet comprising:
 a) a top surface and at least a first side, said first side having an outer surface, an internal surface, an edge and a means to secure;   b) said means to secure comprising an opening in the outer surface, a first part of the opening extending through the internal surface and a second part of the opening extending through the edge and having a shape for accepting and securing a portion of a covering.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet of  claim 1  said portion of the covering comprising a stop for securing the portion of the covering. 
     
     
         3 . A method of using the pallet of  claim 2  comprising inserting the portion of the covering into the second part of the opening and sliding the covering into the first part of the opening thereafter positioning the stop against the internal surface with the covering extended outwardly from the first outer side. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet of  claim 1 , said means to secure shaped generally like a keyhole. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet of  claim 1  said means to secure comprising a slanted ramp section at the second part of the opening to assist in aligning the portion of the covering, the first part of the opening shaped as a slot extending away from the edge and the second part of the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet of  claim 1  said first part comprising an elongated shape, said second part comprising an elongated shape oriented generally perpendicular from the first part to provide means to secure the portion of the covering. 
     
     
         7 . The covering of  claim 1  comprising a flexible plastic sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The covering of  claim 1  comprising a tarp. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible plastic sheet of  claim 7  comprising a corner, said corner equipped with a stop. 
     
     
         10 . A pallet of generally unitary plastic structure comprising means to secure a flexible covering, said pallet comprising a first end having an edge, a second end having an edge, a first side having an edge, a second side having an edge, a top deck, and a bottom surface, said means to secure comprising a slot-shape extending upwardly from at least one of said first end edge, said second end edge, said first side edge, and second side edge.