Combination for use as a pallet alone or modified for use as a container

Abstract

A combination that can be used as a pallet alone or modified to be used as a container. The combination includes a pallet and a container. The pallet rests on a horizontal surface and can be used as a pallet when used alone. The container has a bottom and selectively extends upwardly from the pallet. The pallet forms the bottom of the container when the pallet is modified to be used as the container. Further included are a method for constructing the pallet and a method for constructing the container.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination for use as a pallet alone or modified for use as a container, said combination comprising:
 a) a pallet; and   b) a container;   wherein said pallet is for resting on a horizontal surface;   wherein said pallet is for use as a pallet when used alone;   wherein said container has a bottom;   wherein said container selectively extends upwardly from said pallet; and   wherein said pallet forms said bottom of said container when said pallet is modified for use as said container.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said pallet comprises:
 a) a bottom layer;   b) an intermediate layer;   c) a top layer; and   d) a plurality of legs;   wherein said intermediate layer of said pallet overlies said bottom layer of said pallet;   wherein said intermediate layer of said pallet is attached to said bottom layer of said pallet;   wherein said top layer of said pallet overlies said intermediate layer of said pallet;   wherein said top layer of said pallet is attached to said intermediate layer of said pallet;   wherein said plurality of legs of said pallet depend from said bottom layer of said pallet; and   wherein said plurality of legs of said pallet are for resting on the horizontal surface.   
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein said bottom layer of said pallet comprises a plurality of stringers. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet are slender;
 wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet are elongated;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet are of equal length to each other;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet are parallel to each other;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet are coplanar with each other;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet are equally spaced-apart from each other;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet are aligned with each other;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet extend in a first direction;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet have widths; and   wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet have heights.   
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet are made from wood. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 4 , wherein said intermediate layer of said pallet comprises a plurality of stringers. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet are slender;
 wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet are elongated;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet are of equal length to each other;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet are parallel to each other;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet are coplanar with each other;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet are equally spaced-apart from each other;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet are aligned with each other;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet extend in a second direction;   wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet have widths; and   wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet have heights.   
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet are made from wood. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said widths and said heights of said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet are equal to said widths and said heights of said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet, respectively, so as to allow said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet and said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet to be interchangeable with each other. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said second direction of said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet is perpendicular to said first direction of said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet, and as such, ties said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet and said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said intermediate layer of said pallet comprises a plurality of nails. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of nails of said intermediate layer of said pallet maintain said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet and said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet perpendicular to each other by being positioned where said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet intersect said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein said top layer of said pallet comprises a plurality of deckboards. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are slender;
 wherein said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are elongated;   wherein said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are of equal length to each other;   wherein said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are parallel to each other;   wherein said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are coplanar with each other;   wherein said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are aligned with each other;   wherein said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet extend in a third direction;   wherein said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet have widths; and   wherein said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet have heights.   
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are made from wood. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said widths of said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are wider than said widths of said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet, respectively; and
 wherein said widths of said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are wider than said widths of said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet, respectively.   
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said heights of said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are less than said heights of said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet, respectively; and
 wherein said heights of said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet are less than said heights of said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet, respectively.   
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said third direction of said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet is perpendicular to said second direction of said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet, and as such, ties said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet and said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet to each other, respectively; and
 wherein said third direction of said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet is equal to said first direction of said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet.   
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein said top layer of said pallet comprises a plurality of nails; and
 wherein said plurality of nails of said top layer of said pallet maintain said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet and said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet perpendicular to each other by being positioned where said plurality of deckboards of said top layer of said pallet intersect said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet.   
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of legs of said pallet are spaced-apart from each other; and
 wherein said plurality of legs of said pallet are cubic-shaped, and as such, have a plurality of sides that are equal to each other.   
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of legs of said pallet depend from said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet where said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet intersect said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet for allowing said plurality of legs of said pallet to provide multiple spaces therebetween for lifting said pallet. 
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 20 , wherein said plurality of sides of said plurality of legs of said pallet are equal to said widths of said plurality of stringers of said intermediate layer of said pallet, respectively; and
 wherein said plurality of sides of said plurality of legs of said pallet are equal to said widths of said plurality of stringers of said bottom layer of said pallet, respectively.   
     
     
         23 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein said container comprises:
 a) said pallet having bores;   b) pegs;   c) posts; and   d) side panels;   wherein said pegs of said container are disposed in said bores of said pallet, respectively;   wherein said posts of said container extend upwardly from said pegs of said container, respectively; and   wherein said side panels of said container extend between adjacent posts of said container.   
     
     
         24 . The combination of  claim 23 , wherein said pallet has corners;
 wherein said bores of said pallet are disposed at said corners of said pallet, respectively;   wherein said bores of said pallet are slender;   wherein said bores of said pallet are vertically oriented; and   wherein said bores of said pallet open into said top layer of said pallet and extend vertically downwardly therefrom into at least one of said second layer of said pallet and said first layer of said pallet.   
     
     
         25 . The combination of  claim 23 , wherein said pegs of said container are disposed snugly in said bores of said pallet, and extend vertically upwardly therefrom to past said top layer of said pallet to terminal portions. 
     
     
         26 . The combination of  claim 23 , wherein said pegs of said container are slender;
 wherein said pegs of said container are stubby;   wherein said pegs of said container are of equal length to each other;   wherein said pegs of said container are parallel to each other;   wherein said pegs of said container are vertically aligned with each other; and   wherein said pegs of said container are substantially cylindrically shaped.   
     
     
         27 . The combination of  claim 23 , wherein said pegs of said container are made from fiberglass. 
     
     
         28 . The combination of  claim 23 , wherein said pegs of said container have exterior surfaces; and
 wherein said exterior surfaces of said pegs of said container are textured to increase gripping power to said pallet when inserted into said bores of said pallet so as to eliminate a need for fasteners so as to allow said container to readily revert back to said pallet if so desired by a user.   
     
     
         29 . The combination of  claim 25 , wherein each post of the container has a proximal end;
 wherein each post of the container has a free distal end;   wherein each post of the container has a pair of adjacent interior sides; and   wherein said proximal end of each post of said container has a blind bore extending axially therein.   
     
     
         30 . The combination of  claim 29 , wherein said blind bore of said proximal end of each post of said container snugly receives said terminal portion of an associated peg of said container, and in so doing, said posts of said container extend vertically upwardly from said corners of said pallet, respectively. 
     
     
         31 . The combination of  claim 23 , wherein each post of said container is substantially square-shaped in plan view;
 wherein each post of said container is slender;   wherein each post of said container is elongated;   wherein each post of said container is of equal length to each other;   wherein each post of said container is parallel to each other; and   wherein each post of said container is vertically aligned with each other.   
     
     
         32 . The combination of  claim 23 , wherein each post of said container is made from wood. 
     
     
         33 . The combination of  claim 29 , wherein said pair of adjacent interior sides of each post of said container have blind slots therein, respectively;
 wherein said blind slots of said pair of adjacent interior sides of each post of said container extend axially therealong from said proximal end of an associated post of said container to said distal end of said associated post of said container;   wherein said blind slots of said pair of adjacent interior sides of each post of said container are perpendicular to each other; and   wherein said blind slots of said pair of adjacent interior sides of each post of said container are disposed at midpoints of said pair of adjacent interior sides of said posts of said container.   
     
     
         34 . The combination of  claim 33 , wherein each side panel of said container is a piece of sheet material;
 wherein said piece of sheet material of each side panel of said container is substantially rectangular-shaped;   wherein said piece of sheet material of each side panel of said container is thin;   wherein said piece of sheet material of each side panel of said container is flat; and   wherein said piece of sheet material of each side panel of said container has:   a) a pair of opposing side ends; and   b) a lower edge.   
     
     
         35 . The combination of  claim 34 , wherein said piece of sheet material of each side panel of said container connects adjacent posts of said container to each other;
 wherein one blind slot of one post of said container slidingly receives one opposing side end of said piece of sheet material of an associated side panel of said container;   wherein a facing blind slot of an adjacent post of said container slidingly receives the other opposing side end of said piece of sheet material of said associated side panel of said container; and   wherein said lower edge of said piece of sheet material of said associated side panel of said container contacts said pallet.   
     
     
         36 . The combination of  claim 23 , wherein said side panels of said container have a hook and loop fastener (VELCRO®) strap; and
 wherein said hook and loop fastener (VELCRO®) strap of said side panels of said container extends horizontally and snugly around said container, and in so doing, maintains said side panels of said container in said posts of said container, to thereby maintain said container constructed. 
 
     
     
         37 . A method of constructing a pallet, wherein the pallet has a plurality of legs, a bottom layer with a plurality of stringers, an intermediate layer with a plurality of stringers, and a top layer with a plurality of deckboards, said method comprises the steps of:
 a) positioning the plurality of stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet onto a horizontal surface so as to form a plurality of positioned bottom layer stringers;   b) orienting the plurality of positioned bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet parallel to each other, equally spaced-apart from each other, coplanar with each other, and aligned with each other, so as to form a plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers;   c) positioning the plurality of stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet onto the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet so as to form a plurality of positioned intermediate layer stringers;   d) orienting the plurality of positioned intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet parallel to each other, equally spaced-apart from each other, coplanar with each other, aligned with each other, and perpendicular to the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet, so as to form a plurality of oriented intermediate layer stringers;   e) nailing the plurality of oriented intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet to the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet so as to form a plurality of affixed intermediate layer stringers;   f) positioning the plurality of deckboards of the top layer of the pallet onto the plurality of affixed intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet so as to form a plurality of positioned top layer deckboards;   g) orienting the plurality of positioned top layer deckboards of the top layer of the pallet parallel to each other, coplanar with each other, aligned with each other, and perpendicular to the plurality of affixed intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet, so as to form a plurality of oriented top layer deckboards;   h) nailing the plurality of oriented top layer deckboards of the top layer of the pallet to the plurality of affixed intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet so as to form a plurality of affixed top layer deckboards;   i) positioning the plurality of legs of the pallet under the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet so as to form a plurality of positioned legs; and   j) nailing the plurality of positioned legs of the plurality of legs of the pallet to the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet so as to form a plurality of affixed legs, to thereby construct the pallet.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said step of nailing the plurality of oriented intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet to the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet includes nailing the plurality of oriented intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet to the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet where the plurality of oriented intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet intersect the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said step of nailing the plurality of oriented top layer deckboards of the top layer of the pallet to the plurality of affixed intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet includes nailing the plurality of oriented top layer deckboards of the top layer of the pallet to the plurality of affixed intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet where the plurality of oriented top layer deckboards of the top layer of the pallet intersect the plurality of affixed intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said step of positioning the plurality of legs of the pallet under the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet includes positioning the plurality of legs of the pallet under the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet where the plurality of oriented bottom layer stringers of the bottom layer of the pallet intersect the plurality of affixed intermediate layer stringers of the intermediate layer of the pallet. 
     
     
         41 . A method of constructing a container, wherein the container has a pallet having corners with bores, wherein the container further has side panels with opposing side ends and lower edges, wherein the container further has pegs with terminal portions, wherein the container further has posts with blind slots and proximal ends with blind bores, wherein the container further has a hook and loop fastener (VELCRO®) strap, and wherein said method comprises the steps of:
 a) providing the bores of the pallet in the corners of the pallet; 
 b) inserting the pegs of the container into the bores of the pallet, with the terminal portions of the pegs of the container extending upwardly therefrom; 
 c) positioning the posts of the container on the pegs of the container, with the blind bore of the proximal end of each post of the container receiving the terminal portion of an associated peg of the container, to thereby frictionally affix the posts of the container vertically upwardly from the pallet; 
 d) sliding the opposing side ends of each side panel of the container vertically downwardly into aligned blind slots of a pair of adjacent post of the container until the lower edge of an associated side panel of the container contacts the pallet; and 
 e) wrapping the container therearound with the hook and loop fastener (VELCRO®) strap of the container to maintain the side panels of the container in the posts of the container, to thereby construct the container.