Pallet

Abstract

An improved pallet may include a support deck with an upper load contacting surface and a lower ground facing surface that may each be positioned along a first sidewall and an opposingly positioned second sidewall. One or more ground contacting legs may be coupled to or integrated in the first sidewall and to the second sidewall. A first deck edge may be coupled to the support deck and may extend between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A second deck edge may also be coupled to the support deck and may be opposingly positioned to the first deck edge, and the second edge may extend between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. Preferably, the pallet may comprise one or more sidewall recessed pockets which may be coupled to or positioned along at least one sidewall and/or one or more edge recessed pockets which may be coupled to at least one deck edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An improved pallet, the pallet comprising:
 a support deck with an upper load contacting surface and a lower ground facing surface;   a first sidewall and an opposingly positioned second sidewall each extending downward from the support deck;   a first and a second ground contacting leg positioned along the first sidewall;   a third and a fourth ground contacting leg positioned along the second sidewall;   a first deck edge coupled to the support deck and extending between the first sidewall and second sidewall;   a second deck edge coupled to the support deck and opposingly positioned to the first deck edge, the second edge extending between the first sidewall and second sidewall;   a first sidewall recessed pocket positioned within the first sidewall below the upper load contacting surface; and   a second sidewall recessed pocket positioned within second sidewall below the upper load contacting surface, the second sidewall recessed pocket aligned with and oppositely positioned to the first sidewall recessed pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet of  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket and the second sidewall recess pocket each comprise a vertical backplate coupled to a horizontal shelf. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet of  claim 2 , wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket and the second sidewall recess pocket each comprise a slot, the slot being selected from the group consisting of; a horizontal slot and a vertical slot. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet of  claim 2 , wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket comprises a horizontal slot. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet of  claim 4 , wherein the horizontal slot is centrally positioned in the horizontal shelf. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet of  claim 2 , wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket comprises a vertical slot. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet of  claim 6 , wherein the vertical slot is centrally positioned in the vertical backplate. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet of  claim 2 , wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket comprises a horizontal slot and a vertical slot, and wherein the horizontal slot and vertical slot are in communication with each other. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet of  claim 1 , further comprising a first standard lateral access channel, and wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket and second sidewall recessed pocket are positioned above the first standard lateral access channel. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet of  claim 9 , further comprising a third sidewall recessed pocket positioned within the first sidewall and further comprising a fourth sidewall recessed pocket positioned within the second sidewall, the third sidewall recessed pocket aligned with the fourth sidewall recessed pocket, and further comprising a second standard lateral access channel, wherein the third sidewall recessed pocket and fourth sidewall recessed pocket are positioned above the second standard lateral access channel. 
     
     
         11 . An improved pallet, the pallet comprising:
 a support deck with an upper load contacting surface and a lower ground facing surface;   a first sidewall extending below a first side of the support deck and an opposingly positioned second sidewall extending below a second side of the support deck;   a first and a second ground contacting leg coupled to the first sidewall;   a third and a fourth ground contacting leg coupled to the second sidewall;   a first deck edge running along the support deck and extending between the first sidewall and second sidewall;   a second deck edge running along the support deck and opposingly positioned to the first deck edge, the second edge extending between the first sidewall and second sidewall;   a first sidewall recessed pocket positioned along the first sidewall;   a second sidewall recessed pocket positioned along the second sidewall, the second sidewall recessed pocket aligned with the first sidewall recessed pocket;   a first edge recessed pocket positioned along the first deck edge; and   a second edge recessed pocket positioned along the second deck edge.   
     
     
         12 . The pallet of  claim 11 , wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket, the second sidewall recess pocket, the first edge recessed pocket, and the second edge recessed pocket each comprise a vertical backplate coupled to a horizontal shelf. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet of  claim 12 , wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket, the second sidewall recess pocket, the first edge recessed pocket, and the second edge recessed pocket each comprise a slot, the slot is selected from the group consisting of; a horizontal slot and a vertical slot. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet of  claim 11 , wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket comprises a horizontal slot. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet of  claim 14 , wherein the horizontal slot is centrally positioned in the horizontal shelf. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet of  claim 11 , wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket comprises a vertical slot. 
     
     
         17 . The pallet of  claim 16 , wherein the vertical slot is centrally positioned in the vertical backplate. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet of  claim 11 , wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket comprises a horizontal slot and a vertical slot, and wherein the horizontal slot and vertical slot are in communication with each other. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet of  claim 11 , further comprising a first standard lateral access channel, and wherein the first sidewall recessed pocket and second sidewall recessed pocket are positioned above the first standard lateral access channel. 
     
     
         20 . The pallet of  claim 11 , further comprising a third sidewall recessed pocket positioned along the first sidewall, further comprising a fourth sidewall recessed pocket positioned along the second sidewall, the third sidewall recessed pocket aligned with the fourth sidewall recessed pocket, and further comprising a second standard lateral access channel, wherein the third sidewall recessed pocket and fourth sidewall recessed pocket are positioned above the second standard lateral access channel.