Keg pallet

Abstract

A pallet includes a deck having center portion and two outer portions spaced outward on either side of the center portion. A plurality of keg supports extend from each outer portion to the center portion. Each keg support has a concave upper surface. A large opening is defined between each adjacent pair of keg supports. Outer middle recesses are formed on each outer portion adjacent each large opening. Center middle recesses are formed on the center portion adjacent each large opening. A plurality of column portions protrude from the deck. The pallet accommodates both straight kegs and belly kegs at the same height. The pallet may be formed in two identical halves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet comprising:
 a deck having center portion and two outer portions spaced outward on either side of the center portion, a plurality of supports extending from each outer portion to the center portion, a large opening defined between each adjacent pair of supports, an upper surface of the deck including a plurality of parallel longitudinally-elongated concave keg recesses; and   a plurality of column portions protruding downward from the deck below the center portion and the two outer portions.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of column portions includes a plurality of male column portions and a plurality of complementary female column portions. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet of  claim 2  wherein the pallet includes a pallet half in which the plurality of column portions are molded integrally with the deck. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet of  claim 3  wherein the pallet half is a first pallet half, the pallet further including a second pallet half identical to the first pallet half, wherein the plurality of male column portions of the first pallet half are received in the plurality of complementary female column portions of the second pallet half and the plurality of male column portions of the second pallet half are received in the plurality of complementary female column portions of the first pallet half. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of column portions includes a plurality of male column portions and a plurality of complementary female column portions extending from the center portion of the deck, wherein adjacent pairs of male column portions and female column portions are aligned on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line of the center portion. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of parallel longitudinally-elongated concave keg recesses are cylindrically concave. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet of  claim 1  further including a reinforcement member received in each outer portion. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet of  claim 1  in combination with a first keg having a cylindrical wall received in one of the plurality of parallel longitudinally-elongated concave keg recesses. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet and first keg of  claim 8  in combination with a second keg having a cylindrical wall received in another one of the plurality of parallel longitudinally-elongated concave keg recesses. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein the pallet is a first pallet, the combination further including a second pallet identical to the first pallet, wherein the second pallet is stacked on the first keg and the second keg. 
     
     
         11 . A pallet comprising:
 a deck having center portion and two outer portions spaced outward on either side of the center portion, a plurality of supports extending from each outer portion to the center portion, a large opening defined between each adjacent pair of supports; and   a plurality of male column portions and a plurality of complementary female column portions extending from the center portion of the deck, wherein each of the plurality of male column portions and each of the plurality of complementary female column portions are elongated along a longitudinal center line of the deck, wherein adjacent pairs of male column portions and female column portions are spaced apart from one another and aligned on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the center portion.   
     
     
         12 . The pallet of  claim 11  wherein the deck is molded integrally with the plurality of male column portions and the plurality of complementary female column portions. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet of  claim 12  further including a reinforcement member received in the center portion parallel to the longitudinal center line of the center portion. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet of  claim 12  further including a reinforcement member received in each of the two outer portions. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet of  claim 11  wherein the pallet includes a pallet half in which the plurality of column portions are molded integrally with the deck, wherein the pallet half is a first pallet half, the pallet further including an identical second pallet half, wherein the plurality of male column portions of the first pallet half are received in the plurality of complementary female column portions of the second pallet half and the plurality of male column portions of the second pallet half are received in the plurality of complementary female column portions of the first pallet half. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet of  claim 15  further including a reinforcement member received in each of the two outer portions of each of the first pallet half and the second pallet half. 
     
     
         17 . A pallet comprising:
 a first pallet half and a second pallet half, wherein the first pallet half is identical to the second pallet half;   each of the first pallet half and the second pallet half including a deck having center portion and two outer portions spaced outward on either side of the center portion, a plurality of supports extending from each outer portion to the center portion, an opening defined between each adjacent pair of supports, an outer surface of each deck including a plurality of parallel longitudinally-elongated concave keg recesses;   each of the first pallet half and the second pallet half including a plurality of column portions formed integrally from its associated deck and protruding inward toward the deck of the other of the first pallet half and the second pallet half.   
     
     
         18 . The pallet of  claim 17  wherein each plurality of column portions includes a plurality of male column portions and a plurality of complementary female column portions. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of male column portions of the first pallet half are received in the plurality of complementary female column portions of the second pallet half and the plurality of male column portions of the second pallet half are received in the plurality of complementary female column portions of the first pallet half. 
     
     
         20 . The pallet of  claim 19  further including a reinforcement member received in each of the two outer portions of each of the first pallet half and the second pallet half and in each center portion of each of the first pallet half and the second pallet half.