Keg delivery pallet

Abstract

A pallet includes a deck having a plurality of keg-retaining recesses formed on an upper surface thereof. The plurality of keg-retaining recesses include a plurality of half barrel recesses, a plurality of quarter barrel recesses and a plurality of sixth barrel recesses. A plurality of columns extend downward from the deck.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet comprising:
 a deck having a plurality of keg-retaining recesses formed on an upper surface thereof, the plurality of keg-retaining recesses including a plurality of half barrel recesses, a plurality of quarter barrel recesses and a plurality of sixth barrel recesses; and   a plurality of columns extending downward from the deck.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the pallet is a half pallet. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet of  claim 2  wherein the pallet is a nestable half pallet, wherein the deck includes a plurality of openings aligned with the plurality of columns and configured to receive a plurality of columns of an identical pallet therein. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet of  claim 3  wherein the deck has a width in a range of approximately 17″ to approximately 24″, inclusive, and a length in a range of approximately 36″ to approximately 50″, inclusive. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of half barrel recesses includes three half barrel recesses. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of quarter barrel recesses includes four quarter barrel recesses. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of quarter barrel recesses includes five quarter barrel recesses. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of sixth barrel recesses includes ten sixth barrel recesses. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet of  claim 8  wherein the pallet includes an interlock panel in which the plurality of keg-retaining recesses are defined, and wherein the interlock panel is secured to the deck. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet of  claim 8  further including a pair of handle openings extending through the deck. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of quarter barrel recesses includes four quarter barrel recesses. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of keg-retaining recesses are configured such that five quarter barrel kegs can be received in the plurality of quarter barrel recesses while two sixth barrel kegs are received in the plurality of sixth barrel recesses. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of keg-retaining recesses are defined by a plurality of projections. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of projections includes a plurality of tricurve projections. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of projections includes a pair of side projections extending along side edges of the deck, wherein each of the side projections includes a plurality of concave sides each partially defining an exterior of one of the plurality of keg-retaining recesses. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of tricurve projections includes a pair of outer tricurve projections aligned along a lateral centerline of the pallet. 
     
     
         17 . The pallet of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of tricurve projections further include a plurality of irregular tricurve projections. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet of  claim 17  in combination with a plurality of quarter barrel kegs received in the plurality of quarter barrel recesses. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet and plurality of quarter barrel kegs of  claim 18  in further combination with an interlock panel stacked on the plurality of quarter barrel kegs, the interlock panel having a plurality of recesses defined in a lower surface thereof, upper ends of the plurality of quarter barrel kegs received in the plurality of recesses defined in the lower surface of the interlock panel. 
     
     
         20 . The pallet of  claim 17  wherein two of the plurality of quarter barrel recesses are partially defined at their exterior by concave sides of the outer tricurve projections and by inner concave sides of the plurality of irregular tricurve projections. 
     
     
         21 . The pallet of  claim 20  wherein one of the plurality of half barrel recesses is partially interiorly defined by convex sides of the outer tricurve projections. 
     
     
         22 . The pallet of  claim 21  wherein the one of the plurality of half barrel recesses is partially interiorly defined by convex sides of a pair of inner pentacurve projections. 
     
     
         23 . A nestable half pallet comprising:
 a deck having a plurality of keg-retaining recesses formed on an upper surface thereof, the plurality of keg-retaining recesses defined by a plurality of projections; and   a plurality of columns extending downward from the deck, wherein the deck includes a plurality of openings aligned with the plurality of columns and configured to receive a plurality of columns of an identical pallet therein.   
     
     
         24 . The nestable half pallet of  claim 23  wherein the plurality of keg-retaining recesses overlap one another and are configured to retain kegs of different sizes. 
     
     
         25 . The nestable half pallet of  claim 24  wherein the plurality of keg-retaining recesses are configured to receive chimes of the kegs of different sizes. 
     
     
         26 . An interlock panel having an upper surface having a plurality of keg-retaining recesses formed on an upper surface thereof, the plurality of keg-retaining recesses including a plurality of half barrel recesses, a plurality of quarter barrel recesses and a plurality of sixth barrel recesses. 
     
     
         27 . The interlock panel of  claim 26  having a lower surface having a plurality of keg-retaining recesses formed on an upper surface thereof, the plurality of keg-retaining recesses including a plurality of half barrel recesses, a plurality of quarter barrel recesses and a plurality of sixth barrel recesses. 
     
     
         28 . The interlock panel of  claim 26  further including a plurality of openings configured to receive columns of a pallet therethrough. 
     
     
         29 . The interlock panel of  claim 28  further including handle openings formed therethrough. 
     
     
         30 . The interlock panel of  claim 29  wherein the interlock panel has a width in a range of approximately 17″ to approximately 24″, inclusive, and a length in a range of approximately 36″ to approximately 50″, inclusive.