Horizontal keg pallet

Abstract

A pallet assembly includes a pallet and an interlock panel. The pallet includes a deck and a plurality of feet extending downward from the deck. The interlock panel is receivable on the deck and has a plurality of concave surfaces formed thereon, each configured to receive a horizontally-oriented keg thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet assembly comprising:
 a pallet including a deck and a plurality of feet extending downward from the deck; and   an interlock panel on the deck having a plurality of concave surfaces formed thereon, each configured to receive a horizontally-oriented keg thereon.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the interlock panel includes a pair of side portions each having a plurality of supports, each of the plurality of supports including at least one of the plurality of concave surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet assembly of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of supports includes a center support, wherein the center support includes a first area between two second areas, wherein the first area is a concave first surface defined by a first radius from a first axis, wherein the second areas are concave second surfaces defined by a second radius from a second axis parallel to the first axis, wherein the second radius is larger than the first radius. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet assembly of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of supports further includes a pair of outer supports, wherein each of the pair of outer supports includes a third area adjacent a fourth area, wherein each third area is a concave third surface defined by a third radius from a third axis, wherein the third radius is equal to the first radius, wherein each fourth area is a concave fourth surface defined by a fourth radius from a fourth axis parallel to the third axis, wherein the fourth radius is equal to the second radius. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet assembly of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of supports includes a pair of intermediate supports each having a fifth area, wherein each fifth area is a concave surface defined by a fifth radius extending from a fifth axis parallel to the fourth axis. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet assembly of  claim 5  wherein the fifth radius is equal to the first radius. 
     
     
         7 . The pallet assembly of  claim 4  wherein the pallet is a half pallet. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet assembly of  claim 4  wherein the deck has a width between 18-24″ (inclusive) and a length between 36-48″ (inclusive). 
     
     
         9 . The pallet assembly of  claim 4  wherein the pallet is molded as a single piece of plastic and wherein the interlock panel is molded as a single piece of plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet assembly of  claim 2  wherein the side portions are spaced apart from one another to define openings therebetween. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1  wherein the deck includes handle openings formed therethrough and wherein the interlock panel includes handle access openings aligned with the handle openings. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1  in combination with a plurality of kegs, each received horizontally in one of the plurality of concave surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the interlock panel is a lower interlock panel, the combination further including an upper interlock panel on the plurality of kegs, the upper interlock panel including a lower surface having a plurality of concave surfaces thereon, wherein the plurality of kegs are received in the plurality of concave surfaces on the lower surface of the upper interlock panel. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of kegs is a first plurality of kegs, the upper interlock panel further includes an upper surface having a plurality of concave surfaces each receiving one of a second plurality of kegs, wherein the second plurality of kegs are horizontally oriented in the plurality of concave surfaces on the upper surface of the upper interlock panel. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet assembly of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of supports includes a pair of outer supports, wherein each of the pair of outer supports includes a third area adjacent a fourth area, wherein each third area is a concave third surface defined by a third radius from a third axis, wherein each fourth area is a concave fourth surface defined by a fourth radius from a fourth axis parallel to the third axis. 
     
     
         16 . An interlock panel comprising:
 a rectangular body portion including an upper surface having a plurality of concave surfaces each configured to receive a horizontally-oriented keg thereon.   
     
     
         17 . The interlock panel of  claim 16  wherein a lower surface of the rectangular body portion is configured to be received on a deck of a pallet. 
     
     
         18 . The interlock panel of  claim 16  wherein a lower surface of the rectangular body portion includes a plurality of concave surfaces each configured to receive an upper portion of a horizontally-oriented keg. 
     
     
         19 . The interlock panel of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of concave surfaces include a first concave surface defined by a first radius and a second concave surface defined by a second radius, wherein the second radius is larger than the first radius. 
     
     
         20 . The interlock panel of  claim 19  further including a pair of side portions each having a plurality of supports, each of the plurality of supports including at least one of the plurality of concave surfaces, the plurality of supports including a center support, wherein the center support includes a first area between two second areas, wherein the first area is a concave first surface defined by the first radius from a first axis, wherein the second areas are concave second surfaces defined by the second radius from a second axis parallel to the first axis, the plurality of supports further including a pair of outer supports, wherein each of the pair of outer supports includes a third area adjacent a fourth area, wherein each third area is a concave third surface defined by a third radius from a third axis, wherein the third radius is equal to the first radius, wherein each fourth area is a concave fourth surface defined by a fourth radius from a fourth axis parallel to the third axis, wherein the fourth radius is equal to the second radius.