Method and apparatus for staging and shipping pre-cut parts

Abstract

A pallet assembly and method of use for carrying a building kit. The pallet assembly includes a base, an A-frame operably engaged with the base, a first upright support of the A-frame operably engaged with the base at a first position defined at a first angle measured relative to the base, and a second upright support of the A-frame operably engaged with the base at a second position opposite to the first position and defined at a second angle measured relative to the base. The pallet assembly may also include a pair of cleats operably engaged with the base and spaced apart from the A-frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet assembly, comprising:
 a base;   a first upright support of a support frame operably engaged with the base at a first position, wherein the first upright support is adapted to support a first set of pre-cut materials for a building at a first position; and   a second upright support of the support frame operably engaged with the base at a second position opposite to the first position, wherein the second upright support is adapted to support a second set of pre-cut material for the building at a second position;   wherein the support frame defines an asymmetrical A-shaped configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first length defined between a first end of the first upright support and a second end of the first upright support that is opposite to the first end of the first upright support; and   a second length defined between a first end of the second upright support and a second end of the second upright support that is opposite to the first end of the second upright support;   wherein the first length is greater than the second length.   
     
     
         3 . The pallet assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each pre-cut material of the first set of pre-cut materials defines a length that is equal to or greater than the first length of the first upright support. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each pre-cut material of the first set of pre-cut materials defines a length that is equal to or less than the second length of the second upright support. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first upright support and the second upright support lies along at least one plane for supporting one of the first set of pre-cut materials and the second set of pre-cut materials;
 wherein the at least one plane is non-parallel to the base.   
     
     
         6 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first plane defined along the first upright support; and   a second plane defined along the second upright support;   wherein the first plane and the second plane are each non-parallel to the base.   
     
     
         7 . The pallet assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first plane and the second plane intersect with one another. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a storage compartment collectively defined by the base, the first upright support, and the second upright support;   wherein the storage compartment is adapted to support a set of fasteners of the building.   
     
     
         9 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first angle measured between the first upright support and the base; and   a second angle measured between the second upright support and the base;   wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.   
     
     
         10 . The pallet assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first angle measured between the first upright support and the base is approximately 70 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second angle measured between the second upright support and the base is approximately 85 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of cleats operably engaged with the base and spaced apart from the support frame.   
     
     
         13 . The pallet assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a first cleat of the pair of cleats and the first upright support are adapted to support the first set of pre-cut material; and
 wherein a second cleat of the pair of cleats and the second upright support are adapted to support the second set of pre-cut material.   
     
     
         14 . The pallet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a total height measured between the pallet assembly and the first set of pre-cut materials is less than or equal to eight feet. 
     
     
         15 . A method of packaging at least one set of pre-cut materials on a pallet assembly, comprising:
 engaging a base of the pallet assembly with an A-frame of the pallet assembly;   loading a first set of pre-cut materials of the building kit the A-frame and onto the base;   loading a second set of pre-cut materials of the building kit onto the A-frame and onto the base of the pallet assembly;   supporting the first set of pre-cut materials at a first upright position by the A-frame; and   supporting the second set of pre-cut materials at a second upright position by the A-frame.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the steps of supporting the first set of pre-cut materials and the second set of pre-cut materials further comprises:
 supporting the first set of pre-cut materials, by a first upright support of the A-frame, at a first angle measured between the first upright support and the base; and 
 supporting the second set of pre-cut materials, by a second upright support of the A-frame, at a second angle measured between the first upright support and the base; 
 wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first angle measured between the first upright support and the base is approximately 70 degrees; and
 wherein the second angle measured between the second upright support and the base is approximately 85 degrees.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 defining a first length of a first upright support of the A-frame measured between a first end of the first upright support and a second end of the first upright support that is opposite to the first end of the first upright support; and   defining a second length of a second upright support of the A-frame measured between a first end of the second upright support and a second end of the second upright support that is opposite to the first end of the second upright support;   wherein the first length is greater than the second length.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 supporting the first set of pre-cut materials, by the first upright support, that defines a length that is greater than or equal to the first length of the first upright support.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 supporting the second set of pre-cut materials, by the second upright support, that defines a length that is less than or equal to the second length of the second upright support.