Abstract: A pallet having: a pallet body having a first side and an opposing second side; at least one formed portion located on the first side of the pallet body and shaped to receive a rigid elongate first item thereon, the formed portion oriented substantially along a lengthwise axis of the pallet body. When the elongate first item is substantially retained on the formed portion of the pallet body such that when the elongate first item is secured thereon, a lengthwise rigidity of the pallet body is enhanced by the rigid elongate first item.

Abstract: A structural, load bearing panel is fabricated with twin-sheets of thermoformed polymer material to provide-substantially equal bending strength about each of substantially normal polar moment axes. Parallel rows of generally rectangular depressions in the top sheet surface are fused with a corresponding row pattern of depressions in the bottom sheet surface oriented substantially 90.degree. to the top sheet rows. End walls of top sheet depressions are fused with side walls of bottom sheet depressions. Conversely, end walls of bottom sheet depressions are fused with side walls of top sheet depressions. An orthogonal matrix of interconnected gas flow channels vent substantially all void spaces between the top and bottom sheets.

Abstract: A winding or storage reel for large, continuous lengths of flexible materials such as cable, rope or paper is collapsible into substantially flat components for recycling transport. The reel core is preferably twin sheet, vacuum formed of thermoplastic sheet material and comprises a plurality of laterally hinged stave elements in substantially circular alignment between a pair of end flanges. Threaded assembly rods compress the core stave elements between the end flanges. The adjacent lateral edges of the several stave elements are parallel to the core axis and are flexibly joined to hinge about an axis parallel to the lateral edge. One pair of laterally adjacent edges in the core circle are non-pivotally joined by respectively meshing fingers.

Abstract: To provide a spool wrapped length of conductor cable with an exposed cable end at the outer perimeter of a spool flange for the starting wrap of the cable, a cable end guide is secured to the inside face of a spool flange by means of staples or adhesives. The cable end guide provides a supplemental interior flange face having a cable supporting outer edge along a spiral path around the spool hub into substantially tangent alignment with the spool hub. The cable guide may be vacuum formed from thermoplastic sheet into two or more sectors, each sector being physically independent of the others and nestably stackable with corresponding sectors.

Abstract: A twin sheet, thermoformed beer keg pallet has a load platform reinforced by parallel ribs formed inwardly from the bottom sheet. Rib ridges are thermally fused to the platform top sheet. Stiffener pockets in the shape of truncated pyramids are formed from the top sheet between the rib ridges. Pocket bottoms are fused to the bottom sheet. Pocket sidewalls are thermally fused to adjacent rib side walls. The platform ribs have a progressively greater depth between the platform top sheet and bottom sheet along the rib length from the pallet center plane outwardly in opposite directions. When loaded and lifted by a fork truck, the platform flexes about an axis in the center plane to tilt the tops of the kegs on the pallet inwardly to the center.

Abstract: A pallet system for use in the warehousing or transporting of a load comprised, for example, of strand material packages such as yarn bobbins, cones and pirns utilizes first and second sections, each including a platform portion having an upwardly-facing surface upon which a load can be positioned and a cap for covering the load positioned upon the first and second sections. An upwardly-directed lip is joined to the platform portion so as to extend along at least one side of the perimeter of the upwardly-facing surface and includes a vertically-oriented wall having an outside surface which faces away from one side of the corresponding section. A plurality of protuberances extend outwardly from the outside surface of the lip wall and a plurality of openings are disposed along the length of the lip wall.

Abstract: A shipping crate suitable for containing loose materials and for vacuum molded fabrication from thermo-formable polymer materials is constructed with denticulated end walls for alternative column stacking or nesting. Spades and receptacles in side and end walls, respectively, are spaced for meshing and interlocking laterally adjacent containers in parallel columns. End wall denticulations provide column stacking support surfaces above the crate contents when alternate end stacked and nest stacking when ends with the same dentil sequence are vertically aligned.