The present invention is to provide a plastic pallet with reinforcements with a great resistance to bending caused by the placing of mechanisms used for transport and storage thereof, such as those caused by racking load. Likewise, the present invention is to disclose a plastic pallet with reinforcements such as inserts, which support a larger load compared with the conventional pallets without substantially incrementing the total weight.

The present invention provides a block protector assembly including a protector contoured to conform to a block of pallet where the pallet includes a plurality of blocks, and an attachment mechanism coupled to the protector, where the attachment mechanism is configured to secure the protector to the block of the pallet, where the protector includes a rigid material. The present invention also provides a method including determining a contour of a block of a pallet, fabricating a protector to follow the contour of the block, and securing the protector to the block. In addition, the present invention provides a protector configured to prevent damage to a block of a pallet, where the protector includes a first side contoured to a first side of the block, a second side contoured to a second side of the block, and a third side contoured to a third side of the block.

A pallet includes a deck having an opening therethrough, such that product can be removed through the opening from a box loaded on the deck of a pallet. A plurality of columns support the deck. The box may be supported on the deck over the opening. The bottom wall of the box may be opened though the opening in the deck. The items can then be removed from the box through the opening through the deck without removing the box from the pallet. Optionally, fasteners may secure flaps of the box in corners of the deck of a pallet. According to another feature, a brace having an elongated body portion can be secured to an opening of the pallet, such that the elongated body portion abuts goods that are supported on the deck.

Shipping system for temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the shipping system may include a frame defining an enclosure. The frame may include a bottom, a top, a front, a rear, a left side, a right side, a left corner gusset, and a right corner gusset. The front may serve as a door. Thermal breaks may be provided in one or more of the bottom, the front, the left corner gusset, and the right corner gusset. Vacuum insulated panels may be positioned along all sides of the frame. Many of the vacuum insulated panels may be encapsulated between the frame and an outer shell. A plurality of phase-change material assemblies may be positioned within the frame along all sides. Heat-spreaders may be positioned interior to the phase-change material assemblies. The shipping system may be dimensioned so that four such shipping systems may be seated on a prorate manual cargo sheet.

A foldably constructed pallet includes a top member forming a top surface of the foldably constructed pallet and a bottom member forming a bottom surface of the foldably constructed pallet. The bottom member includes, extending from the bottom surface, a plurality of outer sidewalls, and a plurality of internal sidewalls. An outer sidewall of the plurality of outer sidewalls and an internal sidewall of the plurality of internal sidewalls cooperate to define a cradle configured to hold a structural insert such that folded panels of the structural insert may be engaged with each of the outer sidewall and the internal sidewall. The top member may be connected to the bottom member and covering the cradle.

A container system for shipping product in bulk, having a corrugated container sleeve and a pallet for supporting the sleeve thereon, the pallet having a channel configured to receive therein a bottom edge of the sleeve, and the pallet with said sleeve defining an internal section of the container system in which the bulk product is contained.

A system and method for transporting and storing post-harvest fruits, vegetables and other perishable commodities under controlled atmospheric conditions is provided. One or more transportable vacuum containers are packed with the perishable commodity. Thereafter, the controlled atmospheric condition is created within the container. The atmospheric condition is maintained while the container is transported from one location to another. Part of the controlled atmospheric condition includes the formation of a vacuum within the container. Internal structure is provided within the container to resist collapse of the container when the vacuum is formed therein. A plurality of containers can be provided. A central control, coupled to each of the containers can be provided to maintain the desired atmospheric condition within each of the containers.

A pallet assembly includes an upper deck having a first plurality of ribs and a second plurality of ribs. The first plurality of ribs each include a first opening therethrough that opens downward. The second plurality of ribs each include a second opening therethrough that opens upward. The first openings and the second openings aligned to define a channel. A reinforcement member is disposed in the channel A plurality of columns extend from the deck.

Composite pallets and methods for making and using composite pallets are disclosed. An example composite pallet may include a base layer. The base layer may include a first base board, a second base board, and a cross-member extending between the first base board and the second base board. The cross-member may include a first end region designed to be detachably coupled to the first base board, a second end region designed to be detachably coupled to the second base board, and at least one curved section positioned between the first end region and the second end region. The cross-member may include a polymer. An intermediate layer may be coupled to the base layer. The intermediate layer may include a plurality of intermediate boards. A top layer may be coupled to the intermediate layer. The top layer may include a plurality of top boards.

The present invention provides a movable load bearing structure with a surface that includes antimicrobial agents capable of eliminating, preventing, retarding or minimizing the growth of microbes and also minimizing cross-contamination when the load bearing structure is being reused for cargoes that differ from a previously transported cargo, for example, different food types, such as poultry, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit. The load bearing structure may be a dunnage platform or a container for storing and/or shipping cargo.