A method for packaging articles for transportation including: a) preparing at least one pallet, wherein the pallet includes a base plate; b) placing at least one article to be transported onto the base plate; c) providing a transport box that is open toward the base plate over the at least one article to be transported, wherein the transport box is placed on the base plate in such a manner that the transport box together with the base plate forms an interior of a transport packaging unit which receives the at least one article to be transported; d) a closure step, wherein the transport box comprises a closable opening on a side opposite the base plate, wherein the closable opening is closed in the closure step; and e) at least one fixing step including fixing the transport box on the base plate with at least one fastening element.

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.

A collapsible container which is made from at least five interconnected panels each of which is square with projections on each side which have passages through which hinge pins are passed to secure the panels together.

A packaging fastener includes a base member and a key member. The base member includes a first cylindrical part inserted through overlapped through holes of packaging materials. The key member includes a second cylindrical part inserted into the first cylindrical part of the base member. By inserting the first cylindrical part of the base member through the through holes and then inserting the second cylindrical part into the first cylindrical part, the packaging materials are coupled together. The key member has an engaging part. The base member has an engaged part. The engagement part has an elastically deformable supporting part and a lock claw. In a state where the lock claw is engaged with the engaged part, by elastically deforming the supporting part, the lock claw is displaced to a direction separate away from the engaged part to release an engagement of the lock claw with the engaged part.

A collapsible crate is disclosed having a base and a plurality of walls. The base includes a top surface and defines a cavity below the top surface. The plurality of walls are removably attachable to one another and are movable between a first configuration where the plurality of walls extend substantially vertically above the top surface of the base and a second configuration where the plurality of walls are within the cavity of the base.

A transport container for carrying objects includes a base for supporting the objects. Opposing first and second side walls are operatively connected to the base. At least one of the side walls is movable between an extended position and a contracted position. The transport container has a first width between the first and second side walls when at least one of the side walls is in the extended position and a second width between the side walls when at least one of the side walls is in the contracted position. The second width is different from the first width. The first and second side walls are also movable between a deployed position and a collapsed position. The transport container has a first height when the side walls are in the deployed position and a second height different than the first height when the side walls are in the collapsed position.

A pallet base structure including a center deck defining a support surface extending between opposed sides and having at least two lugs extending from each of the opposed sides. A pair of base side members are positioned along respective sides of the center deck. Each base side member has first and second spaced apart base legs and a support member extending between the base legs with at least two corresponding lug receiving slots defined in the support member. The respective lugs are received in the respective lug receiving slots such that the center deck support surface is aligned with an upper surface of each support member to define a planar pallet surface. A packaging system incorporating the pallet base structure is also described.

A foldable crate includes a base having a front end and a rear end and a pair of end gates, wherein an end gate is rotatably attached to each end of the base. Each end gate includes a cap attached adjacent to one end of each post of the end gate and a knob is attached adjacent to the opposing end of each post. A skid shoe is attached to the bottom of each corner of the base, wherein each skid shoe includes a socket for receiving the knob or cap of the corresponding end gate of an adjacent foldable crate when a plurality of foldable crates are stacked.

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.

A momentum arresting ramp that includes a plurality of steps that each includes a slider receiving surface and a transition surface. The steps may enable a device with wheels to be moved down the ramp by a user, without inconvenient gravity building momentum of the device down the ramp. For example, the steps may be spaced apart along a first axis such that a first slider of the device is never in contact with one of the transition surfaces when a second slider of the device is in contact with another one of the transition surfaces. The configuration of the steps and the sliders may enable the device (e.g., a device heavy enough to typically require two users to unload using a planar ramp) to be easily and conveniently unloaded by a single user.