A pallet includes a top deck that includes grommet openings extending therethrough, with each grommet opening including a recessed shelf. Pallet support legs are coupled to an underside of the top deck. Grommets are inserted into the grommet openings. Each grommet includes an upper section that includes an upper lip resting on the recessed shelf, and an outer exposed surface of the upper section extends in height above the top deck. At least one mid-section is adjacent the upper lip and extends from the upper section to an underside of the top deck. At least one lower section extends from the at least one mid-section, and includes a pair of spaced apart lower lips resting on the underside of the top deck. An outer exposed surface of the at least one lower section extends in height below the underside of the top deck.

A pallet includes a top deck having a product support surface and an opposing underside. The product support surface has grommet openings extending therethrough, with each grommet opening including a recessed shelf. Grommets are inserted into the grommet openings. Each grommet includes an upper section comprising an upper lip resting on the recessed shelf, and an outer exposed surface of the upper section extends in height above the top deck. Pallet support legs are coupled to the underside of the top deck and are aligned with the grommets. Each pallet support leg includes a base extending across a width of the top deck. An underside of the base is configured to engage the upper sections of the grommets of an identical pallet when stacked thereon.

The present invention provides a thinner, movable load bearing structure having indentations, grooves, valleys, channels or other similar depressions on its underside. These depressions are mated with corresponding features for improved loading bearing capabilities. The load bearing structures also includes roughened side edges for improving the strength of the edges. The load bearing structure may be a dunnage platform or a container for storing and/or shipping cargo.

A pallet (100) comprises a platform section (101) and foot sections (103-107) protruding downwards from the platform section. The pallet comprises at least one elongated support element (108) between opposite edge areas of the pallet and going via a lower portion of a foot section (107) that is between and distances away from the opposite edge areas of the pallet. The elongated support element is connected to the opposite edge areas of the pallet with connections (109, 110) for receiving tensile stress acting on the elongated support element. The tensile stress of the elongated support element is increased in response to downwards arching bending of the platform section. Thus, the elongated support element tends to prevent the bending of the platform section.

A pallet comprising a cover element (12) having a load bearing surface and a bottom surface being opposite the load bearing surface (11), and foot elements (10), each having a foot surface (15) being parallel with the bottom surface, and side walls (17) connecting the foot surface (15) and the bottom surface, the foot elements (10) being connected to the bottom surface (13), wherein the side walls (17) facing to each other of adjacent foot elements (10) being parallel with each other. The pallet further comprising a central stiffening element being supported against the side walls (17) facing to each other of adjacent foot elements (10) and being abutted against the bottom surface of the cover element (12), and the cover element (12) and the foot elements (10) being made from foldable sheet material.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a base having at least three mounting points on an upper surface thereof, an elastic block above each of the mounting points, and an elastic panel coupled to, and extending along, the upper surface of the base in a region between the mounting points. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a base having at least three mounting points on an upper surface thereof, an elastic block above each of the mounting points, and at least two elastic pads positioned in recesses in the upper surface of the base. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a base having at least three mounting points on an upper surface thereof, and an elastic panel coupled to, and extending along, the upper surface of the base in a region between the mounting points. The apparatus further includes at least two elastic pads.

An assembly of stacked mattresses and a method for preparing such an assembly are provided. The assembly of stacked mattresses comprises a first pallet, a second pallet, a plurality of mattresses positioned between the first pallet and the second pallet and straps coupling the first pallet to the second pallet, the plurality of mattresses being in a compressed state between the first pallet and the second pallet and the straps restraining expansion of the plurality of mattresses. The second pallet is comprised of a supporting member and a plurality of elongated reinforcing members extending across the supporting member, at least some of the reinforcing members including respective strap guiding members extending longitudinally along the elongated reinforcing member. At least some of the straps engage respective ones of the strap guiding members of the plurality of elongated reinforcing member of the second pallet so that displacement of the straps is constrained by the strap guiding members. In accordance with another aspect, a pallet for using in shipping bedding products is provided.

A convertible pallet assembly, and associated method of making the convertible pallet, includes a first, planar pallet surface, and a second, planar support surface spaced therefrom. First and second sidewalls extend in parallel relation between the pallet surface and the support surface from adjacent opposite sides thereof. The sidewalls include first and second wheels with respective rotational axes that extend perpendicular to the sidewalls. An actuation mechanism is associated with each sidewall. The actuation mechanism has (i) a first position that allows the first and second wheels on one side to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the sidewall in a non-load carrying condition, and (ii) a second position such that the first and second wheels on the one side project outwardly from the support surface in a load carrying condition whereby the assembly can be rolled on the wheels as a cart.

An assembly of stacked mattresses and a method for preparing such an assembly are provided. The assembly of stacked mattresses comprises a first pallet, a second pallet, a plurality of mattresses positioned between the first pallet and the second pallet and straps coupling the first pallet to the second pallet, the plurality of mattresses being in a compressed state between the first pallet and the second pallet and the straps restraining expansion of the plurality of mattresses. The second pallet is comprised of a supporting member and a plurality of elongated reinforcing members extending across the supporting member, at least some of the reinforcing members including respective strap guiding members extending longitudinally along the elongated reinforcing member. At least some of the straps engage respective ones of the strap guiding members of the plurality of elongated reinforcing member of the second pallet so that displacement of the straps is constrained by the strap guiding members. In accordance with another aspect, a pallet for using in shipping bedding products is provided.

A modular pallet formed from a plurality of frame members and a plurality of deck members. The deck members extend between the frame members to define an upper deck surface and optionally a lower deck surface of the pallet. A plurality of spaced-apart channels are formed in at least an upper surface of the frame members to receive the deck members. In some embodiments the pallet may be configured as a stringer pallet and in other embodiments the pallet may be configured as a block pallet. In some embodiments the frame members are unitary stringers. In other embodiments the frame members are modular structures each comprising a block pallet subassembly and a deck support panel. The number, size, orientation and spacing of the channels formed in the frame members and the corresponding arrangement of the deck members may vary in different embodiments of the pallet. Once assembled, the frame members and deck members may be integrally connected, such as by heat welding. In some embodiments the pallet is formed from readily recyclable plastic.