A shipping tray for a bench system and method of use are provided. The shipping tray may include a front support, rear support, first side support, and second side support. The shipping tray may further include a first front holder, a second front holder, a third front holder, a first rear holder, a second rear holder, and a third rear holder, all configured to receive one of a plurality of legs of a bench. The shipping tray may further include a central brace, a first X-brace, and a second X-brace. There may be a network of ribbing on the underside of the shipping tray. The shipping tray may be used for stacking a bench, or multiple benches, onto the shipping tray. The shipping tray may also be stacked on top of another shipping tray.

This invention presents a digitalizable, returnable packaging structure for a range of modular items, such as photovoltaic modules, combining environmental sustainability with advanced technology. Central to this design is a pallet featuring equidistantly spaced and concavely shaped support legs with reinforcement grooves for stability. These legs also have electronic labels (RFID, barcode, QR code) for efficient tracking. Stacked on top of the pallet is a packaging box, or multiple boxes, secured by a cover plate with placement slots and banding notches, along with binding straps for added stability. The pallet body includes side strips for module placement and features like side slots and circular grooves to optimize weight and integrity. This design ensures secure packaging and efficient transport, reducing recognition errors. Using plastic materials provides cost savings and environmental benefits, significantly enhancing photovoltaic module packaging.

A nestable pallet (100, 200, 300, 400) has a deck (102) for supporting a load and a set of hollow tapered legs (106), the legs having an upper opening and an inwardly-tapered internal surface (108) for receiving part of a corresponding leg of another pallet when a plurality of similar pallets are stacked. Some of the hollow legs have a peripheral support configuration that includes a lower-leg extension (110), projecting horizontally from an inwardly-tapered portion of the leg towards an edge (112) of the pallet and an upper-leg opening (114) for receiving the lower-leg extension of another pallet when a plurality of similar pallets are stacked.

The invention relates to a system comprising at least one lightweight pallet and multiple similarly designed containers. Each container has four side walls and container base. The system includes stacking pins as separate components. The pallet features an upper deck with a bearing surface, supported by feet and/or runners, and incorporates first stacking pin receivers. Each container base is provided with at least one second stacking pin receiver. These receivers are dimensioned for insertion of a stacking pin, allowing a container to be securely fixed to the pallet. The stacking pin can be stably arranged in two positions: in the first, it engages the first receiver on the container's side while protruding over the bearing surface to engage the second receiver; in the second, it is countersunk in the first receiver, forming a clamping fit with the upper deck or its thread.

A pallet assembly includes a top deck having a load bearing surface and a first interlock pattern disposed on at least a portion of the top deck. At least one vertical support is connected to the top deck and extends perpendicularly from a central axis below the top deck and includes stabilizing feet which extend longitudinally along a width direction of the top deck. A second interlock pattern is disposed on all or a portion of the at least one vertical support or the stabilizing feet. One of the first interlock pattern and the second interlock pattern includes one or more protrusions, while the other of the first interlock pattern and the second interlock pattern includes apertures or channels for receiving the one or more protrusions.

A nestable polymer pallet is provided with a peripheral structure and an inner deck. The peripheral structure includes an outer deck and hollow legs for nesting engagement with the legs of a similar pallet. The inner deck is surrounded by the outer deck and has a fire-venting structure with a contiguous area of at least 80 square centimeters that is at least 80 percent open area for vertical airflow. When nested in a stack with other similar pallets, the fire-venting structures align to form a chimney structure allowing vertical airflow through the stack of pallets. In some embodiments, at least two thirds of an area of downward-facing surfaces of the pallet presents at least a surface layer of fire resistant material. In other embodiments, the fire-venting structure extends along an edge of the inner deck adjacent to the outer deck.

This invention presents a digitalizable, returnable packaging structure for a range of modular items, such as photovoltaic modules, combining environmental sustainability with advanced technology. Central to this design is a pallet featuring equidistantly spaced and concavely shaped support legs with reinforcement grooves for stability. These legs also have electronic labels (RFID, barcode, QR code) for efficient tracking. Stacked on top of the pallet is a packaging box, or multiple boxes, secured by a cover plate with placement slots and banding notches, along with binding straps for added stability. The pallet body includes side strips for module placement and features like side slots and circular grooves to optimize weight and integrity. This design ensures secure packaging and efficient transport, reducing recognition errors. Using plastic materials provides cost savings and environmental benefits, significantly enhancing photovoltaic module packaging.