WO1999059884A1

WO1999059884A1 - Improved shipping tray

Info

Publication number: WO1999059884A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/010844
Authority: WO
Inventors: Phillip C. Hwang; William P. Apps; Norman C. Strohfus; Robert W. Grace; David J. Glancy
Original assignee: Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.
Priority date: 1998-05-20
Filing date: 1999-05-20
Publication date: 1999-11-25
Also published as: AU4081999A

Abstract

The disclosure provides a novel mini-pallet (100) to create and organize product stacks. In a preferred configuration, the mini-pallet (100) is a nestable lightweight shipping tray which provides a convenient structure for handling packaged units, in particular packages of beverage containers. The pallet (100) can support loads at an elevation above a supporting surface through the use of a deck supported by two side legs (114) and a central support (120). The legs (114) are located to facilitate a user in positioning a carrier under the deck for transportation. The central support (120), in a preferred embodiment, compatibly fits with a designated opening in the lifting portion of the carrier. When not loaded, the mini-pallet is capable of 'nesting' within another mini-pallet for convenient storage.

Description

IMPROVED SHIPPING TRAY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This application claims the benefit of provisional applications 60/086,135 filed May

20, 1998 and 60/094,439 filed July 28, 1998 under 35 U.S.C. 1 19(e).

The present invention relates to an apparatus to facilitate the distribution of beverages, and particularly beverages with a limited shelf life or rapid sales turnover subject

to frequent restocking, such as soft drinks. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved shipping tray, which when utilized in its preferred embodiment, provides a

nestable, lightweight shipping pallet of a moldable material.

Description of Related Art

One current method of beverage distribution essentially considers the beverage truck

driver a salesman. The driver's truck is loaded with a selection of beverages, and the driver

calls on accounts on a route. At each account, the driver determines what beverages are

required or desired by the account, then the driver locates the beverages in his truck, unloads the beverages and delivers them to the account. This process would be relatively easy if only a single beverage were involved. For instance, if the driver only distributed a single brand

of cola, his truck would be completely loaded with that one beverage, and it could be easily unloaded at each account, and accounts could be serviced until the truck was completely

empty.

However, today beverage brands are proliferating. In addition, a single brand of

beverage may come in a variety of package styles and sizes, such as cans, glass bottles, and a range of plastic containers. When a beverage truck is loaded, as many as 350 different

stock keeping units (SKU's) or brand/container combinations may be loaded. In order to

facilitate access to so many different SKU's, the most common beverage route truck is a side

load truck, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,043,569 or variations thereof, with about 12 to 20 separate compartments. In this fashion, usually no more than about ten different

SKU's would have to be placed in a single compartment, although in some instances over 30

SKU's may be present. After determining an account's needed beverages, the driver goes to

each separate compartment required to access those beverages. In some cases it will be necessary for the driver to unload a portion of a compartment to access the needed SKU. Furthermore, when a single SKU is exhausted from the truck's supply, the driver may no

longer be able to properly service the remaining accounts on the route, even though the truck

continues to have an adequate supply of other beverages. This leads to trucks returning to the distribution center partially loaded, and places a valuable premium upon correctly

guessing the needs of the accounts on each route. Even when side load trucks are loaded to

exact route requirements from account order information, the process of having the driver

select SKU's from side load truck compartments is time consuming and back breaking work.

Accordingly, as part of a new beverage delivery system to improve delivery service

it is desirable to utilize an improved shipping tray. Utilizing the improved shipping tray, a truck may be loaded to specifically meet the orders of each account on a route and to

minimize the time needed to select and unload the beverages ordered by each individual

account. Individual trays may be loaded with packages, or individual, beverage containers of various sizes and quantities including, for example cases, 6-packs or 2-liter bottles. The packaged units may be stacked in bays in truck trailers or in special carts loaded on a truck

and then driven to a delivery point. Packaged units may be loaded in columns onto shipping trays in the desired types and quantity to satisfy an order by a particular retail location. Once at the retail location, the driver can unload the stacked shipping trays with a compatible hand

truck or other manual carrier. When unloaded at the retail location, the shipping tray may

be used as the base for floor displays of the beverage products. This prevents damage to the

products from the cleaning and floor waxing operations in the retail location.

The shipping tray provides an accessible area, below the stacked units, to receive the lifting portion, or tongue, of a hand truck. Therefore, the hand truck can readily be

positioned under the shipping tray with the stacked packaged units. The packaged units may

then be simply rocked into position onto the hand truck, transported to the display location

and unloaded in a similar fashion. This system avoids, or reduces, manual lifting and re-

stacking by the driver. Since the shipping tray is designed to accommodate case sized layers of SKU's, the SKU's can be pre-arranged in a column-stack on the shipping tray.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved shipping trays to facilitate both the loading and unloading of trucks with beverages sorted by account order.

Another object of the invention is to provide a durable, lightweight shipping tray for

handling and transporting packages or packaged units such as beverage containers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a low profile, nestable shipping

tray which occupies relatively little space both when in a loaded stacked relation and when

in an empty nested relation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, reusable shipping tray that can be efficiently and economically manufactured.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight shipping tray of unitary construction.

A further additional object of the present invention of the present invention is to

provide an integrally molded plastic shipping tray that has sufficient structural integrity to

withstand repeated and rough handling.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight shipping tray with a reinforced central support member formed from a moldable material.

Another object of the present invention provides an injection molded, durable

shipping tray, preferably, a one-piece injection molded, durable shipping tray.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a recyclable, lightweight

shipping tray.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a novel pallet for use with a

matching hand truck to facilitate the loading and unloading of beverage trucks with

beverages sorted by account order.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes and addresses these foregoing and other objects. The durable shipping tray of the present invention provides a convenient means for handling

packaged units, in particular, packages of beverage containers. The lightweight shipping

tray, or mini-pallet, can support stacked packages of beverage containers at an elevation

above the floor. The primary surface or deck of the mini-pallet is substantially open, generally planar and is supported at this elevation by at least two side legs positioned proximate with the sides of the deck and a leg positioned about the center of the deck. The legs are arranged so that a portion of a carrier, such as a hand-truck, can readily be positioned

sufficiently with a portion of the carrier underneath the deck to provide stable support during

lifting and transporting operations. The center leg is shaped and sized to compatibly fit

within a designated opening in the lifting portion of the carrier.

In the preferred embodiment, the center leg presents a continuous surface such that

the carrier can be laterally moved unhindered about the leg while being positioned.

Furthermore, the center legs is configured to interact with the carrier to guide and maintain

the mini-pallet in a proper position on the carrier. Also in the preferred embodiment, the

deck has a lattice-like configuration with a pattern of open spaces which not only allows liquids to drain through, but also requires less material and is lighter than a solid deck.

The preferred embodiment has at least two side legs configured in the shape of rails

extending a substantial width of the deck to not only provide a broad support area for the deck, but also a large surface area along the underside of the legs to enhance the wearability

of the legs. A further feature of the preferred embodiment is nesting pockets for receiving the legs of an identical tray stacked thereon such that mini -pallets can be nested together.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the

following description or accompanying drawings, or may be learned through the practice of

the invention. The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the

description serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 A is a perspective view of a mini-pallet in accordance with the present invention depicted with a hand truck;

Figure IB is a top perspective view of a mini-pallet of Figure 1 A with packages

positioned thereon shown in phantom;

Figure 1C is a bottom perspective view of the mini -pallet of Figure 1A;

Figure 2 A is a top plan view of the mini-pallet of Figure 1 A;

Figure 2B is a bottom plan view of the mini-pallet of Figure 1A, with tongue of a hand truck shown in phantom;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the mini-pallet of Figure 1A;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the mini-pallet of Figure 1 A;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2A;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 2 A;

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 2B; Figure 8 is a front elevational view showing a plurality of mini -pallets in a stacked,

nested disposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the

invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. It is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as

come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

The present invention is concerned with an improved shipping tray or '"mini-pallet."

This invention can be adapted to hold numerous types of items and is especially adaptable for depicted packaged units, for instance, packaged units of beverage containers. A preferred

embodiment of the mini-pallet 100 in accordance with the present invention, is in Figures

1 through 8. The mini-pallet 100 is capable of supporting individual stacks or column stacks,

of various units of packaged beverage containers. The deck 102 of lightweight mini-pallet

100 can support stacked packaged units of beverage containers at an elevation above the

floor.

Although the mini-pallet 100 may be formed from several connected parts, the mini-

pallet 100 is preferably an integrally-molded, unitary article. The mini-pallet 100 may be

injection molded in one-piece from moldable materials such as plastics. Moldable materials

may include recyclable materials such as thermoplastics and may include at least in part

recycled materials. Preferably, the mini-pallet 100 is formed entirely from polyolefin

polymers including polyethylene and/or polypropylene free of fillers or other reinforcing

materials.

Accordingly, Figures IB and 2A show the mini-pallet 100 comprising a deck 102

which, in a preferred embodiment, is a rectangular upper open work planar surface. In the

presently preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the deck 102 are approximately 1 1 " x 17"

in size. This size has been determined adequate to accommodate a case of twelve ounce

beverages and other equivalent SKU package sizes. The perimeter of the deck 102 may include a double-wall edge 128 shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6. that not only strengthens

the deck 102, with respect to loads normal to the deck surface, but also provides a durable

edge against impacts which may occur during handling. The double-wall edge 128 extending

along the front and back 104. 105 of the deck 102 are upwardly opening, and U-shaped.

These U-shaped edges have a rounded on beveled lower exterior 108. On the sides 110a,

110b of the deck 102, the double-wall edge 128 has a downwardly opening U-shaped

transverse cross-sectional shape 112 to prevent trapping materials within this double-wall

edge 128, as shown in Figure 5.

In Figures IB and 2B spaced along the double-wall edge 128 are a series of stiffening

ribs 150 extending between the inner and outer walls of the double-wall edge 128. In

addition, there are a series of drain holes 152 extending through the double-wall edge 128

in a direction perpendicular to the deck 102 to allow any liquids that may accumulate on the

surface or within the edge to drain. These stiffening ribs 150 and drain holes 152 are

longitudinally spaced along the double-wall edge 128 in an alternating fashion.

As best shown in Figures IB and 1C, the balance of the deck 102, in a preferred

embodiment, is composed of a system 154 of interconnecting, spaced-apart support members

156 which form a grid-like pattern, within the plane of the deck 102, connecting the central

support 120, which is preferably a cylindrical leg, and rails 114a, 114b with the double- wall

edge 128. The support members 156 have a T-shaped transverse cross-sectional shape, as

shown in Figure 5. For the maximum strength/weight performance, the support members

156 will be comprised of a horizontal portion 157a above a vertical portion 157b as

illustrated in Figure 6. The horizontal portion 157a forms the deck 102 while the vertical portion 157b provides strength and rigidity to support the deck. The upper surface of the

deck 102 is composed of two series of intersecting spaced-apart parallel support members

156 extending diagonally within the double-wall edge 128 that intersect at an angle dictated

by the overall dimension of the deck 102. In a preferred embodiment, the deck comprises

an additional support members 158a. 158b extending radially outward from the central

support 120 intersecting with interposing diagonally arranged support members 156 and

terminating perpendicularly along the center of the front and back double-walled edge 104,

105, respectively. The deck 102 preferably contains many openings not only to reduce the

amount of material used in manufacture, but also to permit easy drainage for any inadvertent

beverage leakage.

Proximate with the sides 110a, 110b of the deck 102, there are a pair of downwardly

projecting rails 114a, 114b which act as support rails or legs. The downwardly projecting

rails 114a, 114b extend a substantial width of the deck 102 in a direction parallel with the

lateral sides. Preferably, each rail 114a, 114b has a corresponding rail pocket 116a, 116b

opening upwardly through the upper surface of the deck.

Positioned about the center of the deck 102, projecting in the same direction and

approximately the same distance below the bottom surface of the deck 102 as the rails 114a,

114b, is a central support 120. In the preferred embodiment, the central support 120 is

cylindrical having an outside diameter compatible with a cutout portion 21 of a tongue 20

in a compatible hand-truck 10 used as a carrier for the mini-pallet 100, as shown in Figures

1 A and 2B. The preferred shape of the central support 120 is that of a cylinder, but it should

be obvious to one skilled in the art that the central support 120 could be rectangular, polygonal arcuate other than circular or any other shape desired. In fact, the outer edge of

the central support 120 need not have a continuous outer perimeter at all but could be

comprised of multiple elements.

The circular shape allows for easy positioning of the tongue 20 of the carrier 10 about

the central support 120. A multi-sided polygon could easily provide the same function,

however, angular supports appear to wear more rapidly. In an alternatively preferred

embodiment, an even-numbered polygonal shaped central support 120 provides a similar

aspect towards the front as well as to the back of the mini-pallet 100. This allows a single

carrier to be utilized to pick up a loaded mini-pallet 100 from the front or from the back. The

diameter of the central support 120 in the preferred embodiment is approximately 3 inches.

The lower surface of the rails 114a, 114b and the central support 120 form a plane upon

which the mini-pallet 100 contacts the supporting surface (such as the floor or a base of a

mobile container). In the preferred embodiment, when the plane of the lower surface of the

rails 114a, 114b and the central support 120 is in contact with a supporting surface,

approximately 3/4" clearance is provided for the deck 102 to be supported above the

supporting surface. This provides adequate clearance for the tongue 20 of a hand truck 10.

The outside diameter of the central support 120 will be determined with respect to

the opening 21 in the lifting tongue 20 on the carrier designed for use with the mini-pallet

100, as shown in Figure 2B. Suitable carriers for this purpose may include customized hand-

trucks, designed so that when the tray 100 is in the carrying position on the hand-truck 10 the

tongue 20 extends sufficiently under the mini-pallet 100 to provide adequate support. A

suitable hand-truck is the narrow aisle configuration of hand-truck model number B16-D- 1040-C45-62 available from MagLine. Inc.. Preferably, the tongue 20 interacts with the

mini-pallet 100 such that when they are properly positioned the tongue 20 of the hand-truck

10 extends beyond the centerline of the mini-pallet 100. Typically, the central support 120

will be slightly smaller than the opening 21 in the tongue 20 so the tongue 20 and central

support 120 can interact to guide and maintain the mini-pallet 100 centered on the carrier.

The mating aspect of the tongue 20 and central support 120 is also intended to discourage

pilferage as the center segment 72 of mini pallets 120 will not permit a non-compatible

handcart tongue to reach under to even the midpoint of the pallet 100. This will make use

of the pallets 100 with non-compatible hand trucks difficult.

As shown in a preferred embodiment in Figure 5, there is an upwardly opening

cylindrical pocket 122 in the upper surface of the deck 102 positioned about the center of the

deck 102. The upwardly opening cylindrical pocket 122 has a base 124 parallel with the

deck 102 and a generally cylindrical side wall 126 extending perpendicularly from the top

surface of the deck 102 to the base 124. The base 124 of the cylindrical pocket 122 is a

substantially continuous web comprising a series of drain holes 136. It should be apparent

to one skilled in the art that cylindrical pocket 122 need not be circular in shape, but may

take any shape. In a preferred embodiment, when nesting mini-pallets, the cylindrical pocket

122 receives a portion of a central support 120 of the next upward mini-pallet 100 as

illustrated in Figure 8.

Coaxial with the cylindrical pocket 122 and extending from the underside of the base

124 is a central support 120. The central support 120 projects in the same direction and to

substantially the same distance below the bottom surface of the deck 102 as the rails 114a, 114b. The support base 118a. 118b of the rails 114a. 114b and the distal end 144 of the

central support 120 as shown in Figure 3 define a plane upon which the mini-pallet 100

contacts the floor or other supporting surface.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the ends of the rails 114a, 114b extend upwardly and

outwardly to form an end bevel 134 which assists in guiding the rails 114a. 114b into a

corresponding rail pockets 116a, 116b of an identically shaped mini-pallet 100, upon which

it is to be nested, during stacking nested pallets as shown in Figure 8. The degree of bevel

in the preferred embodiment is approximately 45 degrees. As shown in Figure 4. the rail end

bevel 134 angles inward from the front and back edges of the deck 102. This not only

minimizes the chances of strikes from the carrier but also reduces the force from such a strike

by deflecting the impact downwardly. Preferably, the angle of the bevel 134 is such that it

not only assists in positioning a leg, or rail 114a, 114b within a corresponding mini-pallet

100, during stacking, but also minimizes the lateral movement of the mini-pallets 100 once

in a nested position.

As shown in Figure 7, the support base 118a of the rail 114a is substantially formed

from a series of spaced apart bridging ribs 130 extending between the opposing sides of the

given rail 114a, 114b. These bridging ribs 130 have an essentially inverted T-shaped

transverse cross-sectional shape, comprising a horizontal base 131a and a vertical support

member 131b. These inverted T-shaped bridging ribs 130 provide a substantial areas of

material from their horizontal sections 131a to form the support base 118a, and added

strength through the vertical sections 131b. This offers a support base with superior rigidity.

Positioned along the support base between the bridging ribs 120 is at least one drain hole 132 which communicates between the rail pocket 116a and the outer surface of the rail 114a.

The top surfaces of the vertical sections 131b of the bridging ribs 130 may be

coplanar with the upper surface of the base 124 of the cylindrical pocket 120 and together

form a stop means. When two or more mini-pallets 100 are nested the support bases 118a,

118b of an upper mini-pallet 100 rest upon the upper surface of the bridging ribs 130, as

shown in Figure 8. Similarly, the distal end 144 of the cylindrical leg 120 will rest upon the

base 124 of the lower mini-pallet 100.

As shown in Figure 8, the rails 114a, 114b, rail pockets 116a, 116b, central support

120 and cylindrical pocket 122 combine, in the preferred embodiment, to provide the nesting

capability of the mini-pallet 100. The term "nesting" refers to the ability of one mini-pallet

100 to be positioned on top of another so that the vertical components of the two mini-pallets

100 are such that the overall height is less than the sum of the height of the individual mini-

pallets 100. For instance, the rails 114a, 114b and rail pockets 116a, 116b may be tapered,

as shown in Figures 3 and 5, so that the upper end of a rail pocket 116a or 116b defines an

area larger than, and therefore capable of, receiving the lower portion of the rail 114a, 114b.

Similarly, the inside diameter of the cylindrical pocket 122 should be sufficiently large

enough to accommodate the outside diameter of the central support 120, as shown in Figure

5.

In order to provide a secure fit when nesting multiple mini-pallets 100, a preferred

embodiment shown in Figure 2 A utilizes fitting beads 170 and fitting teeth 172 located either

within, or in close proximity to the rail pockets 116a, 116b. The fitting beads and/or fitting

teeth of a first mini-pallet 100 will contact a rail 114a, 114b when a second mini-pallet 100 is nested atop the first mini-pallet 100. The fitting beads 170 may restrict side-to-side

movement of a nested mini-pallet 100. The fitting teeth 172. may restrict front to back

movement of a nested mini-pallet 100. One skilled in the art will know that restricting

movement in one direction will likely result in restriction in movement in a perpendicular

direction as well. Therefore fitting beads 170 will likely restrict movement of a nested mini-

pallet from front-to-back as well as from side-to-side. It should be evident to one skilled in

the art that the fitting teeth 172 and fitting beads 170 need not be utilized together in a single

rail pocket 116a. 116b. It should also be obvious to one skilled in the art that the fitting

beads 170 and fitting teeth 172 may be utilized singularly rather than in multiples as depicted

in the drawings. Fitting beads 170 and fitting teeth 172 are fabricated as an integral part of

the mini-pallet 100 in a presently preferred embodiment, however, one skilled in the art will

know that other materials such as rubbers, other plastics, etc., may be utilized. Fitting teeth

172 may also engage with notches 174 and the end levels 134 of rails 114a, 114b as shown

in Figure 3. In a presently preferred embodiment, concentrically positioned inside the central

support 120 is a cylindrical support 140. Extending radially from the cylindrical support 140

outwardly to the central support is a series of spaced apart reinforcing ribs 142, as shown in

Figure 2B. The combination of the radially extending ribs 142 and cylindrical support 140

combine to provide a lateral support structure for the central support 120 which improves its

ability to withstand forces imposed transverse to its axis. For instance, the force imparted

by the tongue of a carrier during transport of the mini-pallet 100 with stacked beverage

containers or empty mini-pallets 100 positioned thereon. Typically, the central support 120 and radially extending ribs 142 will extend from the plane defined by the distal end 144 of

the cylindrical leg 120 up to the base 124 of the cylindrical pocket. Additionally, in a

preferred embodiment, aside from the radially extending reinforcing ribs 142 and the

cylindrical support 140. the interior of the central support 120 is downwardly open from the

underside of the cylindrical base so as to prevent trapping of debris within the leg.

Claims

We claim:

1. A mini-pallet comprising:

a substantially rectangular deck having an upper surface and having a

perimeter comprising at least one double wall edge; two downwardly projecting rails connected to said deck.

a downwardly projecting central support connected to said deck, and located

intermediate of said two downwardly projecting rails.

2. The mini-pallet of claim 1 wherein said deck, said downwardly projecting rails and said central support are integrally connected.

3. The mini-pallet of claim 1 wherein said deck has two lateral sides which are approximately parallel and said downwardly projecting rails extend

substantially a width of the deck in a direction parallel with said two lateral

sides.

4. The mini-pallet of claim 3 wherein said vertical support is less than half the width of the deck in a direction parallel with said two lateral sides.

5. The mini -pallet of claim 1 wherein said at least one double- wall edge further

comprises at least two stiffening ridges longitudinally spaced along and

connected to said at least one double-wall edge.

6. The mini-pallet of claim 5 wherein said double-wall edge has a U-shaped transverse cross-section, and further comprises at least two drain holes

located on said at least one double-wall edge.

7. The mini-pallet of claim 1 wherein said deck further comprises a plurality of

spaced-apart linear support members and at least two openings providing communication from V ^ΓÇó upper surface through the deck.

8. The mini-pallet of claim 7 wherein said linear support surfaces have a horizontal deck forming portion and a vertical reinforcing portion.

9. The mini-pallet of claim 7 wherein said linear support members have a T-

shaped cross-sectional shape.

10. The mini-pallet of claim 7 wherein said deck further comprises a plurality of radially extending reinforcing ribs.

11. The mini-pallet of claim 7 wherein said spaced-apart linear support members

form a grid-like pattern among said openings connecting said central support, said downwardly projecting rails, and said double-wall edge.

12. The mini-pallet of claim 1 further comprising a rail pocket opening upwardly

through the upper surface of said deck, compatible with a downwardly projecting rail of a similarly shaped mini -pallet, and adapted to receive at least a portion of said similarly shaped mini-pallet rail when multiple mini-

pallets are nested.

13. The mini-pallet of claim 12 further comprising a fitting bead within the rail

pocket configured to contact a similarly configured mini-pallet's downwardly projecting rail when the similarly configured mini-pallet is

nested atop the mini-pallet.

14. The mini-pallet of claim 12 further comprising a fitting tooth within the rail pocket configured to contact a similarly configured mini-pallet' s downwardly projecting rail when the similarly configured mini-pallet is nested atop the

mini-pallet

15. The mini -pallet of claim 1 wherein said downwardly projecting rails further comprise at least two lateral walls with bridging ribs, a horizontal base to form a lower surface of said projecting rails, and a vertical support member.

16. The mini-pallet of claim 15 wherein said bridging ribs have an inverted T-

shaped cross-section.

17. The mini-pallet of claim 1 wherein said central support has a substantially continuous circular outer perimeter.

18. The mini-pallet of claim 1 wherein said central support has a substantially

continuous arcuate outer perimeter.

19. The mini-pallet of claim 1 wherein said central support has an outer edge

defining an even-sided polygon.

20. The mini-pallet of claim 1 wherein said central support is compatible with a

recessed portion in a tongue of a carrier.

21. The mini-pallet of claim 1 further comprising a pocket on the upper surface

of the deck coaxial with said central support and adapted to receive at least a portion of a similarly shaped mini -pallet's central support when multiple mini-pallets are nested.

22. The mini-pallet of claim 2 wherein said pocket further comprises reinforcing

ribs connected to an interior surface of said pocket.

23. A shipping tray comprising: a deck having a pair of opposing lateral sides, said opposing lateral sides

being substantially parallel;

a plurality of downwardly extending legs proximate with said opposing lateral sides; a central support extending downwardly from about the center

of said deck; said deck above at least a portion of said plurality of legs and said central

support;

said central support having an exterior surface, and a pocket capable of

receiving at least a portion of a similarly configured second shipping tray's

central support when said second shipping tray is nested atop the shipping

tray.

24. A tray comprising:

a deck; two legs extending from a bottom surface of said deck;

two rail pockets located on a top surface of said deck and compatible to

receive at least a portion of a similarly shaped tray's legs when said trays are

stored in a nested position;

a central support located near the center of said deck, extending from a bottom surface of said deck, and having an outer perimeter portion compatible with a portion of a tongue of a carrier; and a cylindrical pocket located on a top surface of said deck compatible to receive at least a portion of a similarly shaped tray's central support when

said trays are in a nested position.

25. A method for distributing beverages from a truck utilizing at least one mini- pallet of the type having a deck having two downwardly projecting rails, a downwardly projecting central support intermediate the two downwardly

projecting rails, and a pocket coaxial with said central support adapted to

receive at least a portion of a similarly shaped mini-pallet's central support when multiple mini-pallets are nested, said method consisting of the

following steps: a. loading the mini-pallet with at least a part of a customer order to form

a beverage stack; b. placing the pallet on a truck c. driving the truck having at least one beverage stack to a desired

location; d. placing a tongue of a hand-truck under the mini-pallet, said tongue

having a compatible recess adapted to coordinate with the central

support of said mini-pallet; e. lifting said mini-pallet with the hand-truck into a loaded position;

f. maneuvering said loaded hand-truck towards an open door of said

truck; g. off-loading said loaded hand-truck from said truck; and h. maneuvering said hand-truck to an intended location. i. unloading said beverage stack from said hand truck.