Adjustable hold-down assembly

1. A shipping pallet comprising:

a base;

a hold-down assembly comprising a cross-bar moveably connected with two securing posts, said securing posts pivotally attached to the base;

a tension mechanism positioned between the cross-bar and one of the securing posts;

wherein the cross-bar is configured for rotational movement relative to said base and linear movement with respect to said securing posts.

2. The shipping pallet of claim 1 , wherein the cross-bar further comprises substantially parallel engagement portions positioned substantially perpendicular to the cross-bar.

3. The shipping pallet of claim 2 , wherein each engagement portion is adapted to slidably engage one of the securing posts.

4. The shipping pallet of claim 3 , wherein said tension mechanism is positioned between one of the engagement portions of the cross-bar and one of the securing posts.

5. The shipping pallet of claim 2 , further comprising a compression mechanism having a first end and a second end; the first end being pivotally attached to the base and the second end being pivotally attached to one of the engagement portions.

6. The shipping pallet of claim 5 , wherein the compression mechanism provides a rotational force and a linear force on the engagement portion of the cross-bar.

7. The shipping pallet of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises one or more nests.

8. The shipping pallet of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a one or more stacking posts.

9. The shipping pallet of claim 1 , wherein the securing posts are pivotally attached to the base.

10. The shipping pallet of claim 1 , further comprising one or more projections positioned around the periphery of base for selectively engaging a portion of the hold-down assembly when the hold-down assembly is in a load position.

11. A shipping pallet comprising

a base; and

an adjustable hold-down assembly attached to said base and having a load position and an engaged position, wherein the hold-down assembly can be moved from the load position to the engaged position with a continuous motion, wherein in the engaged position, the hold-down assembly asserts a resiliently biased force on goods on the base through a tension mechanism, a compression mechanism, or combinations thereof.

12. The shipping pallet of claim 11 , wherein the hold-down assembly can be moved from the engaged position to the load position with a continuous motion.

13. The shipping pallet of claim 11 , wherein in the load position, the cross-bar of the hold-down assembly engages a portion of the base.

14. The shipping pallet of claim 11 , wherein in an engaged position, at least two forces act on the hold-down assembly.

15. The shipping pallet of claim 11 , wherein the base further comprises one or more nests.

16. The shipping pallet of claim 11 , wherein the base further comprises one or more stacking posts.

17. The shipping pallet of claim 11 , wherein the hold-down assembly comprises a cross-bar and two substantially parallel engagement portions positioned substantially perpendicular to the cross-bar, the two substantially parallel engagement portions adapted to telescopingly engage a corresponding pair of securing posts positioned on the base.

18. The shipping pallet of claim 17 , wherein the securing posts are pivotally attached to the base.

19. A method of unloading a shipping pallet, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a shipping pallet having a base and a hold-down assembly, the hold-down assembly having two or more positions including a load position and an engaged position,

applying an outward linear force on the hold-down assembly, and

rotating the hold-down assembly from the engaged position to the load position with a continuous motion, wherein in the engaged position, the hold-down assembly asserts a resiliently biased force on goods on the base through a tension mechanism, a compression mechanism or combinations thereof.