Pallet

Claim 1

A pallet comprising: a first platform having an inner surface and a load support surface; an second platform formed of a plurality of parallel, transversely spaced apart boards lying in a common plane, said boards being arranged parallel to and spaced above said first platform, each board having a load support surface and an inner surface; first, elongated, flanged thin sheet metal splines arranged in a parallel, transversely spaced apart relation-ship and having flanges embedded in said boards and lower platform and terminating short of said load support surfaces thereof; said first splines positioned symmetrical relative to a central vertical plane of said pallet so as to define tine-receiving passages and arranged perpendicular to said common plane in which said boards lie so as to interconnect said boards to said first platform and thereby maintain the said parallel spacing therebetween; said first splines further arranged perpendicular to the length of said boards so as to interconnect said parallel, spaced apart boards and thereby maintain the parallel spacing therebetween; second, flanged thin sheet metal splines transverse to said first splines having flanges embedded in said first platform and said boards and terminating short of said load support surfaces thereof; said second splines extending inwardly from the edges of the boards along the length thereof and terminating short of said first splines and further arranged perpendicu-lar to the plane of said first and second platforms so as to interconnect said boards with said first platform to maintain the spacing therebetween; wherein said first and second splines provide a secure connection between said boards and said first platform so as to provide three dimensional rigidity to said platforms and maintain the relative positions of the boards and platform.