Pallet construction

Claim 1

A substantially rectangular pallet construction comprising, in combination, A. a top deck, B. a bottom deck, and C. a structural network interposed between, and interconnecting, said top and said bottom deck, D. said structural network comprising a first set of at least four elongated, orthotropic beamlike members, and a second set of at least four elongated orthotropic beamlike members, E. said first set being normally positioned with respect to said second set, and interconnected therewith, whereby upper edge regions and portions of lower edge regions of first set members and second set members define respective upper and lower faces of said structural network, and which faces are generally parallel to one another, F. said first set members 1. being in generally parallel, spaced relationship to one another, 2. being symmetrically disposed with respect to a first hypothetical centerline, 3. having at least two members thereof disposed centrally, and 4. having such centrally disposed members cooperating with the remainder thereof to define a first pair of zones, one each between a different pair of such first set members, each such first zone being adapted to accommodate therewithin a forklift arm, G. said second set members 1. being in generally parallel, spaced relationship to one another and not greater in length than said first set, 2. being symmetrically disposed with respect to a second hypothetical centerline, 3. having at least two members thereof disposed centrally, 4. having such centrally disposed members cooperating with the remainder thereof to define a second pair of zones, one each between a different pair of such second set members, each such second zone being adapted to accommodate therewithin a forklift arm, and 5. each comprising three platelike portions and two riblike portions, each such platelike portion extending vertically the full height of said first set members, one such platelike portion comprising the central portion of each respective member, the remaining two such platelike portions each comprising terminal end segments of each respective such member, each such riblike portion extending not more than about two-thirds the height of said first set members and comprising a different interconnecting segment between two adjacent such platelike portions with upper edge regions thereof being generally coextensive with those of such platelike portions, all such platelike portions and all such riblike portions in each respective such member being symmetrically disposed with respect to said first hypothetical centerline, and H. said first set members having defined therein generally aligned apertures in said second pair of zones, and said second set members having defined therein generally aligned apertures in said first pair of zones whereby such forklift arms can pass into said structural network through any one of the four side edges thereof.