Force-carrying interlock for aluminum extruded platform

Claim 1

An assembled aircraft cargo delivery pallet comprising; a plurality of identical elongated rectangular panel members; complementary interengaging coupling means formed on the opposite bottom longitudinal edges of each of said panel members for connecting the said bottom longitudinal edges of the panel members together against separation; identical abutment means formed on the opposite upper longitudinal edge portions of said panel members for abutting engagement therebetween for resisting upward angular movement between adjacent panel members in said pallet around said coupling means; a plurality of elongated skid rails extending transversely across the bottom surfaces of said panel members between the opposite ends of said pallet; means rigidly securing said skid rails to the bottom of said pallet adjacent said interengaging coupling means; and elongated side rails rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the panel members, extending between the opposite longitudinal ends of said pallet, for resisting relative longitudinal and vertical movements between said panel members, when said pallet is withdrawn and dropped to the ground from a low-flying cargo aircraft; each of said panel members comprising extruded hollow lightweight metallic material having spaced parallel top and bottom surfaces, and spaced perpendicular side portions formed with internal truss web brace members therebetween; said complementary interengaging coupling means comprising an extruded upwardly extending tongue member formed along the lower edge portion of one side of each panel member and a complementary upwardly extending longitudinal groove formed in the bottom portion of the other side of each panel member, and identical longitudinal abutment members extruded with the panel members and projecting outwardly from the top edge portions of both of the side edges of the panel members.