Pallet of composite construction

Claim 1

A composite pallet comprising: at least two generally parallel runners, each having an upper surface and a lower surface, said runners being formed of a plurality of stacked plies of corrugated paperboard with the plies extending vertically between the upper and lower surface and each having at least two notches in its upper surface, the depth of said runners beneath said notches being sufficient to allow entry therebeneath of the forks of a forklift for lifting said pallet; at least two stringers constructed of wood residing in the notches of said runners and extending transversely of the runners, the thickness of said stringers being substantially the same as the depth of said notches so that the upper surfaces of said stringers are substantially in the same plane as the upper surfaces of said runners and so that the upper surfaces of said runners and the upper surfaces of said stringers form a substantially flat grid for supporting an upper panel; an upper panel of corrugated paperboard disposed on said grid formed by the upper surfaces of said runners and said stringers and being secured thereto; and a lower panel of corrugated paperboard disposed on the lower surfaces of said runners and being secured thereto.