Patent ID: 7779765

Claim:
A pallet comprising: first and second decks; at least two post assemblies extending between the first and second decks to maintain the first and second decks at a distance from one another, each post assembly comprising: an outer post member including a substantially hollow tubular body extending axially from a base connected to the first deck to a free end spaced therefrom, the tubular body defining an outer post inner wall surface therein and the free end defining the perimeter of the hollow tubular body; and an inner post member including a body extending axially from a base connected to the second deck to a free end spaced therefrom, the inner post member body defining an inner post outer wall surface, the inner post member including a groove extending about at least a portion of the perimeter of the inner post base; wherein, in an assembled configuration, the inner post body free end is received within the outer post body with the inner and outer posts positioned relative to one another and to the first and second decks such that at least a portion of the outer post hollow body free end is received in the inner post groove such that the outer post hollow body free end is radially supported and restrained by the second deck; and wherein, on at least one of the post assemblies, the inner post outer wall surface includes at least one external barb and the outer post inner wall surface includes at least one internal barb, the inner post barb engaging the outer post barb when the inner post body free end is received within the outer post body and interconnects the first and second decks in the assembled configuration.