Patent ID: 8342106

Claim:
A modular pallet, comprising: at least four spaced stringers each including a plurality of spaced upper grooves formed in a top surface and a plurality of spaced lower grooves formed in a bottom surface, and each including at least one locking projection extending from a groove base of each of the upper and lower grooves; a plurality of elongated upper boards each including a first upper board mating section approximate a first end, a second upper board mating section approximate a second end, and a middle pair of upper board mating sections between the first and second upper board mating sections, wherein at least a portion of the upper boards adjacent the first, middle pair, and second upper board mating sections are shaped to be received by the upper grooves in the stringers and interlocked at the first, middle pair, and second upper board mating sections to different ones of the stringers by movement of at least one of the stringer member or the upper board with respect to each other, wherein the upper board mating sections include at least one upper locking socket for receiving the corresponding at least one locking projection of the stringers; and a plurality of elongated lower boards including a first lower board mating section approximate a first end, a second lower board mating section approximate a second end, and a middle pair of lower board mating sections between the first and second lower board mating sections, wherein at least a portion of lower boards adjacent the first, middle pair, and second lower board mating sections of the lower boards are shaped to be received by the lower grooves in the stringers and interlocked at the first, middle pair, and second lower board mating sections to different ones of the stringers by movement of at least one of the stringer member or the lower board with respect to each other, and wherein the direction of the movement is transverse with respect to the stringers, wherein the lower board mating sections include at least one lower locking socket for receiving the corresponding at least one locking projection of the stringers, wherein the stringers include an outboard pair of spaced apart stringers and an inboard pair of spaced apart stringers disposed between the outboard pair of spaced apart stringers, and wherein the boards have inboard facing shoulders adjacent to corresponding mating sections spaced from the ends of the boards, wherein the inboard pair of spaced apart stringers abuts the inboard facing shoulders.