Hybrid shipping pallet system

A shipping pallet comprising:

• a deck having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, said deck comprising corrugated board having at least one intermediate corrugated member sandwiched between linerboard facings;
• a plurality of deck support structures, each of which comprises a unitized extruded or molded part formed from a plastic material, each of said deck support structures having a plurality of prongs protruding from an upper surface thereof;
• wherein the plurality of prongs of each deck support structure penetrate and engage the lower surface of said deck so as to cause the plurality of deck support structures to be attached to said deck;
• wherein each of the plurality of prongs comprises a barb so as to enhance attachment between said plurality of deck support structures and said deck;
• wherein each of said plurality of deck support structures is attachable without tools to said deck by forcing each of said plurality of deck support structures and said deck together such that the plurality of prongs of each deck support structure penetrate and engage the lower surface of said deck;
• and
• wherein each of said plurality of deck support structures is detachable without tools from said deck by gripping an end of each of said plurality of deck support structures adjacent an end thereof and pulling each of said plurality of deck support structures away from said deck.

A shipping pallet comprising:

• a deck having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, said deck comprising triple wall corrugated board having three intermediate corrugated members sandwiched between four linerboard facings;
• a plurality of deck support structures, each of which comprises a unitized extruded or molded part formed from at least one of structural foam polypropylene and structural foam polyethylene, each of said deck support structures comprising three post sections set between a lower skid and an upper rail, and having a plurality of prongs protruding from an upper surface of the upper rail;
• wherein the plurality of prongs of each deck support structure penetrate and engage the lower surface of said deck so as to cause the plurality of deck support structures to be attached to said deck;
• wherein each of the plurality of prongs comprises a barb so as to enhance attachment between said plurality of deck support structures and said deck, the barb being formed in a substantially vertical surface of each of the plurality of prongs, which substantially vertical surface is positioned opposite to a sloped surface of the barb;
• wherein each of said plurality of deck support structures is attachable without tools to said deck by forcing each of said plurality of deck support structures and said deck together such that the plurality of prongs of each deck support structure penetrate and engage the lower surface of said deck;
• and
• wherein each of said plurality of deck support structures is detachable without tools from said deck by gripping an end of each of said plurality of deck support structures adjacent an end thereof and pulling each of said plurality of deck support structures away from said deck.