Durable pallet and pallet block

A pallet comprising:

• an upper deck having a rectangular perimeter shape;
• a plurality of first joining members that project downwardly from the upper deck, each first joining member integrally molded with said upper deck and including an outer sleeve and a post positioned therein, with the post protruding beyond the outer sleeve;
• a lower deck having a rectangular perimeter shape comprising a plurality of rectangular perimeter shape sections, each section comprising integrally molded members, said sections joined together to define said lower deck, the lower deck having integrally molded cross members that intersect a center portion of opposing sides of the rectangular perimeter shape midway between corners thereof;
• a plurality of second joining members that project upwardly from the lower deck, each second joining member integrally molded with the cross members of said lower deck and including an inner sleeve and a post receiving cavity positioned therein, and radial ribs extending between the inner sleeve and the post receiving cavity;
• and
• the plurality of first and second joining members being coupled together to define a plurality of pallet blocks joining the upper and lower decks, with each inner sleeve and post receiving cavity of the second joining members receiving a corresponding post and outer sleeve of the first joining members, with each post receiving cavity receiving the post protruding beyond the outer sleeve.

A method of making a pallet comprising:

• providing an upper deck having a rectangular perimeter shape and a plurality of first joining members that project downwardly from the upper deck, each first joining member integrally molded with the upper deck and including an outer sleeve and a post positioned therein, with the post protruding beyond the outer sleeve;
• providing a lower deck having a rectangular perimeter Shape, the lower deck comprising a plurality of rectangular perimeter shape sections, each section comprising integrally molded members, said sections joined together to define said lower deck, the lower deck having integrally molded cross members that intersect a center portion of opposing sides of the rectangular perimeter shape midway between corners thereof, and a plurality of second joining members that project upwardly from the lower deck, each second joining member integrally molded with the cross members of the lower deck and including an inner sleeve and a post receiving cavity positioned therein;
• and
• joining the upper and lower decks by coupling the plurality of first and second joining members together to define a plurality of pallet blocks, with each inner sleeve and post receiving cavity of the second joining members receiving a corresponding post and outer sleeve of the first joining members, with each post receiving cavity receiving the post protruding beyond the outer sleeve.