Reinforced containment pallet

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention generally comprises an improved structure for a containment pallet used to support one or more large drums of liquid material, the pallet being of the type having a large volume sump area formed by the combination of four generally vertical side walls and a solid bottom, the bottom being configured to allow insertion of the lifting prongs of a forklift or hand truck for movement of the pallet, and a perforated deck to receive the drums, the deck being supported above the sump area by deck support means, typically a peripheral shoulder or lip, either continuous or segmented, which extends inwardly from the side walls, along with possible support columns in the center of the pallet.
The improvement resides in the addition to the deck support means of one or more cross members extending across and above the sump area from one side wall to the opposite side wall, preferably centrally located, the cross members acting along with the support shoulders to support the deck above the sump area, any outward deflection of the side walls being countered by the cross members linking the opposing walls.
The cross members are preferably thin in cross-section and of limited surface area relative to the entire pallet so as not to interfere with the overall capacity of the sump area or the flow of liquid into the sump area.
In the preferred form, a single cross member in the shape of a cross connects all four walls.
The presence of the cross members allows greater weights to be loaded onto the containment pallet without the need to increase the thickness of the side walls.