Molded structure

• US 5,527,585 A
• Filed: 12/12/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plastic Pallets, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plastic Pallets, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Bill V., Needham, Donald C., Kinzie, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Loney, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US08/353,718
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 428/156, 428/178, 428/119, 428/120, 428/131, 428/134, 428/136, 428/167, 428/213, 108/53.3, 108/53.1, 108/55.3, 108/52.1, 108/901, 108/902, 108/55.5, 108/51.1, D34/38
• US Class Current: 428/156
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 17/0042 for shaping parts, e.g. multilayered parts with at least one layer containing regenerated plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/00 Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor extrusion blow-moulding B29C49/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/07 Flat, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/082 by shaping between complementary mould parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/426 Producing specific thermal regimes during thermoforming to obtain particular properties
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/0625 LLDPE, i.e. linear low density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7178 Pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0028 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/40 Elements for spacing platforms from supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00268 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00407 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 : without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00567 : mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 : Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/62 : Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 : Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 264/65 : Processes of preheating prior to molding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 : including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24298 : Noncircular aperture [e.g., slit, diamond, rectangular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24314 : Slit or elongated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 : including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 : Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24661 : Forming, or cooperating to form cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 : Thickness [relative or absolute]

Abstract

A novel molded structure especially useful as a rigid, load-bearing structure, is provided. Also provided is a novel process for molding the structure, which may be in the form of a pallet. By the process, the structure is chilled as it is being formed. Recycled resins including contaminants of limited compatibility may be used.

Claims

1. A molded structure comprising a plurality of shaped hollows open to both outer surfaces of the structure, said shaped hollows being formed by outer surface-defining walls and a plurality of perpendicularly oriented ribs in structural connection with said walls, said shaped hollows having a relatively longer dimension of a certain thickness and a relatively shorter dimension of greater thickness than said certain thickness.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein about one-half of said shaped hollows open to one of said outer surfaces, and about one half open to the other of said outer surfaces.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said walls are generally planar.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said relatively longer dimension of said shaped hollows is generally in alignment with a first dimension of said structure, wherein said hollows and said structure are rectangular in shape, and wherein said first dimension of said structure is the length of said structure.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein adjacent hollows of said plurality of shaped hollows oppositely open to said outer surfaces.

6. A pallet comprising a rigid, load-bearing platform in accordance with claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of spaced apart, leg portions depending from said platform.

7. The pallet of claim 6, wherein said leg portions are hollow and open to one of said outer surfaces of said platform, and are provided with denesting abutments.

8. The pallet of claim 6, wherein said leg portions are removably mounted to said platform.

9. The pallet of claim 8, wherein each of said removably mounted leg portions comprises an upper portion shaped to mate with a peripheral wall of a correspondingly-shaped aperture of said platform.

10. A pallet comprising

a rigid, load-bearing platform having a rectangular shape and comprising a plurality of rectangular hollows open to both outer surfaces of said platform, said hollows being formed by outer surface-defining walls and a plurality of perpendicularly oriented ribs in structural connection with said walls, wherein a shorter dimension of said hollows is substantially thicker than a longer dimension of said hollows, and wherein said longer dimension is generally in alignment with the length of said platform.

11. The pallet of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of upwardly opening, hollow leg portions depending downwardly from said platform, and provided with denesting abutments.

12. The pallet of claim 11, wherein said leg portions are removably mounted to said platform, and wherein each of said removably mounted leg portions comprises an upper portion shaped to mate with a peripheral wall of a correspondingly-shaped aperture of said platform.