Height compensating device

• US 5,749,555 A
• Filed: 08/09/1995
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fibergrate Composite Structures, Inc. (RPM International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Composite Structures International, Inc.
• Inventors: Albrecht, Donald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/512,879
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 248/346.01, 248/346.02, 108/12, 108/91, 108/901, 108/53.3, 297/423.41, 297/423.39, 482/52, D 6/349, D 6/350, D 6/364, D 6/365, D21/191, 52/177, 52/180, 52/181
• US Class Current: 248/346.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/025 Stools for standing or leaning against, e.g. in a semi-standing or half-seated position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

A height compensating device made from a non-toxic material defining a support surface of a predetermined shape and having a periphery with a sidewall extending downwardly and outwardly from said sidewall. The surface of the support surface is roughened to the roughness of a quartz number 4 grit or greater. The structure has a weight of 8 pounds or greater.

Claims

1. A height compensating device comprising:

(a) a support surface defining a predetermined shape;

(b) a sidewall extending downwardly and outwardly from said support surface;

(c) said device having a weight of 8 pounds or more and having a non-porous surface; and

(d) at least one sloped channel formed in said support surface and positioned to drain fluid.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said sidewall extends downwardly and outwardly from the support surface at an angle of between 5 to 25 degrees as measured from the line running perpendicular to the plane of said support surface.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of protrusions extending from the side of the support surface opposite the side wall to provide a slip-resistant surface.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said device is made from a non-toxic thermoset resin.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of channels.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said channel has a first end, a second end, a bottom, and two opposed side walls forming an angle with respect to each other;

and said channel being downwardly sloped from said first end to said second end.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein each of said channels has a first end, a second end, a bottom, and two opposed side walls forming an angle with respect to each other;

and each of said channels being downwardly sloped from said first end to said second end.

8. The device of claim 6 each said first end is disposed near the center of said support surface and said second end intersects said sidewall.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is an integral structure.

10. A height compensating device comprising:

(a) a support surface defining a predetermined shape defining a periphery having an upper side, and a lower side;

(b) a side wall extending downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of said support surface at an angle from about 5 to about 25 degrees as measured by a line perpendicular to the plane of the support surface;

(c) said device having a weight between about 8 and about 30 pounds;

(d) a plurality of protrusions extending from the upper side of said support surface to provide a slip resistant surface; and

(e) said support surface having a plurality of holes for draining fluids.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said side wall extends downwardly and outwardly at an angle from 8 to 18 degrees.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said device is constructed of non-toxic materials.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said sidewall extends downwardly when measured along the line perpendicular to said support surface, a distance no more than 35% of the longest dimension of said support surface.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said protrusions have the roughness of a number 4 quartz grit or larger.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein said device is constructed from a thermoset resin.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said device is constructed from a thermoset resin reinforced with a fiberglass reinforcement material.

17. The device of claim 15 being constructed from a isophtalic resin.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said isophtalic resin contains reinforcement material.

19. The device of claim 10 wherein said device is an integral structure.

20. The device of claim 10 wherein said support surface further comprises at least one channel positioned for draining fluid from said support surface.

21. The device of claim 10 wherein said support surface further comprises a plurality of channels.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein said channel has a first end, a second end, a bottom, and two opposed side walls forming an angle with respect to each other;

and said channel having a downward slope from said first end to said second end.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein each said channel has a first end, a second end, a bottom, and two opposed side walls forming an angle with respect to each other;

and each said channel having a downward slope from said first end to said second end.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein said second end of each channel is at the periphery of said support surface and intersecting said side walls;

and said first end of each channel is disposed a distance from the periphery of said support surface.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein said first end is located at about a center of said support surface.

26. The device of claim 10 wherein said device is integrally constructed using a fiberglass reinforced isophtalic resin with aluminum trihydrate in a suitable amount for flame-retarding.

27. A stackable height compensating device for use in a food processing plant comprising:

a unitary structure free of fasteners and formed from a fiberglass reinforced isothpalic resin containing aluminum trihydrate for use as a flame retardant;

said structure having a support surface of predetermined shape defining a periphery with a sidewall extending downwardly and outwardly from said periphery a distance as measured from a line perpendicular to the plane of said support surface no more than 35% of the longest dimension of the support surface and having a weight of 8 pounds or more;

said sidewall forming an angle of between about 8 to about 14 degrees with said support surface as measured along a line perpendicular to the plane of said support surface;

said sidewall having at least three lower edge sections for stability;

said support surface further comprising a plurality of protrusions extending from an upper side of the support surface and having a roughness of a number 4 quartz grit or larger to provide a slip resistant surface;

said support surface further comprising one or more channels with each said channel having a first end, a second end, a bottom and two opposed side walls forming an angle with respect to each other;

said support surface further comprising a plurality of holes for draining fluids;

each said channel having a downward slope from said first end to said second end;

each second end of the channel is located at the intersection of the periphery of said support surface and said side walls; and

said first end of each channel is located near the center of said support surface.