Plastic panel, particularly for use as production pallet

• US 7,793,598 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradley D. Legare, Frederick P. Strobl Jr
• Original Assignee: Bradley D. Legare, Frederick P. Strobl Jr
• Inventors: LeGare, Bradley D., Strobl, Frederick P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): CANFIELD, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US11/698,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20080178775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 527/831, 527/831.4, 527/901, 527/931.1, 527/961, 526/30, 108/51.11, 108/57.25, 108/57.26, 108/57.17, 108/901, 108/902
• US Class Current: 108/57.26
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 7/0055 Mould pallets; Mould panels
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00278 the load supporting surface and the base surface being identical
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• 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 2519/00567 mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

A plastic panel which may be used as a production pallet in the production of unitary concrete masonry products includes first and second joinable portions. The portions each comprise a support backing including an outer surface and an inner face, and a plurality of ribs extending outwardly away from said inner face. The ribs of a first grouping thereof are parallel with one another and extend across a first area of the face in a first direction, and the ribs of a second grouping thereof extend across a second area of the face in a second direction which is not parallel with said first direction. The panel portions are configured, disposed and arranged so as to join with one another in generally overlapping and mated relationship with the outer surfaces disposed in spaced apart opposing relationship, with the first groupings of ribs of the respective portions disposed in intermeshing and mating relationship with each other, and with the second groupings of ribs of the respective portions also disposed in intermeshing and mating relationship with each other whereby to present said plastic panel.

Claims

1. A plastic panel comprising first and second joinable portions, said portions each comprising:

a support backing including an outer surface and an inner face; and

a plurality of ribs extending outwardly away from said inner face,

wherein the ribs of a first grouping thereof are disposed to extend across a first area of the face in a first direction in general parallelism relative to one another, and

wherein the ribs of a second grouping thereof are disposed to extend across a second area of the face in a second direction which is not parallel with said first direction,

said portions being configured, disposed and arranged so as to join with one another in generally overlapping and mated relationship with said outer surfaces disposed in spaced apart opposing relationship, with the first grouping of ribs of the first portion disposed in intermeshing and mating relationship with the first grouping of ribs of the second portion, and with the second grouping of ribs of the first portion disposed in intermeshing and mating relationship with the second grouping of ribs of the second portion whereby to present said plastic panel,

wherein each of said portions includes a peripheral wall which extends around the ribs, and wherein said walls have shoulders which are disposed in abutting relationship when the potions are joined together.

2. A plastic panel as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the ribs of the second grouping are disposed at right angles relative to the ribs of the first grouping of each portion,

wherein each portion includes two of said second groupings of ribs disposed on opposite sides of said first area of the face, and

wherein said portions are identical.

3. A plastic panel as set forth in claim 2,

wherein said portions each include at least one reinforcing bar gap which is parallel to the ribs of said first grouping, said gaps being configured, arranged and positioned for alignment to present a reinforcing bar holding slot when the portions are joined together,

wherein said ribs have respective transverse cross-sectional configurations including a proximal end adjacent said inner face and a distal end spaced from said inner face, said distal end being arcuate,

wherein said distal end is generally circular in shape, and wherein the proximal ends of adjacent ribs define a hollow space therebetween that is complementary in shape to said distal end.

4. A plastic panel comprising first and second joinable portions, said portions each comprising:

a support backing including an outer surface and an inner face; and

a plurality of ribs extending outwardly away from said inner face,

wherein the ribs of a first grouping thereof are disposed to extend across a first area of the face in a first direction in general parallelism relative to one another, and

wherein the ribs of a second grouping thereof are disposed to extend across a second area of the face in a second direction which is not parallel with said first direction,

said portions being configured, disposed and arranged so as to join with one another in generally overlapping and mated relationship with said outer surfaces disposed in spaced apart opposing relationship, with the first grouping of ribs of the first portion disposed in intermeshing and mating relationship with the first grouping of ribs of the second portion, and with the second grouping of ribs of the first portion disposed in intermeshing and mating relationship with the second grouping of ribs of the second portion whereby to present said plastic panel,

wherein said ribs have respective transverse cross-sectional configurations including a proximal end adjacent said inner face and a distal end spaced from said inner face, said distal end being arcuate.

5. A plastic panel as set forth in claim 4, wherein said distal end is generally circular in shape.

6. A plastic panel as set forth in claim 4, wherein the proximal ends of adjacent ribs define a hollow space therebetween that is complementary in shape to said distal end.