Plastic sheets for use in protecting openings in walled structures

• US 6,974,622 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2003
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paragon Plastic Sheet Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Paragon Plastic Sheet Incorporated
• Inventors: Wade, Ashley
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEVALIER, ALICIA ANN
• Application Number:
  US10/345,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20030134091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 428/131, 428/132, 428/134, 428/136, 428/174, 428/177, 428/179, 428/59, 522/02, 522/03, 522/08
• US Class Current: 428/182
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/20 of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/322 with parallel corrugations
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/005 Storm panels; hurricane shutters
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/02 Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/193 Double faced corrugated sheets or webs connected
• 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 428/24628 Nonplanar uniform thickness material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24669 Aligned or parallel nonplanarities
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24694 Parallel corrugations

Abstract

Sheets and sheet kits for use in protecting openings in a walled structure are provided. The sheets are generally plastic sheets having at least one corrugated region and a pair of lateral corrugated regions. The corrugated region and the lateral corrugated regions are configured such that the sheet can resist a missile weighing about 9.4 lbs (4.3 kgs), having a cross-sectional impact area of about 5.25 in² (34 cm²), and impacting the sheet at a velocity of about 50 ft/s (15.24 m/s). The sheet kits include mounting tracks. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that is will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets comprising a first corrugated sheet and a second corrugated sheet, each corrugated sheet comprising an intermediate corrugated region and a pair of lateral corrugated regions disposed on opposite sides of said intermediate corrugated region, wherein:

said intermediate corrugated region comprises at least one substantially planar mounting region and at least one inclined intermediate region projecting away from said planar mounting region in the direction of an adjacent corrugation; and

said pair of lateral corrugated regions comprise lateral corrugations along lateral edges of said sheet, each of said lateral corrugations having a substantially planar mounting region, an intermediate inclined region projecting away from said planar mounting region in the direction of an adjacent corrugation, and a lateral inclined region projecting away from said mounting region in the direction of one of said lateral edges;

said corrugated region and said lateral corrugated regions are configured such that said sheet can resist a missile weighing about 9.4 lbs (4.3 kgs), having a cross-sectional impact area of about 5.25 in² (34 cm²), and impacting said sheet at a velocity of about 50 ft/s (15.24 m/s);

said lateral inclined region of one of said lateral corrugations of said second sheet overlaps said intermediate inclined region of one of said lateral corrugations of said first sheet for at least a majority of the cross-sectional extent of said intermediate inclined region;

said planar mounting region of said lateral corrugation of said second sheet overlaps said planar mounting region of said lateral corrugation of said first sheet;

said intermediate inclined region of said lateral corrugation of said second sheet overlaps said lateral inclined region of said lateral corrugation of said first sheet for at least a majority of the cross-sectional extent of said intermediate inclined region; and

said lateral corrugations and said corrugations adjacent thereto define corrugations of substantially the same size and geometry.

2. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lateral inclined region projects a distance that is less than a distance projected by said intermediate inclined regions.

3. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said corrugated region and said lateral corrugated regions further comprise:

at least one first mounting slot adjacent to said a top edge of said sheet, wherein said first mounting slot is disposed on said planar mounting region; and

at least one second mounting slot adjacent to a bottom edge of said sheet, wherein said second mounting slot is disposed on said planar mounting region, and wherein said first and second mounting slots are reinforced by an insert arranged along the periphery of said first and second mounting slots.

4. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 3 wherein said insert is metal.

5. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 3 wherein said insert is plastic.

6. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 3 wherein said at least one first mounting slot is a key-way type mounting slot.

7. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 3 wherein said at least one second mounting slot is a key-way type mounting slot.

8. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 3 wherein said at least one first mounting slots and said at least one second mounting slots are key-way type mounting slots.

9. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said corrugated region and said lateral corrugated regions further comprise:

at least one first key-way type slot adjacent to top edge of said sheet, wherein said first key-way type slot is disposed on said planar mounting region to receive a fastener having a head and a shank; and

at least one second key-way type slot adjacent to a bottom edge of said sheet, wherein said second key-way type slot is disposed on said planar mounting region to receive a fastener having a head and a shank, said first and second key-way type slots having an enlarged portion larger than said head of said fastener and an upper portion and a lower portion smaller than said head of said fastener.

10. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plastic has a tensile strength at yield of less than about 5500 psi.

11. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 10 wherein said plastic has a tensile strength at yield of about 3,000 psi to about 4,600 psi.

12. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plastic has a flexural modulus of less than about 250,000 psi.

13. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 12 wherein said plastic has a flexural modulus of about 150,000 psi to about 235,000 psi.

14. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plastic is extrudable.

15. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plastic comprises polyethylene.

16. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 15 wherein said plastic comprises high density polyethylene.

17. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plastic comprises polypropylene.

18. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plastic is translucent.

19. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plastic sheet has a wall thickness in the range of about 0.060 to about 0.250 inches.

20. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 19 wherein said wall thickness is in the range of about 0.125 to 0.250 inches.

21. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said intermediate inclined regions project away from said planar mounting regions at an angle between about 10°

to about 90°

.

22. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lateral inclined regions project away from said planar mounting regions at an angle between about 10°

to about 90°

.

23. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said intermediate inclined regions project away from said planar mounting regions at an angle between about 45°

to about 55°

.

24. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lateral inclined regions project away from said planar mounting regions at an angle between about 45°

to about 55°

.

25. A plurality of corrugated plastic sheets comprising a first corrugated sheet and a second corrugated sheet, each corrugated sheet comprising an intermediate corrugated region and a pair of lateral corrugated regions disposed on opposite sides of said intermediate corrugated region, wherein:

said intermediate corrugated region comprises at least one substantially planar mounting region and at least one inclined intermediate region projecting away from said planar mounting region in the direction of an adjacent corrugation; and

said pair of lateral corrugated regions comprise lateral corrugations along lateral edges of said sheet, each of said lateral corrugations having a substantially planar mounting region, an intermediate inclined region projecting away from said planar mounting region in the direction of an adjacent corrugation, and a lateral inclined region projecting away from said mounting region in the direction of one of said lateral edges;

said corrugated region and said lateral corrugated regions are configured such that said sheet can resist a missile weighing about 9.4 lbs (4.3 kgs), having a cross-sectional impact area of about 5.25 in² (34 cm²), and impacting said sheet at a velocity of about 50 ft/s (15.24 m/s);

said lateral inclined region of one of said lateral corrugations of said second sheet overlaps said intermediate inclined region of one of said lateral corrugations of said first sheet for at least a majority of the cross-sectional extent of said intermediate inclined region;

said planar mounting region of said lateral corrugation of said second sheet overlaps said planar mounting region of said lateral corrugation of said first sheet;

said intermediate inclined region of said lateral corrugation of said second sheet overlaps said lateral inclined region of said lateral corrugation of said first sheet for at least a majority of the cross-sectional extent of said intermediate inclined region; and

at least one of said corrugated region and said lateral corrugated regions further comprise at least one double key-way type slot adjacent to a top edge of said sheet and at least one double key-way type slot adjacent to a bottom edge of said sheet, wherein

said double key-way type slots are disposed on said planar mounting region to receive a fastener having a head and a shank,

said double key-way type slots comprise an enlarged portion larger than said head of said fastener and upper and lower portions smaller than said head of said fastener, and

said double key-way type slots are positioned adjacent to said top and bottom edges of said sheet such that said corrugated sheets can be utilized without the need to distinguish between said top and bottom edges of said sheet.