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07/09/09 - USPTO Class 264 |  45 views | #20090174104 | Prev - Next | About this Page  264 rss/xml feed  monitor keywords

Method of making a dunnage platform

USPTO Application #: 20090174104
Title: Method of making a dunnage platform
Abstract: A dunnage platform is in the general shape of a rectangular slab with legs extending form one side. The dunnage platform is made from an expanded polystyrene core. A chemical combination process is used to chemically combine portion of the core proximal to its surface with high impact polystyrene. In a first of two parts of the combination process, the core is placed in a forming mold with one of its two sides and two thirds of its thickness extending therefrom. A heated sheet of high impact polystyrene is brought into contact with the portion of the core extending from the mold. In a similar manner, the other of the two sides of the core is made to extend from the forming mold for contact with a heated sheet of high impact polystyrene. (end of abstract)



Agent: Fliesler Meyer LLP - San Francisco, CA, US
Inventor: Laurence W. Dummett
USPTO Applicaton #: 20090174104 - Class: 264101 (USPTO)

Method of making a dunnage platform description/claims


The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20090174104, Method of making a dunnage platform.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
  monitor keywords CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/617,578, filed Dec. 28, 2006, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/490,372, filed Jul. 20, 2006, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/921,903, filed Aug. 20, 2004, and which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,797 on Oct. 31, 2006, which application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/166,988, filed Jun. 11, 2002, and which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,992 on Sep. 7, 2004. The above applications are herein expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is in the general field of load-bearing structures and, more particularly, is a load bearing structure made from an expanded polystyrene core that is chemically combined with high impact polystyrene.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A shipping pallet is a well known load-bearing, moveable platform whereon articles are placed for shipment. The pallet usually is loaded with a multiplicity of items, such as cartons or boxes. The loaded pallet is movable with either a pallet truck or a forklift

There is a nine billion dollar market for pallets in the United States. There is a thirty billion dollar world wide market. Approximately ninety percent of these markets is for pallets made from wood.

The weight of the wood pallet is in a range of forty to seventy pounds. Therefore, the weight of a cargo shipped on the wood pallet is reduced by from forty to seventy pounds to provide for the weight of the wood pallet.

It should be understood that injuries caused by wood splinters and nails are frequent occurrences among people who handle the wood pallet. Additionally, disposal of the wood pallet at the end of its useful life is a threat to the environment.

There has been concern among nations about the use of the wood pallet causing an import of wood-boring insects, including the Asian Longhorned Beetle, the Asian Cerambycid Beetle, the Pine Wood Nematode, the Pine Wilt Nematode and the Anoplophora Glapripwnnis. Exemplary of damage caused by imported insects is the fate of the Chestnut Tree in the United States. There was a time when it was said that a squirrel could cross the United States on Chestnut Tree limbs without ever touching the ground. Insect infestation has caused the extinction of the Chestnut Tree in the United States.

Therefore, the wood pallet\'s weight, the injuries that it causes, its threat to the environment and the possibility of it causing an importation of wood-boring insects militates against the use of the wood pallet. As explained hereinafter, there is an attractive alternative to the wood pallet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is an easily movable load bearing structure that is not likely to carry wood-boring insects.

Another object of the invention is a movable load bearing structure that does not have splinters and nails that may cause injury.

According to the present invention, a dunnage platform has an expanded polystyrene core with a region proximal to its surface that is chemically combined with a high impact polystyrene.

Because of a chemical combination of components, comparing the core before the chemical combination to the dunnage platform that is formed, there is an increase in strength to weight ratio of as much as 1000:1 that allows the dunnage platform to carry loads comparable to loads carried by a wooden pallet. The dunnage platform does not support insect life and does not have splinters and nails that cause injury.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention should be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.



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Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes

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