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US 11,897,183 B2Granted
Ship flat blow-molded tunnel
AssigneeLifetime Products, Inc.
InventorsRobert A. Astle, Danny Green, Jacob Kearl, Eric Olsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one example, a structure includes a flexible plastic body having a first end and a second end, as well as a first side and a second side disposed opposite each other. The first side includes a first group of segments, and the second side includes a second group of segments. The structure also includes a group of living hinges integral with the body, and one of the living hinges is positioned between segments, and the living hinges enable the flexible plastic body to alternatively assume a flat state, or another state in which the body is not flat.
Claims19
A structure, comprising:
- a flexible plastic body having a first end and a second end, as well as a first side and a second side disposed opposite each other, the first side comprising a first plurality of segments that includes two non-adjacent segments and an intervening segment disposed between the two non-adjacent segments, and the intervening segment having a curved configuration, and the second side comprising a second plurality of segments, and the flexible body has a length that is greater than a width of the flexible body;
- and
- a plurality of living hinges integral with the flexible plastic body, and one of the living hinges is positioned between, and connects, two of the segments, that are positioned either on the first side or the second side, such that the flexible plastic body extends unbroken between those two segments, and the living hinges enable the flexible plastic body to alternatively assume a flat state in which the living hinges are positioned transverse to a lengthwise edge of the flexible plastic body, or another state in which the flexible plastic body is not flat.
A structure, comprising:
- a flexible plastic body having a first end and a second end, as well as a first side and a second side disposed opposite each other, the first side comprising a first hollow integral segment and a second hollow integral segment that are consecutively arranged with respect to each other, and the second side comprising a plurality of integral segments;
- and
- a plurality of living hinges, including a living hinge integral with the flexible plastic body and interposed between the first hollow integral segment and the second hollow integral segment such that no open space exists between the first integral segment and the second integral segment, and
- wherein one of the hollow integral segments is in the form of a box beam having a generally rectangular cross-section that imparts rigidity to a non-flexible portion of the flexible plastic body, and the flexible plastic body, in its entirety, assumes a curved configuration when the flexible plastic body is bent around the living hinges in the plurality of living hinges.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a container;
- and
- a plurality of structures disposed in the container, two or more of the structures being disposed in a flat state and being stacked on one top of the other, and each of the stacked structures comprises:
- a flexible plastic body having a first end and a second end, as well as a first side and a second side disposed opposite each other, the first side comprising a first plurality of integral segments that are each hollow, and the second side comprising a second plurality of integral segments;
- and
- a plurality of living hinges integral with the flexible plastic body, and one of the living hinges is positioned between, and connects, two of the segments, that are positioned either on the first side or the second side, such that the flexible plastic body extends unbroken between those two segments, and the living hinges enable the flexible plastic body to alternatively assume a flat state, or a state in which the flexible plastic body is not flat, in its entirety, forms a curved configuration.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.