Sealing Foam Panels with a Compression-Generating Joint
AssigneeTCP Reliable, Inc.
InventorMichael Goncharko
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Abstract
A method of joining panels of foam material such that edges are compressed into panel surfaces to provide a secured and effectively sealed structure is disclosed. Panels in an orthogonal relationship to each other, which are made of foam (or other materials not intended to be load bearing) can be joined by compressing the outer side of one of the panels into the edge surface of an adjoining panel. This is done using two plates, one resting on the outer side of the first panel, and one inserted into the side of the second panel, where the plates are connected by a bolt, screw or wire under tension.
Claims20
A method of joining panels of foam materials by compression, comprising:
- placing the panels to be joined in an orthogonal relationship to each other, such that an edge surface of a first panel rests on a first planar surface of a second panel;
- inserting a first plate, having a first hole through it, into the first panel such that the first plate's planar surface lies parallel to the planar surface of the second panel;
- placing a second plate having a second hole through it on the planar surface of the second panel which opposes the first planar surface, such that the first and second holes are aligned;
- joining the first and second plates with a bolt, screw or wire passing through the first and second holes;
- and
- tensioning the bolt or wire such that the first and second plates are pulled towards each other and the edge surface of the first panel is pressed into the first planar surface of the second panel.
A method of forming an insulated container comprising:
- placing four panels in an orthogonal relationship to a fifth panel, such that an edge surface of each of the four panels rests on a first planar surface of the fifth panel;
- inserting an insertion plate, having a plate hole through it, into each of the four panels such that the each insertion plate's planar surface lies parallel to the planar surface of the fifth panel;
- placing one or more plates on the planar surface of the fifth panel which opposes the first planar surface, such that plate holes are aligned with holes in a second plate;
- joining the insertion plates with the second plates with a bolt, screw or wire passing through an aligned plate hole and a hole in the second plate;
- and
- tensioning the bolts or wires such that the insertion plates are pulled towards second plate and the edge surfaces of the four panel are pressed into the first planar surface of the second panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.