Method of making a dunnage platform
AssigneeAirdex International, Inc.
InventorLaurence W. Dummett
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
A method of making a dunnage platform comprising:
- providing a core made from an expanded polymer for defining the shape of the platform, said core having a dimension, a first side and a second side separated by an edge;
- heating a first thermoplastic sheet having a dimension larger than the dimension of the core, said thermoplastic sheet being held tautly prior to heating;
- placing said first heated thermoplastic sheet on top of said first side of said core while the second side of said core is uncovered by a thermoplastic sheet;
- and
- combining said heated first thermoplastic sheet with at least a region of said first side and at least a part of said edge of said core to form a dunnage platform with sufficient load bearing strength;
- wherein said at least a portion of said first side and at least a part of said edge are exposed during placement of said first heated thermoplastic sheet on top of said first side of said core.
A method of making a dunnage platform comprising:
- providing a core made from an expanded polymer for defining the shape of the platform, said core having a dimension, a first side and a second side separated by an edge;
- heating a first thermoplastic sheet having a dimension larger than the dimension of the core, a portion of said first thermoplastic sheet being held by a clamping frame;
- placing said first heated thermoplastic sheet on top of said first side of said core while the second side of said core is uncovered by a thermoplastic sheet;
- and combining said heated first thermoplastic sheet with a region of said first side and a part of said edge;
- wherein said first side and at least a part of said edge are exposed during placement of said first heated thermoplastic sheet on top of said first side of said core.
A method of making a dunnage platform comprising:
- providing a core made from an expanded polymer for defining the shape of the platform, said core having a dimension, a first side and a second side separated by an edge;
- heating a first high impact polystyrene sheet having a dimension larger than the dimension of the core, said high impact polystyrene sheet being held tautly prior to heating;
- placing said first heated high impact polystyrene sheet on top of said first side of said core while the second side of said core is uncovered by a thermoplastic sheet;
- and
- combining said heated first high impact polystyrene sheet with said first side and a part of said edge of said core;
- wherein said first side and at least a part of said edge are exposed during the placement of said first heated high impact polystyrene sheet on top of said first side of said core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.