Boat hull connector and method
OwnerHelmut Stoeberlinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The opposed moulded plastic shells of a shell covered foam filled structural member suitable for boat hulls and decks are connected together by a strip of material extending between the shells and anchored in the foam filling. Flaps are provided on the connector strip overlying the periphery of the plastic shells in sealing relation therewith. The flaps can be provided on a separate strip with a tongue seated in a recess of the strip anchored in the foam. The connector strip has an outer edge portion secured in the parting line of moulds carrying the shells and providing a cavity for the foam which is severed from the connector strip after removal from the moulds.
Claims13
A structural member comprising a pair of opposed molded plastics shells defining a cavity therebetween, plastics foam filling said cavity, peripheral edges of the opposed shells spaced from one another at a peripheral gap, a connector strip between the peripheral edges of said shells having a first edge portion exterior of the shell having at least one projection adapted to be anchored in the parting line of mold halves containing said shells, a second edge portion in said cavity between the shells anchored in said plastics foam and a connecting portion between said first and second edge portions closing the gap between the shells, and flaps carried by said connecting portion overlying the peripheries of the shells in tight sealing engagement therewith.
The method of making plastics foam-filled structural members which comprises molding plastic shells in opposed mold halves, providing a connector strip clamping the connector strip between the mold halves around an outer edge portion of the strip while projecting an inner edge portion of the strip into the cavity between the shells in the molds, filling the cavity between the shells in the molds with plastics foam and simultaneously anchoring the portion of the strip in the cavity securely in the foam, removing the foam-filled unit from the mold halves, severing the portion of the strip projecting from the shells, and sealing the peripheral edges of the shells with flaps carried by the strip.
A structural member comprising a pair of opposed molded plastic shells defining a cavity therebetween, plastics foam filling said cavity, a connector strip extending between peripheral edges of said shells, the connector strip having a first portion adapted to be anchored in parting line of mold halves containing said shells, a second edge portion opposite said first edge portion located in said cavity between the shells anchored in said plastics foam and a connecting portion between said first and second edge portions projecting between the peripheral edges of said shells and closing a gap between the said shells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.