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US 6,415,562 B1Granted
Artificial board
AssigneeBenchmark Outdoor Products, Inc.
InventorsJames C. Donaghue, Patrick J. Donaghue
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An artificial board generally including a top portion, an open bottom, and side walls. The top portion and side walls are integrally connected to form the body of the board which has an exterior surface. Stiffening members, integrally connected to the side walls and the top portion, extend between the sides walls and increase the rigidity of the board. Integral connecting portions can be used to construct various platforms, such as those found in benches, tables, and decks. The exterior surface can be a textured surface resembling a wood grain finish.
Claims17
An artificial board comprising:
- a body portion having an exterior surface, a top, a pair of opposing side walls, a pair of opposing end walls, an open bottom, and an open interior;
- the distance between the side walls defining a width and the distance between the top and the open bottom defining a depth of the board;
- a plurality of first stiffening members positioned within the open interior and extending between the opposing side walls;
- at least one second stiffening member positioned within the open interior and extending between the opposing end walls;
- and
- at least one connecting portion integrally connected to at least one of the body portion, the first stiffening members, and the second stiffening member to facilitate the attachment of the board to a support structure, the connecting portion including a vertically oriented column extending from the open bottom of the body portion toward the top, the column having an outer surface, an inner surface, and fins extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, each connecting portion further having cooling apertures positioned adjacent the fins and between the inner and outer surfaces;
- the inner surface of the connecting portion being a cylindrical surface forming a bore which extends through the top of the body.
4 more elements
An injection molded artificial board comprising:
- a top portion having opposing lengthwise edges, opposing widthwise edges, an exterior surface, and an interior surface;
- a pair of opposing side walls each having a top edge, a bottom edge, a pair of opposing vertical edges, an exterior surface, and an interior surface;
- the top edge of one side wall integrally connected adjacent to and parallel with one of the lengthwise edges of the top portion and the top edge of the other side wall integrally connected adjacent to and parallel with the other lengthwise edge of the top portion;
- a pair of opposing end walls each having a top edge, a bottom edge, a pair of opposing vertical edges, an exterior surface, and an interior surface;
- the top edge of one end wall integrally connected adjacent to and parallel with one of the widthwise edges of the top portion and the top edge of the other end wall integrally connected adjacent to and parallel with the other widthwise edge of the top portion;
- the vertical edges of each end wall integrally connected adjacent to and parallel with the corresponding vertical edges of the side walls;
- the top portion, side walls, and end walls form a body portion having an exterior surface, an open interior, a top corresponding with the exterior surface of the top portion and a bottom opposite the top from which the open interior can be accessed;
- the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge of each end wall defining the depth of the board and the distance between the vertical edges of each end wall defining the width of the board;
- a first set of stiffening members positioned within the open interior and extending between and integrally connected to the interior surfaces of the opposing side walls and the interior surface of the top portion;
- a second set of stiffening members positioned within the open interior and extending between and integrally connected to the interior surfaces of the opposing end walls, and the interior surface of the top portion, the second set of stiffening members intersecting the first set of stiffening members at intersection points, the first and second sets of stiffening members integrally connected at the intersection points;
- and
- at least one connecting portion positioned proximate the open interior, each connecting portion comprising a vertically oriented column which extends from the bottom of the body portion toward the top of the body portion, each column having an outer surface, an inner surface, and fins extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, each connecting portion further having cooling apertures positioned adjacent the fins and between the inner and outer surfaces;
- the inner surface of the connecting portion being a cylindrical surface forming a bore which extends through the top portion, whereby the board can be secured to a support structure by inserting a fastener into the bore of the connecting portion and into a corresponding connecting portion of the support structure.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.