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.
Claims4
In the method of making a dunnage platform comprising the steps of:
- providing a core made from expanded polystyrene in the general shape of a rectangular slab with one side having a plurality of legs extending therefrom;
- providing first and second high impact polystyrene sheets;
- providing a forming mold with an interior that is complimentary to a shape outlined by an edge of said core;
- retaining said core within said mold with a first side of said core and at least half the thickness of said core extending therefrom;
- heating said first sheet to a temperature in a range of 293° F. to 375° F.;
- placing said heated first sheet onto portions of said core that extend from said mold, thereby forming strengthened polystyrene proximal to the surface of said first side and proximal to a surface of at least half of the edge of said core;
- retaining said core within said mold with a second side of said core and at least half the thickness of said core extending therefrom;
- heating said second sheet to a temperature in a range of 293° F. to 375° F.;
- and
- placing said heated second sheet onto portions of said core that extend from said mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.