US 6,892,993 B2 · Load bearing article

Abstract

A load bearing article (1) is described and includes a plurality of elongated shells (20) having a plurality of internal reinforcing ribs (50) fixedly attached within the hollow interior (35) of each shell (20), the shells (20) reside substantially within a common plane and are fixedly attached together by means of an external molded plastic structure (53). Each elongated shell (20) has a plurality perforations (e.g., perforations 38, 41, 44 and 45) having edges. A portion of the plastic material of the internal reinforcing ribs (50) and the external molded structure (53) extends through at least some of the perforations in each shell (20), and the edges of the perforations are embedded in the plastic material extending therethrough, thereby fixedly attaching the internal reinforcing ribs (50) within and the external molded structure (53) to each shell (20). The load bearing surface (87) of the load bearing article (1) comprises (or is defined by at least) the external molded structure (53) (e.g., external molded structure (53) and at least one of, the elongated shells (20), and the plurality of internal reinforcing ribs (50)). The load bearing article is preferably formed by concurrently molding the plastic material of the plurality of internal reinforcing ribs (50) onto the interior surfaces (32), and the external molded structure (53) onto the exterior surfaces (29), of the elongated shells (20). Also described is a reversibly extendable load bearing structure (11) that includes at least two load bearing articles (1 and 1′) connected together by means of a hinge (165).

Claims30

Dependent claims

A load bearing article comprising:

(a) a plurality of elongated shells residing substantially within a common plane, each of said elongated shells being separated one from the other and having exterior surfaces, interior surfaces which define a hollow interior, and a plurality of perforations having edges;
(b) a plurality of internal reinforcing ribs of plastic material located within the hollow interior of each elongated shell, a portion of said internal reinforcing ribs being in abutting relationship with the interior surfaces of each elongated shell;
(c) an external molded structure of plastic material residing between said elongated shells, a portion of said external molded structure being in abutting relationship with at least a portion of the exterior surfaces of said elongated shells;
and
(d) a load bearing surface comprising said external molded structure,
wherein,
(i) a portion of the plastic material of said internal reinforcing ribs extends through at least some of said perforations of each elongated shell, the edges of said perforations being embedded in the plastic material of said internal reinforcing ribs extending therethrough, thereby attaching fixedly said internal reinforcing ribs to each elongated shell, and
(ii) a portion of the plastic material of said external molded structure extends through at least some of said perforations of said elongated shells, the edges of said perforations being embedded in the plastic material of said external molded plastic structure extending therethrough, thereby attaching fixedly said external molded plastic structure to said elongated shells and attaching fixedly said elongated shells to each other.

5 more elements

A reversibly extendable load bearing structure comprising at least two load bearing articles, each load bearing article being joined to at least one adjacent load bearing article by means of a hinge, each load bearing article having an end that abuts an end of each adjacent load bearing article when said reversibly extendable load bearing structure is fully extended, wherein each of said load bearing articles comprises:

(a) a plurality of elongated shells residing substantially within a common plane, each of said elongated shells being separated one from the other and having exterior surfaces, interior surfaces which define a hollow interior, and a plurality of perforations having edges;
(b) a plurality of internal reinforcing ribs of plastic material located within the hollow interior of each elongated shell, a portion of said internal reinforcing ribs being in abutting relationship with the interior surfaces of each elongated shell;
(c) an external molded structure of plastic material residing between said elongated shells, a portion of said external molded structure being in abutting relationship with at least a portion of the exterior surfaces of said elongated shells;
and
(d) a load bearing surface comprising said external molded structure,
further wherein,
(i) a portion of the plastic material of said internal reinforcing ribs extends through at least some of said perforations of each elongated shell, the edges of said perforations being embedded in the plastic material of said internal reinforcing ribs extending therethrough, thereby attaching fixedly said internal reinforcing ribs to each elongated shell, and
(ii) a portion of the plastic material of said external molded structure extends through at least some of said perforations of said elongated shells, the edges of said perforations being embedded in the plastic material of said external molded plastic structure extending therethrough, thereby attaching fixedly said external molded plastic structure to said elongated shells and attaching fixedly said elongated shells to each other.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Load bearing article

Life of this patent

Load bearing article

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30