Printing press racking board and corner angle support
OwnerWilliam G. Grauinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing press racking board and corner angle support, both preferably formed via injection molding processes. The racking board is a generally flat member having stiffening ribs and stiffening rod inserts attached to the bottom surface so that the board can exhibit the required stiffness. Hand holds and finger holes are included to facilitate moving the racking board. The corner angle support has two members extending perpendicularly from each other. Each member has flanges which can support a racking board, and each member also includes stiffening ribs to increase stiffness. The racking board and supports are both lighter than the prior art, and yet both exhibit the required stiffness. Also, racking board and supports are less likely to splinter and fracture, and thus exhibit a longer user life.
Claims20
An injection-molded printing press racking board comprising:
- a flat member comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the flat member further comprising first, second, third, and fourth sides extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the first and second sides disposed between the third and fourth sides;
- a plurality of ribs attached to the bottom surface, selective ones of the ribs extending diagonally from the first and third sides in substantially parallel arrangement, other selective ones of the ribs extending diagonally from the second and third sides in substantially parallel arrangement, additional selective ones of the ribs extending orthogonally from the first side to the second side for enhancing rigidity of the flat member;
- and
- at least one stiffening insert attached to and extending across the bottom surface orthogonal to the additional selective ones of the ribs.
A method of forming a printing press racking board, the board including a flat member comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the flat member further comprising first, second, third, and fourth sides extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the first and second sides disposed between the third and fourth sides, a plurality of ribs attached to the bottom surface, selective ones of the ribs extending diagonally from the first and third sides in substantially parallel arrangement, other selective ones of the ribs extending diagonally from the second and third sides in substantially parallel arrangement, additional selective ones of the ribs extending orthogonally from the first side to the second side for enhancing rigidity of the flat member, at least one stiffening insert attached to and extending across the bottom surface orthogonal to the additional selective ones of the ribs, the method comprising:
- preparing a mold that defines a cavity capable of containing a molten polymer and capable of forming the printing press racking board;
- positioning at least one stiffening insert within the mold;
- introducing the molten polymer into the mold;
- allowing the molten polymer to cool, forming an injection molded printing press racking board.
An injection molded corner angle support, the corner angle support useful for providing space between stacked printing press racking boards and comprising:
- a first portion defining a first end, a second end, a top side, a bottom side, a front face, and a back face;
- a second portion attached to the first end and extending generally perpendicular from the first portion, the second portion defining a top side, a bottom side, a front face, and a back face;
- a first flange attached to the top side of the first portion and extending perpendicularly away from the back face of the first portion;
- a second flange attached to the bottom side of the first portion and extending perpendicularly away from the back face of the first portion;
- a third flange attached to the top side of the second portion and extending perpendicularly away from the back face of the second portion;
- and
- a fourth flange attached to the bottom side of the second portion and extending perpendicularly away from the back face of the second portion.
An injection-molded printing press racking board comprising:
- a flat member comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, the flat member including a plurality of weight reducing holes extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the flat member further including a plurality of apertures extending between the top and bottom surfaces for placing a finger therethrough and at least one aperture extending between the top and bottom surfaces for placing a hand therethrough, the flat member further comprising first, second, third, and fourth sides extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the first and second sides disposed between the third and fourth sides, at least one of the sides being rounded outward from the top surface to the bottom surface, the flat member being made of a polypropylene polyphenylene oxide blend;
- at least one stacking tab register including a flat portion and a channel, the flat portion extending outward from the top surface of the flat member, the channel extending inward from the bottom surface of the flat member, wherein the channel further includes a contact surface that is largely parallel to the flat portion;
- a plurality of ribs attached to the bottom surface, selective ones of the ribs extending diagonally from the first and third sides in parallel arrangement, other selective ones of the ribs extending diagonally from the second and third sides in parallel arrangement, additional selective ones of the ribs extending orthogonally from the first side to the second side for enhancing rigidity of the flat member;
- at least one stiffening insert attached to and extending across the bottom surface orthogonal to the additional selective ones of the ribs, the stiffening insert including a generally E-shaped cross section for enhancing rigidity of the flat member;
- and
- an injection molded corner angle support, the corner angle support useful for providing space between stacked printing press racking boards, the corner angle support comprising:
- a first portion defining a first end, a second end, a top side, a bottom side, a front face, and a back face;
- a second portion attached to the first end and extending generally perpendicular from the first portion, the second portion defining a top side, a bottom side, a front face, and a back face;
- a first flange attached to the top side of the first portion and extending perpendicularly away from the back face of the first portion;
- a second flange attached to the bottom side of the first portion and extending perpendicularly away from the back face of the first portion;
- a third flange attached to the top side of the second portion and extending perpendicularly away from the back face of the second portion;
- and
- a fourth flange attached to the bottom side of the second portion and extending perpendicularly away from the back face of the second portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.