Slipsheet, divider sheet and method for making the same
AssigneeFresh Pak Corp.
InventorJohn Bazbaz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a slipsheet and/or divider sheet and a method for making the same, the sheet having an imprint or an embossing that provides a raised planar surface. The raised planar surface preferably comprises a plurality of ridges, crowns or crests, which are preferably arranged in a pattern throughout an upper surface of the sheet. To make the sheet, a die can be etched to have protuberances or bumps, and the die is preferably pressed into a sheet of pliable thermoplastic material. The sheet thus made has a plurality of indentation formed by the protuberances or bumps on the die, and the sheet has a planar outer surface comprising a plurality of ridges, crowns and crests between the indentations.
Claims31
A slipsheet or divider sheet, comprising:
- a sheet of extruded thermoplastic material in which a first surface of the sheet comprises a pattern of etched and/or engraved indentations of uniform depth so that the sheet of material is formed with a recessed surface and a uniform raised surface, wherein the uniform raised surface is essentially planar, and wherein the uniform raised surface provides an outermost contact surface, wherein the sheet of material has the approximate dimensions of a wooden pallet, except the thickness of the sheet of material is thin compared to the wooden pallet, wherein the sheet of material provides essentially no cushioning effect for a load of goods placed on the sheet of material, and wherein the sheet of material has an edge that can be gripped by a fork-lift vehicle equipped with a push-pull device.
A slipsheet or divider sheet, comprising:
- a sheet of material for use with a fork-lift vehicle equipped with a push-pull device and a platen for supporting a load of goods on the sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material has opposing sides one and two, wherein indentation are pressed into side one in a manner such that a raised surface on side one is not indented, wherein the raised surface comprises a plurality of ridges, wherein the raised surface provides an outermost contact surface, wherein side two has an outer surface, wherein the sheet of material has a thickness between the outermost contact surface of side one and the outer surface of side two, wherein the thickness of the slipsheet and/or divider sheet does not exceed about five millimeters, and wherein the sheet of material has an edge and a tab along the edge for the push-pull device to grip as the platen slides under the sheet of material.
A slipsheet or divider sheet, comprising:
- a sheet of material for use with a fork-lift vehicle equipped with a push-pull device and a platen for supporting a load of goods on the sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material has opposing sides one and two, wherein side one has a recessed surface and a raised surface, wherein the raised surface comprises a net-shaped plurality of ridges, wherein the raised surface provides an outermost contact surface, wherein side two has an outermost contact surface, wherein the sheet of material has a thickness as measured through the sheet of material from the outermost contact surface of side one to the outermost contact surface of side two, wherein the sheet of material has a perimeter, wherein the thickness of the slipsheet and/or divider sheet is the thickness of the sheet of material, including its perimeter, and wherein the thickness of the slipsheet and/or divider sheet does not exceed about five millimeters, wherein the recessed surface of side one does not protrude through side two substantially, and wherein the sheet of material can be grabbed by the push-pull device along the perimeter for holding the sheet of material while the platen moves with respect to the sheet of material.
A slip pallet that can be handled by a fork-lift vehicle outfitted with a platen and a push-pull device, comprising:
- a thin sheet of thermoplastic material having opposing upper and lower sides that have the approximate dimensions of a wooden pallet, wherein the sheet of thermoplastic material is manufactured in a manner such that the lower side of the sheet of thermoplastic material is imprinted to provide a lower outermost contact surface that comprises a continuous grid of ridges for reducing friction between the lower outermost contact surface and the platen, wherein the continuous grid of ridges extends outwardly from the lower side of the sheet of thermoplastic material a substantially uniform distance so that the lower outermost contact surface is a substantially planar surface, wherein the sheet of thermoplastic material is manufactured in a manner such that the upper side of the sheet of thermoplastic material is not imprinted, wherein the upper side of the sheet of thermoplastic material has an upper outermost contact surface that is substantially smooth, and wherein the maximum thickness of the slip pallet is the distance between the lower outermost contact surface and the upper outermost contact surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.