U.S. patent number 3,892,902 [Application Number 05/312,199] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-01 for plastic panel pad construction for spacing concrete panels.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Preco Industries, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Robert John Ilukowicz.
United States Patent |
3,892,902 |
Ilukowicz |
July 1, 1975 |
Plastic panel pad construction for spacing concrete panels
Abstract
Panel pads are provided which are useful in spacing concrete
panels and the like for purposes of curing, storage, packing and
shipping. The pad construction consists of a plurality of pad bases
connected together by parallel straps in serial alignment, the
bases being provided on one side thereof with a plurality of
hemispherical projections peaking in a common plane and arranged in
three parallel rows, the projections in the outer rows of which are
aligned with each other and are equally spaced. The projections in
the innermost of the three rows are staggered with respect to the
projections in the outer rows and are divided into two groups of
three projections each on each respective pad base. These groups
are spaced to leave a gap therebetween. Each base is provided with
at least one hole passing therethrough which permits affixing the
pads to wooden supports or the like. The bases are scored so that
they may be hingeably displaced into separate sections or so that
they can be broken apart to form separate sections.
Inventors: |
Ilukowicz; Robert John (Coram,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Preco Industries, Ltd.
(Plainview, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23210329 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/312,199 |
Filed: |
December 4, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/99; 52/98;
206/593; 206/820; 428/43; 428/131; 428/178; 428/166; 428/179 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
57/00 (20130101); Y10T 428/15 (20150115); Y10S
206/82 (20130101); Y10T 428/24562 (20150115); Y10T
428/24008 (20150115); Y10T 428/24661 (20150115); Y10T
428/24273 (20150115); Y10T 428/24669 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
57/00 (20060101); B32B 007/08 (); B32B 003/10 ();
B65D 057/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;161/130,122,121,48,109
;52/173,98 ;214/1.5R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dier; Philip
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Roberts & Cohen
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A panel pad construction comprising base means having opposite
sides and, on one of said sides, a plurality of spaced solid and
substantially non-deformable hemispherical projections of equal
height peaking at points in a common plane, said base means
includes a plurality of bases, each said base forming a monolithic
structure with respective of said projections, each said base being
provided with a scoring serving selectively to divide the same into
hingeably connected sections adapted to be broken into separate
sections each of which has projections thereon, and relatively thin
straps connecting the bases in serial alignment, said monolithic
structure being of a high density polyethylene having a specific
gravity of about 0.92-0.95.
2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said projections
are aligned in parallel but staggered rows in each said base.
3. A construction as claimed in claim 2 wherein said base is
provided with a hole passing therethrough.
4. A construction as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said base is
rectangularly shaped with rounded corners.
5. A construction as claimed in claim 4 wherein the projections
extend about three times the thickness of the base.
6. A construction as claimed in claim 5 wherein said base has a
substantially constant thickness of about 1/16 to 3/8 of an
inch.
7. A construction as claimed in claim 6 wherein the projections are
arranged in three parallel rows the outer two of which include six
evenly spaced mutually aligned projections and the inner row of
which includes six projections arranged in two spaced groups of
three projections each of which are staggered relative to the
projections of the outer rows.
8. A construction as claimed in claim 7 wherein the projections are
spaced by at least one-eighth of an inch.
9. A panel pad construction comprising base means having opposite
sides and, on one of said sides, a plurality of spaced solid and
substantially non-deformable hemispherical projections of equal
height peaking at points in a common plane, said base means
including a plurality of bases, each said base forming a monolithic
structure with respective of said projections, each said base being
provided with a scoring serving selectively to divide the same into
hingeably connected sections adapted to be broken into separate
sections each of which has projections thereon, said monolithic
structure being of a high density polyethylene having a specific
gravity of about 0.92-0.95.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to spacers and supports and more
particularly to spacers and supports for use in connection with
concrete panels or the like.
BACKGROUND
In the curing, storing, packing and shipping of concrete panels or
the like, it is usually necessary to build up stacks of panels or
to lean the panels against one another in inclined attitudes so
that one panel will bear the weight of one or more other
panels.
If the panels are allowed to come into contact with one another,
this might prevent curing or will at least prevent curing in a
proper manner. In addition, it is possible that the panels will
cause stains on one another or will introduce defects into adjacent
panels which will be intolerable with respect to both quality of
product and economy.
In addition, during the shipping and handling of such panels as
have been referred to generally above, there may occur breakage,
chipping and cracking if the panels are permitted to come into
contact with one another and this must be avoided if an economical
procedure is to be achieved.
In the handling of panels of the above-noted type, it is not
uncommon to encounter loads in excess of, for example, twenty tons
and even more. Thus, provision must be made to support loads of
such magnitudes in an economical manner.
Additionally, provision has to be made, in the case of curing, to
allow air to circulate in and about the panel faces in order to
prevent curing stains. Moreover, in the processing of such panels
and the curing thereof, there will frequently be confronted
materials which are of an acidic or alkaline nature.
Additionally, panels are generally of parallelepiped form as a
consequence whereof there are adjoining and angularly related faces
with respect to which it may be necessary to provide spacing,
bracing or support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide improved spacers or
pads for spacing or supporting panels fabricated of concrete or the
like.
It is a further object of the invention to provide improved panel
pads which are capable of withstanding, for example, loads in
excess of twenty tons.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide improved panal
pads of the above-noted type which are reuseable.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved
panel pad of the above-noted type which provides for the venting of
air and allows air to circulate against the faces of the panels
supported in order to prevent curing stains.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide low cost
and highly protective panel pads which are superior to those which
have been heretofore available.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved panel
pad construction which enables the same to be divided simply into
one or more subsections capable of being used independently.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved
panel pad construction which enables the elimination of breakage,
chipping and cracking during the storage, packing and shipping of
panels of the above-noted type.
Further objects of the invention include the provision of improved
pads which will not themselves stain the panels which are
supported, braced or spaced and which are improvements over panels
made, for example, of wood, foams, metal, asbestos, hay and so
forth.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved
panel construction which is inert with respect to acids and
alkalis.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved
panel pad of the above-noted type which provides readily for
affixing the same to wooden frames and supports.
To achieve the above and other objects of the invention, there is
provided an improved panel pad construction which comprises a base
means having opposite sides and, at least on one of said sides, a
plurality of spaced projections of equal height peaking at points
in a common plane whereby there results only a point contact with
the panel which will be supported, spaced or braced thereby.
Preferably, the projections of the pad of the invention are
hemispherical in shape in order to provide for an optimum
distribution of the forces involved and in order to provide for a
point contact with the panels to be handled while avoiding
penetration into the same.
Preferably, the projections provided on the base means of the
invention are aligned in parallel but staggered rows. In
particular, said base means may include at least one base forming a
monolithic structure with the afore-noted projections. These
projections are preferably solid in order to provide for handling
loads of the above-mentioned magnitude.
The base means as noted above includes at least one base. This base
is preferably provided with a hole passing therethrough and there
may be additional holes provided in order to facilitate nailing the
same to an associated wooden support or frame.
In accordance with a feature of the invention, the base mentioned
hereinabove is provided with a scoring service to divide the base
into hingeably connected sections or to enable the base to be
broken into separate sections which can be separately employed.
According to a further feature of the invention, the base is of
generally rectangular shape and is provided with rounded
corners.
According to still another feature of the invention, the base means
may include a plurality of the afore-mentioned bases and relatively
thin straps will be provided connecting the bases in serial
alignment.
According to still another feature of the invention, the
projections extend outwardly from the base to an extent which is
about three times the thickness of the base.
With respect to a specific embodiment of the invention, the base
means and projections are of a monolithic construction formed of a
high density polymer. Preferably, the polymer will have a specific
gravity of about 0.92 to 0.95.
According to still another specific embodiment of the invention,
the afore-mentioned base will have a substantially constant
thickness of about 1/16th to 3/8ths of an inch.
According to still another specific embodiment of the invention,
the projections are arranged in three parallel rows, the outer two
of which include six evenly spaced mutually aligned projections and
the inner row of which includes six projections arranged in two
spaced groups of three projections, each of which are staggered
relative to the projections of the outer rows.
The projections as will be seen hereinafter are preferably spaced
by at least one-eighth of an inch and the base means and
projections are preferably of a material which is inert to acids
and alkalis.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will be found in the detailed description which follows
as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a panel pad construction provided in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention and
illustrating two pads connected in series and indicating that
additional pads may be connected thereto;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the panel pad construction illustrated in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view showing how a panel pad of the invention may be
separated into separate sections;
FIG. 4 is a side view of three panels in inclined attitudes showing
a particular use of the panel pads of the invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates pads in back-to-back relationship in a further
use of panel pads of the invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates still a further use of the panel pads of the
invention; and
FIG. 7 illustrates still a further use of the invention in the form
of a T cradle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In FIGS. 1 and 2 are seen a preferred panel pad construction
provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention. Therein appear panel pads 10 and 12 consisting
respectively of bases 14 and 16 upon which are provided a plurality
of projections 18. The bases 14 and 16 have upper and lower sides
and, in the preferred embodiment, the projections 18 extends
upwardly from the upper side 20 of the respective pads, the lower
side 22 thereof being devoid of projections and therefore being at
least substantially planar.
The pads 10 and 12 are connected by parallel straps 24 and 26 which
are relatively short and narrow. For example, where the length L of
a pad is six inches and the width W thereof is 21/2 inches, the
straps 24 and 26 will be approximately one-eighth to one-fourth of
an inch in length and will be approximately one-eighth of an inch
in width.
Additional straps 28 and 30 are indicated since the arrangement is
preferably provided as a group of three or more pads and since,
additionally, as many further pads as desired may be added in
serial arrangement as may be particularly advantageous for a
particular use.
The pad 10 is provided with a scoring indicated generally at 32. In
FIG. 2 this scoring is seen to be of inverted V shape and is
provided so that sections 10a and 10b of the pad 10 may be
considered as hingeably connected or as capable of being separated
into two separate sections which may be individually employed.
Similarly, pad 12 is provided with a scoring indicated at 34 and of
the same shape, nature and use as has been discussed with respect
to pad 10. Thus, it is clear that pad 12 is also separable into
separate sections 12a and 12b which may be considered as hingeably
connected or as separable into two independent sections which may
be separately employed.
Actually, the sections are connected by a bridge 36 or 38 which is
of a thickness capable of holding the sections 10a and 10b, on the
one hand, and sections 12a and 12 b, on the other hand, fairly
rigidly in coplanar relationship.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the scores or
scorings 32 and 34 are preferably rectilinear in nature and divide
their respective pads 10 and 12 into equal sections. Thus, for
example, pad 10 can be broken into two separate sections which are
31/2 inches long and 21/2 inches wide according to the example
dimensions provided hereinabove.
As best seen in FIG. 2, the tops of the projections preferably peak
in a common plane indicated at P. The purpose of this is so that
the pads can engage against a planar face of a panel without one of
the projections exerting a greater force on the panels than any of
the other projections.
In addition, while point engagement with a panel is preferred, it
is essential that the projections not pierce into the panels such
as to form holes, scorings or weak points therein. For this
purpose, the projections 18 are preferably of hemispherical shape
or the like, such description being intended to include, by
reference, projections which are ovoid, pyramidal and the like. It
is to be noted, however, that the pads of the invention are
intended to maintain loads of substantial magnitude and the
hemispherical shape is preferred with respect to large loads since
the loads and the stresses and strains resulting therefrom are very
evenly and advantageously distributed.
The bases 14 and 16 as indicated hereinabove are preferably
rectangular in shape and are provided with rounded corners such as
indicated at 40. The thickness T of the base has a preferred
relationship to the overall height of the pad which is indicated at
H which advantageously is equal to 4 T.
The bases and projections extending therefrom are preferably of a
monolithic construction with the projections being solid along with
the base. The projections are preferably formed of a high density
polymer which may be, for example, polyethylene. Preferably, the
polymer will have a specific gravity of about 0.92 to 0.95. At the
same time, the bases will each have a substantially constant
thickness of about 1/16th to 3/8th of an inch.
As has been seen in FIG. 1, the projections on each pad are
arranged in three parallel rows. These are indicated for the pad 10
as rows R1 and R2 and R3. Rows R1 and R3 are the outer rows and the
projections therein are equally spaced. The projections of row R1
are aligned with the projections of row R3.
The projections of inner row R2 are divided into spaced groups G1
and G2 of three projections each, the projections of inner row R2
being staggered with respect to the projections of rows R1 and R3.
Group G1 is thus spaced from group G2.
In addition to the afore-mentioned provisions and features, the pad
10 is provided with holes 42 and 44 passing therethrough at
diagonally disposed corners thereof, while pad 12 is provided with
similarly positioned holes 46 and 48. The purpose of these holes is
to facilitate the nailing of the bases to wooden forms, supports,
braces and the like.
Finally, it should be noted that the projections are all spaced
from one another, this being by a minimum of about one-eighth of an
inch and preferably more to provide the passage of air therebetween
when concrete panels are resting against the pads or are spaced or
braced by the pads in a manner to be indicated in greater detail
hereinafter.
From what has been stated hereinabove, it will be noted that a
panel pad construction is provided which comprises generally base
means having opposite sides and, on at least one of said sides, a
plurality of spaced projections of equal height peaking at points
preferably arranged in a common plane. Both the base means and
projections are for purposes which have been discussed herein of a
material inert to acids and alkalis. Preferably, the projections
are hemispherical to provide point contact with the panels while at
the same time providing optimum distribution of the loads
involved.
Reference is next made to FIG. 3 wherein it is seen that, for
example, a panel may be split apart into separate sections 50 and
52. This provides a two-for-one advantage so that with a small cut
or with a working back and forth of the two sections, it is
possible to have two pads for separate use in place of the single
original pad.
in FIG. 4 is illustrated a use of the invention involving a
plurality of concrete panels 60, 62 and 64. The panel 60 is leaning
against a wall or other bracing structure (not shown). The bottoms
of the panels are resting on pads 66, 68 and 70 which are of a
construction as has been described hereinabove. These pads are
resting upon a wooden support beam 72.
At the respective top right corner edges of the panels are provided
additional pads 74, 76 and 78. These pads are once again of the
construction described hereinabove and the hingeable connection of
certain of the sections permit one of the pads to be bent at right
angles to the remainder of the pads in the attached group so that
part of the pads provide for spacing between the panels whereas the
upper sections of the pads indicated at 80, 82 and 84 enable
additional panels to be loaded atop the panels 60, 62 and 64.
FIG. 5 illustrates pads 86 and 88 positioned in back to back
relationship, one being positioned on the other in order to space
panels 90 and 92 which are horizontally disposed and loaded one
atop the other.
FIG. 6 illustrates the use of pads 94, 96, 98 and 100 to space
panels 102, 104 and 106, these being loaded one on top of the other
with the face of the panel upwards and in horizontal relationship,
the entire load being supported atop the wooden beams 108 and 110.
Although not illustrated, it is to be noted that pads might be
interposed between beams 108 and 110, on the one hand, and the
lowermost panel 102, on the other hand.
FIg. 7 illustrates a concrete beam 112 with pad 114 being bent into
U-shaped form to form a T cradle with the projections on the inner
face of the U-shaped construction in order to engage the beam 112
with a multiple point contact.
In all of the above arrangements, the spacing between the
projections and the point contact of the projections with the
concrete whether it be for purposes of curing, storage, packing
and/or shipping enables air to circulate around the panel faces to
prevent cure stains, avoids penetration into the panels, and
achieves all of the inventions noted hereinabove. At the same time
the panels are low in cost, reusable, unbreakable and long lasting
as well as being non-reactive to acids and alkalis.
There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many
modifications and variations of the construction set forth
hereinabove. These modifications and variations will not depart
from the scope of the invention if defined by the following
claims.
* * * * *