Molded plastic structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11930919-B2
Application number	US-202217822388-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2022
Priority date	Aug 27, 2021
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A structure constructed using a blow-molding process comprising a tabletop, a lip, a pair of blow points, and a continuous tack-off. The tabletop includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and a hollow interior portion disposed between the upper and lower surfaces. The lip extends downwardly relative to the lower surface. The lip includes an outer and an inner surface. The blow points are configured to receive a blow pin. The blow points include a first portion connected to the lower surface, a second portion connected to the inner surface, and a hollow interior portion in fluid communication with the hollow interior portion. The continuous tack-off is disposed between the tabletop and the lip and extends between the blow points. The continuous tack-off prevents fluid flow between the tabletop and the lip along the section of the lip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blow-molded plastic structure constructed using a blow-molding process, the blow-molded plastic structure comprising:
a tabletop including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a hollow interior portion disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the tabletop, the upper surface, the lower surface, and the hollow interior portion being integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure;
a lip extending downwardly relative to the lower surface of the tabletop, the lip including an outer surface and an inner surface;
a first blow point disposed in the inner surface of the lip, the first blow point sized and configured to receive a blow pin during a blow-molding process;
a second blow point disposed in the inner surface of the lip, the second blow point sized and configured to receive a blow pin during the blow-molding process; and
a continuous tack-off extending between the first blow point and the second blow point, the continuous tack-off at least partially disposed between the tabletop and the lip.

2. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first flow pathway providing fluid communication between the first blow point and a hollow interior portion of the lip during the blow-molding process; and
a second flow pathway providing fluid communication between the first blow point, the hollow interior portion of the tabletop, and the second blow point during the blow-molding process, the second flow pathway being at least substantially separated from the first flow pathway by the continuous tack-off.

3. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the continuous tack-off includes a first portion disposed at least proximate the first blow point and a second portion disposed at least proximate the second blow point.

4. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , further comprising a frame connected to the tabletop, the frame contacting the first blow point and the second blow point.

5. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , further comprising a first fastener receiver disposed in the inner surface of the lip and a second fastener receiver disposed in the inner surface of the lip, the first fastener receiver and the second fastener receiver disposed between the first blow point and the second blow point, an inner surface of the first fastener receiver and an inner surface of the second fastener receiver generally aligned with and generally disposed in a planar configuration with an inner surface of the first blow point and an inner surface of the second blow point.

6. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the continuous tack-off is disposed between the lip and the tabletop on at least one side of the tabletop, at least one corner of the tabletop, and at least one end of the tabletop.

7. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein a length of the continuous tack-off is at least ninety-five percent (95%) of a length of a side of the tabletop.

8. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the first blow point is disposed at least proximate a first corner of the tabletop and the second blow point is disposed at least proximate a second corner of the tabletop;
wherein a first fastener receiver is disposed between the first blow point and the second blow point;
wherein a second fastener receiver is disposed between the first blow point and the second blow point; and
wherein the inner surface of the lip has a generally planar configuration between the first blow point and the second blow point except where the first fastener receiver and the second fastener receiver are disposed.

9. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the lower surface of the tabletop is integrally formed with a portion of the upper surface of the tabletop to form at least a portion the continuous tack-off.

10. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the continuous tack-off is formed by mating two or more of the following surfaces: a portion of the outer surface of the lip, a portion of the inner surface of the lip, a portion of the lower surface of the tabletop, or a portion of the upper surface of the tabletop.

11. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the first blow point and the second blow point are part of a plurality of pairs of blow points;
wherein the plurality of pairs of blow points comprises at least two pairs of blow points;
wherein a first pair of blow points includes the first blow point and the second blow point disposed on a first side of the tabletop;
wherein a second pair of blow points includes a third blow point and a fourth blow point disposed on a second side of the tabletop;
wherein the continuous tack-off includes a first portion disposed between the first blow point and the second blow point; and
wherein the continuous tack-off includes a second portion disposed between the third blow point and the fourth blow point.

12. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 11 , wherein the continuous tack-off includes a third portion disposed between the first blow point and the third blow point;
wherein the continuous tack-off includes a fourth portion disposed between the second blow point and the fourth blow point; and
wherein a combined length of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion of the continuous tack-off is substantially equal to or greater than ninety-five percent (95%) of a perimeter of the tabletop.

13. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the inner surface of the lip and the outer surface of the lip is substantially constant between the first blow point and the second blow point.

14. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the continuous tack-off is disposed at least adjacent to the first blow point and a second end of the continuous tack-off is disposed at least adjacent to the second blow point; and
wherein the lip and the continuous tack-off have a generally uniform size, shape, configuration, and arrangement between the first blow point and the second blow point to create a structure with generally uniform characteristics.

15. A table comprising:
a tabletop constructed from blow-molded plastic, the tabletop including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a hollow interior portion;
a lip extending downwardly from the lower surface of the tabletop, the lip including an inner surface and an outer surface;
a first blow point disposed in the inner surface of the lip, the first blow point being sized and configured to receive a blow pin during the blow-molding process;
a second blow point disposed in the inner surface of the lip, the second blow point being sized and configured to receive a blow pin during the blow-molding process;
a continuous tack-off extending between the first blow point and the second blow point, the continuous tack-off disposed between the lip and the tabletop;
a frame connected to the tabletop, the frame including a first siderail and a second siderail; and
one or more support structures connected to the tabletop, the support structures sized and configured to support the tabletop above a surface.

16. The table of claim 15 , wherein the continuous tack-off is disposed between the lip and the tabletop except where the blow points are located.

17. The table of claim 15 , wherein the continuous tack-off is disposed between the lip and the tabletop expect where one or more of the following features are located: the first blow point, the second

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Mitch
• Boydston Kevin
• Cai Leo

Classifications

• A47B3/08 Primary

  with legs pivoted to top or underframe · CPC title

• A47B3/002

  with foldable underframe · CPC title

• A47B13/003

  Connecting table tops to underframes (connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42) · CPC title

• A47B13/083

  Rims for table tops · CPC title

• A47B13/08 Primary

  Table tops; Rims therefor (not restricted to table tops A47B95/04) · CPC title