Molded plastic structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12239218-B2
Application number	US-202318474187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2023
Priority date	Aug 27, 2021
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

A structure, such as a tabletop, may be constructed from blow-molded plastic. The tabletop may include an upper surface, a lower surface, and a hollow interior portion disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface. A lip may extend downwardly relative to the lower surface of the tabletop, and the lip including an outer surface and an inner surface. One or more supports may be disposed in the inner surface of the lip, and one or more joints may be disposed in the inner surface of the lip. A joint may be disposed between adjacent supports, and a distal portion of the lip may include a compression edge. A lower portion of the supports may contact the compression edge, and/or a lower portion of the joints may contact the compression edge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A 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;
a lip extending downwardly relative to the lower surface of the tabletop, the lip including an outer surface and an inner surface;
at least two supports disposed in the inner surface of the lip;
one or more joints disposed in the inner surface of the lip, a joint of the one or more joints disposed between adjacent supports of the at least two supports, the joint disposed between the adjacent supports at least substantially prevents fluid flow between the adjacent supports; and
a compression edge disposed in a distal portion of the lip between the adjacent supports of the at least two supports.

2. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the joint at least substantially extends between the adjacent supports of the at least two supports; and
wherein the compression edge at least substantially extends between the adjacent supports of the at least two supports.

3. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the tabletop, the lip, the at least two supports, the one or more joints, and the compression edge are integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure.

4. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the tabletop includes a perimeter; and
wherein a combined length of the plurality of the at least two supports and the one or more joints comprises a length that is:
greater than fifty percent (50%) of the perimeter,
greater than sixty percent (60%) of the perimeter,
greater than seventy percent (70%) of the perimeter,
greater than eighty percent (80%) of the perimeter, or
greater than ninety percent (90%) of the perimeter.

5. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein adjacent supports of the at least two supports are spaced generally an equidistance apart along a side of the blow-molded plastic structure.

6. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein adjacent supports of the at least two supports are spaced generally an equidistance apart along at least a portion of the tabletop.

7. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , further comprising a side rail of a frame, the side rail including an upper portion that supports the lower surface of the tabletop, a first segment that supports one or more supports of the at least two supports, and a second segment that supports a distal portion of the lip.

8. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of the at least two supports contacts the compression edge; and
wherein a lower portion of the one or more joints contacts the compression edge.

9. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein an average height of the at least two supports is generally equal to an average height of the one or more joints.

10. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment portion disposed in the inner surface of the lip, a lower portion of the attachment portion contacting the compression edge.

11. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment portion disposed in the inner surface of the lip, a height of the attachment portion generally equal to an average height of the at least two supports and generally equal to an average height of the one or more joints.

12. A molded plastic tabletop comprising:
an upper surface;
a lower surface;
a hollow interior portion at least partially disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the tabletop;
a lip extending downwardly relative to the lower surface of the tabletop, the lip including an inner surface;
two or more supports disposed in the inner surface of the lip;
one or more joints disposed in the inner surface of the lip, wherein a joint of the one or more joints is disposed between a pair of adjacent supports of the two or more supports; and
a compression edge disposed in at least a portion of the lip;
wherein a portion of one or more of the supports contacts the compression edge; and
wherein a portion of one or more of the joints contacts the compression edge.

13. The molded plastic tabletop as in claim 12 , wherein a joint of the one or more joints at least substantially prevents fluid flow between adjacent supports of the two or more supports.

14. The molded plastic tabletop of claim 12 , further comprising a frame, the frame including an upper portion that buttresses the lower surface of the tabletop, a first segment that buttresses one or more supports of the two or more supports, and a second segment that buttresses a distal portion of the lip.

15. The molded plastic tabletop of claim 12 , further comprising an attachment portion disposed in the inner surface of the lip, a height of the attachment portion generally equal to an average height of the two or more supports and generally equal to an average height of the one or more joints.

16. The molded plastic tabletop of claim 12 , wherein an average height of the two or more supports is generally equal to an average height of the one or more joints.

17. A molded plastic tabletop comprising:
an upper surface;
a lower surface;
a hollow interior portion at least partially disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the tabletop;
a lip extending downwardly relative to the lower surface of the tabletop, the lip including an inner surface;
a plurality of supports disposed in the inner surface of the lip; and
a plurality of joints disposed in the inner surface of the lip;
wherein an average height of the plurality of supports is generally equal to an average height of the plurality of joints.

18. The molded plastic tabletop of claim 17 , wherein a joint of the plurality of joints at least substantially prevents fluid flow between adjacent supports of the plurality of supports.

19. The molded plastic tabletop of claim 17 , further comprising a frame, the frame including an upper portion that buttresses the lower surface of the tabletop, a first segment that buttresses one or more supports of the plurality of supports, and a second segment that buttresses a distal portion of the lip.

20. The molded plastic tabletop of claim 17 , wherein a lower portion of one or more of the plurality of supports contacts a compression edge disposed in at least a portion of the lip; and
wherein a lower portion of one or more of the plurality of joints contacts the compression edge.

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Mitch
• Boydston Kevin
• Cai Leo

Classifications

• B29L2031/448

  Tables · CPC title

• B29K2995/0089

  Impact strength or toughness · CPC title

• B29K2995/0082

  Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness · CPC title

• B29K2995/0077

  Yield strength; Tensile strength · CPC title

• B29C49/4802

  with means for locally compressing part(s) of the parison in the main blowing cavity · CPC title