BLOW-MOLDED RIB STRUCTURE

Abstract

A blow-molded structural panel has a stiffening rib structure in which the height and width of the rib structure varies over its length. For example, the rib structure may have three tall portions separated by two short portions, with a gradual slope in height between the various portions. The rib structure is preferably wider in the short portions than it is in the tall portions. The lower height of the rib structure in some portions enhances the stiffness of the panel, while also using less material because the plastic does not have to be drawn so deeply into the mold in the short portions.

Claims

1. A blow-molded structural panel comprising: a panel surface; and a stiffening rib structure extending outward from the panel surface, the stiffening rib structure comprising: a first end portion; a second end portion disposed opposite the first end portion; a first tall portion disposed adjacent the first end portion, the first tall portion having a first tall portion height; a second tall portion disposed adjacent the second end portion, the second tall portion having a second tall portion height; and one or more short portions disposed between the first tall portion and the second tall portion, each short portion having a short portion height that is less than the first tall portion height and less than the second tall portion height.

2. The blow-molded structural panel of claim 1 wherein the stiffening rib structure further comprises: a first sloped portion disposed between the first end portion and the first tall portion, the first sloped portion having a height that slopes from adjacent the panel surface to the first tall portion height; and a second sloped portion disposed between the second tall portion and the second end portion, the second sloped portion having a height that slopes from adjacent the panel surface to the second tall portion height.

3. The blow-molded structural panel of claim 1 wherein the stiffening rib structure further comprises: a third tall portion disposed between the first tall portion and the second tall portion, the third tall portion having a third tall portion height; and the one or more short portions comprising: a first short portion disposed between the first tall portion and the third tall portion, the first short portion having a first short portion height that is less than the third tall portion height; and a second short portion disposed between the third tall portion and the second tall portion, the second short portion having a second short portion height that is less than the third tall portion height.

4. The blow-molded structural panel of claim 3 further comprising: a third sloped portion disposed between the first tall portion and the first short portion, the third sloped portion having a height that slopes from the first tall portion height to the first short portion height; a fourth sloped portion disposed between the first short portion and the third tall portion, the fourth sloped portion having a height that slopes from the first short portion height to the third tall portion height; a fifth sloped portion disposed between the third tall portion and the second short portion, the fifth sloped portion having a height that slopes from the third tall portion height to the second short portion height; and a sixth sloped portion disposed between the second short portion and the second tall portion, the sixth sloped portion having a height that slopes from the second short portion height to the second tall portion height.

5. The blow-molded structural panel of claim 1 wherein the first and second tall portions have a tall portion width, and the one or more short portions have a short portion width that is greater than the tall portion width.

6. The blow-molded structural panel of claim 3 wherein the third tall portion has a tall portion width, and the first and second short portions have a short portion width that is greater than the tall portion width.

7. The blow-molded structural panel of claim 1 comprising a portion of a tabletop, wherein the panel surface of the blow-molded structural panel comprises a bottom surface of the tabletop.

8. A blow-molded structural panel comprising: a panel surface; and a stiffening rib structure extending outward from the panel surface, the stiffening rib structure comprising: a first tall portion having a first tall portion height and a first tall portion width; a second tall portion having a second tall portion height and a second tall portion width; and one or more short portions disposed between the first tall portion and the second tall portion, each short portion having a short portion height that is less than the first tall portion height and less than the second tall portion height, each short portion having a short portion width that is greater than the first tall portion width and greater than the second tall portion width.

9. The blow-molded structural panel of claim 8 wherein the stiffening rib structure further comprises: a first end portion; a second end portion disposed opposite the first end portion; a first sloped portion disposed between the first end portion and the first tall portion, the first sloped portion having a height that slopes from adjacent the panel surface to the first tall portion height; and a second sloped portion disposed between the second tall portion and the second end portion, the second sloped portion having a height that slopes from adjacent the panel surface to the second tall portion height.

10. The blow-molded structural panel of claim 8 wherein the stiffening rib structure further comprises: a third tall portion disposed between the first tall portion and the second tall portion, the third tall portion having a third tall portion height and a third tall portion width; and the one or more short portions comprising: a first short portion disposed between the first tall portion and the third tall portion, the first short portion having a first short portion height that is less than the third tall portion height, and a first short portion width that is greater than the third tall portion width; and a second short portion disposed between the third tall portion and the second tall portion, the second short portion having a second short portion height that is less than the third tall portion height, and a second short portion width that is greater than the third tall portion width.

11. The blow-molded structural panel of claim 1 comprising a portion of a tabletop, wherein the panel surface of the blow-molded structural panel comprises a bottom surface of the tabletop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Other embodiments of the invention will become apparent by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a blow-molded plastic tabletop having rib structures according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 2 depicts a detailed view of a rib structure of the blow-molded plastic tabletop shown in FIG. 1; and

[0018] FIGS. 3 and 4 depict cross-sectional views of the rib structure shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Embodiments described herein are directed to blow-molded plastic structural panels, such as may be used in furniture, buildings, vehicles, and other structures. One example of a blow-molded panel is a blow-molded plastic tabletop 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The tabletop 10 has a bottom surface 12, and extending therefrom are a plurality of stiffening rib structures 14 that are integrally formed in the bottom surface 12 during the blow-molding process. Each rib structure 14 extends vertically outward from the bottom surface 12 by various distances referred to herein as heights of various portions of the rib structure 14.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the length of the rib structure 14 extends from a first end portion 20a to a second end portion 20b. The height of the rib structure 14 varies along its length, including tall portions 16a, 16b, 16c, and short portions 18a, 18b. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the height H.sub.T of the rib structure 14 in the tall portion 16c (also referred to as the third tall portion height) is preferably about 23.7 mm, whereas the height H.sub.S in the adjacent short portion 18b (also referred to as the second short portion height) is preferably about 10.5 mm. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, there are three tall portions, referred to herein as the first tall portion 16a, the second tall portion 16b, and the third tall portion 16c, and there are two short portions, referred to herein as the first short portion 18a and the second short portion 18b. However, it will be appreciated that there may be more or fewer tall portions and more or fewer short portions in other embodiments. Thus, the invention is not limited to any particular number of tall or short portions.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the width of the rib structure 14 also varies over its length. For example, the width W.sub.T of the rib structure 14 in the central tall portion 16c (also referred to as the third tall portion width) is preferably about 15.0 mm, whereas the width W.sub.S in the adjacent short portion 18b (also referred to as the second short portion width) is preferably about 17.4 mm.

[0022] In the tall portions 16a-16c, the ratio of width W.sub.T to height H.sub.T preferably ranges from about 53% to about 73%, and is preferably about 63%. In the short portions 18a-18b, the ratio of height H.sub.S to width W.sub.S preferably ranges from about 50% to about 70%, and is preferably about 60%.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the radii of curvature R1 and R2 within the tall portions 16a-16c preferably range from about 4.1 mm to about 5.0 mm, whereas the radii of curvature R5 and R4 within the short portions 18a-18b preferably range from about 5.2 mm to about 6.3 mm. The radii of curvature R3 and R6 where the rib structure 14 meets the other portions of the bottom surface 12 preferably range from about 10.0 to about 10.5 mm.

[0024] In the wide short portions 18a-18b, the plastic material of the bottom surface 12 is drawn less deeply into the mold than it is in the narrow tall portions 16a-16c. Due to the difference in draw depth, the thickness of the plastic material of the bottom surface 14 within the tall portions 16a-16c tends to be less than the thickness of the plastic material of the bottom surface 12 within the short portions 18a-18b. In the example depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the thickness T.sub.T of the plastic material in the tall portions 16a-16c preferably ranges from about 1.2 mm to about 1.5 mm over the width of the rib structure 14, whereas the thickness T.sub.S of the plastic material in the short portions 18a-18b preferably ranges from about 1.5 mm to about 1.8 mm over the width of the rib structure 14. In one preferred embodiment, T.sub.T is about 1.25 mm and T.sub.S is about 1.61 mm.

[0025] With continued reference to FIG. 2, the rib structure 14 includes several sloped portions 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e that connect the short portions 18a-18b and the tall portions 16a-16c. In a preferred embodiment, these sloped portions 22b-22e have heights that slope gradually between the height H.sub.T and the height H.sub.S. A preferred embodiment also includes a sloped portion 22a that connects the first end portion 20a to the first tall portion 16a, and a sloped portion 22f that connects the second end portion 20b to the second tall portion 16b. These sloped portions 22a and 22f have heights that transition gradually between the height H.sub.T and the heights of the end portions 20a-20b adjacent the lower surface 12 of the tabletop 10.

[0026] Advantages of the rib structure described herein include: [0027] less plastic material is required compared to prior structures; [0028] the material thickness in the tall portions of the rib structure can be drawn not as deeply as a conventional blow-molded structure, thereby maintaining strength; and [0029] the rib structure provides greater strength for fastening the steel frame to the tabletop, resulting in a lower rate of material failure.

[0030] The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.