Rubbermaid, Inc.

Erik Lee Skov

Timothy Michael Pierzynski

William F Croft

David A Houk, Jr

Stacy L Wolff

John D Breen

David Michael Stitchick

David A Bird

John F Travers

Russell P Mottmiller

Laura M Marker

Kenneth F Clausen

Jonathan N Mandel I

Embodiments of the present invention are directed at least to a plastic wheel, methods of making a plastic wheel and a waste receptacle. The wheel has a wheel body and a hub. The hub has an outer wall, an inner wall and a central bore orientated along an axis that the hub extends along. The outer wall of the hub has been compressed inwardly toward the inner wall, providing greater structural support for the hub.

Wheel design

A mounting apparatus has a wall panel accessory with at least one connector projecting from a portion of the accessory. The connector has a groove formed in a surface of the connector. A mounting body has a front and a back. At least one connector receptacle extends into a surface of the body and the connector is releasably received in the connector receptacle. A releasable retainer protrudes into the groove of the connector. A wall mounting projection extends from the back of the body and is configured to slidably mount in a channel in a wall panel.

Mounting system and apparatus for attaching accessories to a wall panel

A roof assembly includes a skylight panel and a roof panel. The roof panel includes a skylight opening to accommodate the skylight panel and also includes water management channels disposed adjacent to the skylight panel.

Roof panel assembly with skylight

A frame is constructed to support a roof. A plurality of panels can be slid into position on the frame from the ground. A mating channel joint is formed between adjacent panels that allows one panel to be slid over the adjacent panel into the proper position. The panels engage frame members to properly position the panels on the roof. The roof panels are formed with mounting structures located on the interior or underside thereof. The mounting structures include holes or other receptacles for receiving a rigid connector member. The frame members are also provided with receptacles for receiving the connector member. The connector member is inserted through the first mounting structure, through the receptacle in the frame member and through the mounting structure of the adjacent panel.

Roof assembly method and apparatus

A blow molding system for forming a hole through a blow molded article includes a mold that houses an outer core pin and a pin support. During the blow molding process, a compression area is created in the mold. After the compression area is formed, the outer core pin and the pin support cooperatively cut out a portion of the compression area during the blow molding process. After the mold is opened, the cut-out portion of the compression area can be removed to expose the hole.

Method and system for forming a hole through a blow molded article

An apparatus for mounting accessories to a panel surface includes at least one accessory interface on the panel surface. An elongate engaging section is recessed within and lies generally parallel to a part of the panel surface. An accessory device has a utility part and an elongate engaging part that is coupled to the utility part. A plurality of the accessory devices and/or accessory interfaces can be provided. An appropriate device and interface are selected. The engaging part is inserted into a portion of the panel interface. The accessory device is slid to an installed position with the engaging part received in the engaging section of the accessory interface.

Apparatus and method for mounting accessory devices to panels

A blow-molded decorative article is disclosed which comprises a plurality of different polymers having different melt flow rates that cause inter-dispersion of the polymers upon blow-molding. The article is blow-molded from a multiple layer parison that a plurality of layers of like polymers, i.e., polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, etc., that have different melt flow rates and different colors. As a result in the differences in the melt flow rates, the polymers of the various layers mix upon blow-molding to create the look of a glazed ceramic pottery or an exterior pattern such as a tie-dyed marbleized or camouflaged pattern.

Blow-molded articles with decorative finish

An improved plastic blow-molded panel structure is shown and described that is lightweight and provides superior resistance to sagging, warping and creeping under high stress loads, especially when used in a horizontal position. The disclosed panel structure includes a combination of transverse or lateral beams extending from the second panel towards the first panel and, in certain embodiments, a plurality of transverse ribs disposed within the lateral beams. The disclosed shelving units may be fabricated from conventional blow-molding processes.

Plastic blow-molded panel with improved structural geometry

A blow molded article is disclosed. The blow molded article includes a body defining a cavity, and a wall integrally-formed with the body and defining at least in part, an enclosure. A method of making a blow molded article is also disclosed. The method comprises supplying a preform to a mold having a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity having a pin, closing the mold, supplying a fluid to the closed mold, expanding a first portion and a second portion of the preform around the pin, and contacting the first portion and the second portion to provide the enclosure.

Enclosed area on a blow molded article and method of making the same

A storage enclosure including a plurality of panels defines an interior space. At least one of the plurality of panels includes a mounting interface configured to couple an accessory to one of the plurality of panels, and a panel interface configured to couple adjacent panels.

Modular storage enclosure

Modular shelving with at least one cabinet that includes a plurality of shelves and vertical risers which serve to space the shelves and support loads placed thereon. Cabinet side wall, back wall and door panels are installed about the risers, with each component having a pair of spaced apart holes adapted to slide over the risers. The holes preferably have a diameter just slightly less than the smallest diameter portion of the risers over which the panels will be placed, and are surrounded by one or more radial slots which allow the material around the hole to flex and accommodate larger diameter portions of the risers with an interference fit. The interference fit eliminates the need for precise hole size manufacturing and provides an additional advantage of holding the cabinet doors in a position selected by the consumer.

Modular shelving with cabinet

An apparatus for connecting adjacent panels includes a first panel and a second panel. Each panel has a connectable edge adapted for connection to a connectable edge of an adjacent panel. At least one first panel interface is disposed on the first panel and at least one second panel interface is disposed on the second panel. Each panel interface is positioned on a surface of the respective panel near the respective connectable edge. First and second interlocking elements are disposed on the respective connectable edges of the panels. The apparatus also includes at least one connector with a base and first and second engaging parts projecting from the base. To connect the panels, the interlocking elements of the connectable edges are interlocked with one another. The connector is mounted to the first and second panels such that the base traverses the connectable edges. The connector is moved such that the first engaging part engages the at least one first panel interface and the second engaging part engages the at least one second panel interface when installed.

Apparatus and method for connecting adjacent panels

A reduced flash molding process and apparatus useful for a variety of parts, especially flat plastic panels, reduces trimming time, regrind waste, increases production speeds, reduces energy consumption, and reduces part weight. The reduction in flash is made possible by providing side members which close before molding material reaches them. Flash still occurs at the ends of the mold, but is eliminated from the sides. Because the parison can be more carefully managed during molding, the mold can be placed closer to the parison extrusion die, thereby reducing parison swell and sag and permitting more accurate filling of all areas within the mold geometry.

Reduced flash molding

A modular enclosure including first channels and a plurality of second and third channels which intersect the first channel at an angle, and a plurality of panels, each including a wall member and edge members pivotally coupled to the wall member. The wall members are configured to engage the first channel and the edge members are configured to engage the second and third channels. A method of assembling a modular enclosure is also disclosed, including providing a base including first channels, second channels, and third channels, providing a plurality of side panels each having a wall member and a first and second edge member pivotally coupled to the wall member, pivoting the first and second edge members so that they are non-parallel to the wall member, and inserting the wall members into the first channel, the first edge member into second channels, and the second edge members into third channels.

Growing community of inventors

Akron, OH, United States of America

Erik Lee Skov