The Tensar Corporation

Paul Specht

Philip D Egan

A simple and inexpensive method and apparatus for molding a peripheral frame around a sheet or grid of thermoplastic material to produce a framed panel. A peripheral frame, preferably of structural foam or the like, is injection molded about a thermoplastic sheet or grid of panel-forming material which has been previously drawn or stretched at a temperature which orients the molecules of the polymer, i.e., below the glass transition temperature of the polymer, T.sub.g. Either during the frame molding process, or subsequent thereto, the panel-forming material is heated sufficiently to cause the material to shrink or revert toward its prestretched condition so as to tension the panel-forming material within the frame. Elastomeric sealing means are disclosed for sealing the mold during injection of the frame-forming material and locator fingers are provided to position a grid-like panel-forming material prior to initiation of the molding process. By the utilization of structural foam molding techniques, a panel of thermoplastic material may be integrally-molded and tensioned within a rigid frame to produce a framed panel of any size for use as a barrier, a fence, a guard, a closure, a seat or bedding support, a filter member or other such applications.

Panel framing system with panel tensioning by heat shrinking

Panel framing system and products produced thereby

A self-tensioning fencing system includes a tensioner bar which is mounted directly to a structural support such as a fence post using standard nails, screws or bolts as required according to the type of a particular fence post. The tensioner bar includes a projection for pressing plastic fencing material into a recess in the fence post to allow the plastic fencing material to be tensioned across the structural support posts. A trim cap extrusion is shaped complementary to a side of the tensioner bar, opposite to the projection for engaging with the fencing material, so as to engage and cover the tensioner bar. A post cap covers the upper end of the fence post, tensioner bar and trim cap extrusion.

Self-tensioning permanent fence system

A simple and inexpensive method and apparatus for molding a peripheral frame around a sheet or grid of thermoplastic material to produce a framed panel. A peripheral frame, preferably of structural foam or the like, is injection molded about a thermoplastic sheet or grid of panel-forming material which has been previously drawn or stretched at a temperature which orients the molecules of the polymer, i.e., below the glass transition temperature of the polymer, T.sub.g. Either during the frame molding process, or subsequent thereto, the panel-forming material is heated sufficiently to cause the material to shrink or revert toward its prestretched condition so as to tension the panel-forming material within the frame. Elastomeric sealing devices are disclosed for sealing the mold during injection of the frame-forming material and locator fingers are provided to position a grid-like panel-forming material prior to initiation of the molding process. By the utilization of structural foam molding techniques, a panel of thermoplastic material may be integrally-molded and tensioned within a rigid frame to produce a framed panel of any size for use as a barrier, a fence, a guard, a closure, a seat or bedding support, a filter member or other such applications.

Panel framing system

A retaining wall is formed by plastic wall blocks having fingers for extending through apertures in an end portion of a grid-like sheet of material. The remainder of the grid-like sheet of material extends rearwardly to reinforce the fill behind the retaining wall formed from a plurality of courses of the wall blocks. A curved lip at the edge of one side of each block engages a recess located on a juxtaposed side of an adjacent block. Hooks extending from a bottom member of each block engage a top member of a lower block in stacked courses of blocks. The blocks are made of a one-piece or two-piece construction. In the two piece construction, the front member is secured or securable to the remainder of the block to provide retaining walls of aesthetically different configurations.

Retaining wall block system

Method of forming a framed panel utilizing tensioning by heat shrinking

A self-tensioning fencing system includes a mounting batten, made of plastic or metal, which is mounted directly to a structural support such as a fence post using standard nails, screws or bolts as required according to the type of a particular fence post. The mounting batten may be a solid or a thick walled hollow section elastic extrusion or a metal form. The mounting batten is secured to the structural support post so as to space the plastic grid material away from the support post to allow the plastic grid material to be tensioned at a spacing from the structural support posts. A channel batten made of pre-coated cold rolled steel mounts over the plastic batten and serves to clamp plastic grid fencing material between the mounting batten, and the channel batten. The channel batten when drawn tight against the mounting batten serves not only to firmly attach the fencing material to the support post but acts as a tensioning device. The amount of tensioning take-up provided by the channel batten is dependent upon the respective cross-sectional dimensions of the mounting batten and the channel batten. In a typical application, the tensioning capability of the channel batten is in the range of 3/8 of an inch to 7/8 of an inch at each support post, and preferably 5/8 of an inch, dependent upon the plastic grid material used and the size and shape of the mounting batten and the channel batten.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmette, IL, United States of America

Paul Specht