The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 17, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 26, 2000
Thomas L. Owens, Batavia, IL (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method is disclosed for forming from a fiber slurry a three-dimensional fiber truss. The forming method involves compressing a fiber slurry or a fiber pulp between a pair of rigid foraminous dies to rapidly drive out most of the carrier fluid. The fiber retained between the dies is compacted into a pre-form fiber truss. The pre-form fiber truss is subsequently dried and consolidated in a heated press to produce a finished fiber truss. In panel applications, the fiber truss can be used by itself, or combined with other fiber trusses, to form a light-weight structural core for sandwich panels. Sandwich panels have numerous uses in packaging, material handling, construction, and furniture industries. Specific products include bulk bins, heavy-duty boxes, shipping containers, wall panels, roof panels, cement forms, partitions, poster displays, reels, desks, caskets, shelves, tables, and doors. Other structures that can be formed using the disclosed method and apparatus include egg containers, produce trays, molded packaging inserts, and molded pallets.