Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Including fastener for attaching to external surface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2001-06-05
Thomas, Alexander S. (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Including fastener for attaching to external surface
C428S122000, C052S749100, C052S749100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06242070
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a protector for structural columns in facilities such as warehouses and manufacturing plants. The protector cushions the impact of mobile equipment such as a forklift, that might come in contact with the column. Damage to the structure and equipment, as well as injury to an operator is reduced or eliminated.
2. Description of Related Art
Many operations in warehouses and manufacturing plants require the use of forklift type equipment for handling inventory, ingredients, completed products, and the like. Operation of such equipment in facilities having structure supporting columns presents a significant safety concern. Accidental contact of an unprotected column by a forklift for example, can cause serious structural damage to the facility as well as damage to equipment and injury to personnel.
A common method to limit structure damage consists of surrounding the columns with massive amounts of poured concrete which protects the column, but does little to protect the equipment or its operator. Maintenance of the concrete to repair cracks or chips is time consuming.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,867 describes a method of surrounding a column with a rigid cover, then filling the space between the cover and the column with an epoxy material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,301 also describes the use of an encasement sleeve of fiberglass or epoxy resin and a filler of concrete, epoxy, or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,156 describes a tubular plastic shell having longitudinally extending interior pockets used with a foamed adhesive between a shell vertical member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,386 describes sheathing sections of a resilient material having hinged channels and interlocking means so as to be formed around a column to be protected.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,414 describes protection of a vertical member with use of a resilient membrane incarcerated by a cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Two hollow molded plastic cushions each having a substantially planar back, a generally convex face, and opposed ends are positioned back-to back to completely surround a vertical column. The back of each cushion has a cavity having a cross-section, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cushion, which generally matches the transverse cross-section of the column to enable the back-to-back placement. The face of each cushion, which would receive contact with colliding equipment, has horizontally oriented corrugations to absorb a portion of the impact. One embodiment of the protector provides spacing between the cushion and the column along a major portion of its length which allows the cushion to flex for additional impact absorption.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 380274 (1997-06-01), Stamets
patent: 3590547 (1971-07-01), Moylneux
patent: 3798867 (1974-03-01), Starling
patent: 4019301 (1977-04-01), Fox
patent: 4244156 (1981-01-01), Watts, Jr.
patent: 4596106 (1986-06-01), Kunczynski
patent: 5006386 (1991-04-01), Menichini
patent: 5048229 (1991-09-01), Campbell
patent: 5311713 (1994-05-01), Goodrich
patent: 5503371 (1996-04-01), Bies
patent: 5605414 (1997-02-01), Fuller et al.
patent: 5924262 (1999-07-01), Fawley
patent: 6102611 (2000-08-01), Roller
Sales Brochure For “Column Sentry” From Therm-All Inc. (no date).
Gillispie John G.
Mitchell Donald J.
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Eagle Manufacturing Company
Thomas Alexander S.
LandOfFree
Energy absorbing column protector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Energy absorbing column protector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Energy absorbing column protector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2521917