Granted Patent B2

US 7,838,095 · App. 11/156,331 · Granted Nov 23, 2010

Abstract

Claims (20)

1. A polymeric void-board for placement between adjacent horizontal layers of bricks to maintain an opening in a lower of the layers, the void-board comprising:

a first relatively thin rigid planar element having first and second surfaces having a plurality of parallel ribs extending from and generally transverse to the first surface; and

a second relatively thin rigid planar element having first and second surfaces having a plurality of parallel ribs extending from and generally transverse to the first surface,

wherein the first element and the second element each have a density of between approximately 0.7 gm/cc and 1.3 gm/cc, and wherein the first and second elements are joined to one another with the ribs of the first element engaging and joined to the second element, the ribs of the first element are parallel and joined to the ribs of the second element, spaces being defined between adjacent ribs of the first element and the second element, the spaces being void spaces and including weakened regions formed in the first and second elements generally parallel to the ribs and aligned with one another between selected ones of the ribs so as to provide a plurality of frangible regions for separating the board.

2. The polymeric void-board in accordance with claim 1 wherein an on center distance between the ribs of the first and second element is about 0.10 inches to about 0.20 inches.

3. The polymeric void-board in accordance with claim 2 wherein the on center distance is about 0.14 inches.

4. The polymeric void-board in accordance with claim 1 wherein the void-board is formed from a polyolefin blend.

5. The polymeric void-board in accordance with claim 4 wherein the polyolefin is blended with a filler material.

6. The polymeric void-board in accordance with claim 4 wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene or polyethylene.

7. The polymeric void-board in accordance with claim 5 wherein the filler material is a cellulose fiber material.

8. The polymeric void-board in accordance with claim 5 wherein the filler material is a thermoplastic elastomer material.

9. The polymeric void-board in accordance with claim 4 wherein the polyolefin blend is, in part, recycled material.

10. The polymeric void-board in accordance with claim 9 wherein the recycled material is recycled diapers.

11. A method of making a polymeric void-board comprising the steps of:

forming first rigid relatively thin planar element having first and second surfaces having a plurality of parallel ribs, extending from and generally transverse to the first surface;

forming a second rigid relatively thin planar element having first and second surfaces having a plurality of parallel ribs extending from and generally transverse to the first surface, wherein the first and second relatively thin planar elements each have a density between approximately 0.7 gm/cc and 1.3 gm/cc, the ribs of the first element being parallel and joined to the ribs of the second element, spaces being defined between adjacent ribs of the first element and the second element, the spaces being void spaces and including weakened regions formed in the first and second elements generally parallel to the ribs and aligned with one another between selected ones of the ribs so as to provide a plurality of frangible regions for separating the board.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the first and second elements are joined to one another in a substantially continuous process brought together by a patterned guide roll to position the ribs of the first and second elements in contact with one another.

13. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the first and second elements are joined to one another by an adhesive.

14. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the first and second elements are formed, at least in part, from recycled materials.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the recycled materials are recycled diapers.

Assignments (7)