Abstract: Methods for molding plastic wheels which are substantially free of lines of weakness in the web thereof adjacent the lug apertures. The methods generally include orienting molding gates in a molding apparatus to a desired circumferential orientation and thereafter injection molding a fiber-reinforced molding composition such that radial orientation of the fibers and/or knit lines in the molding composition, both of which create lines of weakness, are not located in the regions of the web which are radially adjacent the lug apertures.

Abstract: Resilient tiles having substantially uniform impact attenuation over the entire surface thereof are disclosed. The tiles of the invention have a plurality of spaced, elongated peripheral ridges and a plurality of truncated, conical legs inboard of the peripheral ridges which combine to provide the substantially uniform impact attenuation of the tiles.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a recreation surface which consists of a plurality of resilient, liquid-porous tiles adhered to a liquid-porous sheet that overlies a porous sub-surface and is anchored to the ground. In this way, the tiles are fixed and displacement or removal thereof is inhibited; additionally the porous tiles and sheet facilitate drainage of water from the recreation surface into the porous subsurface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recreation surface which consists of a plurality of resilient tiles, each of which has through bores for receiving elongated tie rods and side slots for receiving tie bars which have apertures therein. The through bores are intersected by the side slots such that when the tie bars are inserted into confronting slots in adjacent tiles the apertures in the tie bars are aligned with the through bores and are fixed against relative movement when the tie rods are inserted.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for making a composite sheet of indefinite length and very large predetermined width from indefinite length sheet stock of relatively small width. Included is a supply roll of relatively narrow indefinite length synthetic rubber sheet material, and a conveyor which feeds out in a horizontal direction past a cutter a sheet of the narrow stock equal in length to the relatively large width of the desired composite sheet stock. After feeding out and cutting the desired length of narrow stock, the cut sheet is transferred laterally by a reciprocating vacuum pick-head to overlap the leading edge thereof with the trailing edge of the preceding laterally shifted cut sheet, effectively augmenting the composite sheet. A conveyor advances the composite sheet in the transverse direction to successively locate the lap joints therein at a lap joint pressing station whereat the lap joints are successively pressed to enhance the permanency of the joints.