Abstract: A structural reinforced injection-molded fiberglass visor shell has a laterally extending upper member which extends frontwardly above and provides shade to a vehicle windshield. Three attachment pods extend downwardly from the upper member and have pod floors which conform to the geometry of a vehicle cab upper surface. Side walls extend upwardly from the pod floors and are connected to the upper member. Access holes are provided in the upper member for the insertion of fasteners through the pod floors into the vehicle cab surface. Alternatively, the pod floors may be adhesively attached to the cab by means of structural adhesive tape or bolt-retaining strips adhesively taped the cab surface. The same visor shell may be economically manufactured for a wide variety of vehicles by substituting different pods configured for a particular make of vehicle.

Abstract: A modular shipping container and a clip for use therein to interconnect various components of the container, such as the sidewalls, bottom pallet, and top pallet. The container components are designed for compact storage and easy assembly. The clip used in the container includes a first portion for affixing the clip to the sidewall structure and a second portion having a rigid arm extending from the first portion. A resilient flex arm is attached to the end of the rigid arm farthest the first portion and extends generally toward the first portion. The flex arm has a locking face thereon for engaging an edge of a receiving slot in the pallet. Insertion of the clip into the receiving slot removably interconnects the sidewall structure to the pallet.

Abstract: A twin-sheet thermoformed thermoplastic aquatic biomass containment barrier with reinforced hinges is disclosed having a formed first extended linear thermoplastic sheet member which is fused to a formed second linear extended thermoplastic sheet member of substantially the same dimensions as the first member to form a composite unit member having two ends and air pockets formed between the two sheets to give buoyancy to the segment. Reinforcing thermoplastic inserts are located between the first and second members at each end of the composite member. Each insert has portions defining a central pinhole and is fused to the first and second members to form reinforced hinged sections. The hinged segments may be connected by pins to form a floating aquatic biomass containment barrier cell or a network of cells. Such a network is effective for the growth and harvesting of small aquatic plants such as the duckweed plant.

Abstract: A reinforced twin-sheet thermoformed pallet is disclosed which has a substantially planar load-bearing member which is formed from an upper sheet of thermoplastic material and a lower sheet of thermoplastic material located generally in fixed parallel relationship to each other. A plurality of concave depressions in the load-bearing member form feet which depend from the load-bearing member. Each foot is formed as a downwardly depending portion of each of the two sheets of material joined together. Each foot has an inner foot floor formed from the upper sheet and an outer foot floor formed from the lower sheet. A quantity of reinforcing thermoplastic material is located between the inner and outer walls of each foot and is fused to the upper and lower sheets to form an integral foot floor which is substantially parallel to the load-bearing member. The thickness of the foot floor is substantially greater than the combined thicknesses of the upper and lower sheets.

Abstract: A fastener (10) is disclosed for fastening a truck bed liner (58) to the side walls (50) of a truck bed. The side walls (50) are bounded at the top edge by a top rail (52) extending inwardly from each side wall (50) and a side rail extending downwardly from the inner margin (56) of the top rail (52). The fastener (10) is designed to be used for a truck bed liner (58) having a flange (62) that fits over the top of the top rail (52). The fastener (10) has a body (12), clip (18), screw (14), and washer (16). In the use of the fastener (10), the truck bed liner (58) is loosely positioned against the side wall (50). The screw (14) is inserted through a hole (63) in the liner (58), with the washer (16) being behind the head (64) of the screw (14). The clip (18) slides over a hole (30) of the body (12), and the screw (14) is threaded through the body (12) and clip (18).

Abstract: A pickup truck cargo bed liner is disclosed which is vacuum formed of unitary plastic and adapted to fit within and protect the contours of a pickup truck cargo bed. The liner has a bottom wall, wheel wells, and a front wall and side walls connected to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the front wall being connected to the side walls. An elastomer material having an effectively high co-efficient of friction is co-formed with and integrally adhered to the plastic forming the liner to provide an anti-slip surface thereon for restraining movement of cargo on the liner.

Abstract: A pickup truck cargo bed liner is disclosed which is particularly constructed for efficiency in shipment and storage, and so that the liner can easily be installed in trucks having top caps. The truck bed liner has a liner bottom wall adapted to fit on and substantially cover the full width of the truck cargo bed floor, the liner bottom wall having a width substantially as great as the width of the truck rear opening. Two liner wheel wells are formed in the liner bottom wall at opposite sides thereof and adapted to accommodate the truck cargo bed rear wheel wells. A liner front wall is connected to and extends upwardly from the liner bottom wall, the liner front wall having an upper margin adapted to fit snugly against the truck cargo bed front wall. Two liner side walls are connected to the liner bottom wall and wheel wells and the liner front wall at opposite sides thereof, the liner front wall substantially limiting the distance between the liner side walls at the front end of the liner.

Abstract: A protective retainer for fastening and retaining the side wall of a protective liner in a pickup truck cargo bed is disclosed which is particularly constructed to maintain the engaged liner side wall in substantial longitudinal alignment despite varying environmental conditions. The protective retainer has a fastening plate which extends longitudinally to substantially cover the side surface of the side rail of a truck cargo bed. A retainer section depends downwardly from the fastening plate. The retainer section includes inner and outer downwardly depending walls which closely engage and retain the side wall of a truck bed liner. The retainer section walls permit vertical and longitudinal movement of the liner side wall within the retainer section, but substantially prevent transverse displacement of the engaged portion of the liner side wall.

Abstract: An air deflector for trailers having a forwardly facing front wall. The air deflector includes a body adapted to extend between the side edges of the trailer front wall and from the top edge thereof to a selected location on the front wall remote from the top edge. The body projects forwardly from the front wall with the forwardly facing surface of the body being generally convex. At least one air vent is located at the bottom margin of the body and is adapted to admit air between the body and the front wall of the trailer. In certain embodiments a resilient recoil rib is attached to the body, extending generally parallel and adjacent to the rearwardly facing surface of the body and between the top and bottom margins of the body. The recoil rib is adapted to increase the body's ability to resist deformation from force applied to the forwardly facing surface of the body and, upon release of such force, to aid the body to resume its original shape.

Abstract: A pallet (10) is disclosed which is particularly adapted for being constructed of moldable thermoplastic materials. The pallet includes a load-bearing surface (12) supported by a plurality of feet (32) with the load-bearing surface (12) being constructed of a pair of sheets of the thermoplastic material (13, 15) located in spaced parallel relationship to each other. Respective top (22, 24) and bottom (26) channels are formed in the upper and lower sheets of material (13, 15) with the bottoms of each of the channels (22, 24, 26) being joined to the bottom of the channels from the other sheet of material to securely and rigidly fix the two sheets of material (13, 15) together. The feet (32) include alternating solid (40) and hollow (38) portions which serve to make the feet (32) extremely strong.