Abstract: A structural, load bearing panel is fabricated with twin-sheets of thermoformed polymer material to provide-substantially equal bending strength about each of substantially normal polar moment axes. Parallel rows of generally rectangular depressions in the top sheet surface are fused with a corresponding row pattern of depressions in the bottom sheet surface oriented substantially 90.degree. to the top sheet rows. End walls of top sheet depressions are fused with side walls of bottom sheet depressions. Conversely, end walls of bottom sheet depressions are fused with side walls of top sheet depressions. An orthogonal matrix of interconnected gas flow channels vent substantially all void spaces between the top and bottom sheets.

Abstract: A winding or storage reel for large, continuous lengths of flexible materials such as cable, rope or paper is collapsible into substantially flat components for recycling transport. The reel core is preferably twin sheet, vacuum formed of thermoplastic sheet material and comprises a plurality of laterally hinged stave elements in substantially circular alignment between a pair of end flanges. Threaded assembly rods compress the core stave elements between the end flanges. The adjacent lateral edges of the several stave elements are parallel to the core axis and are flexibly joined to hinge about an axis parallel to the lateral edge. One pair of laterally adjacent edges in the core circle are non-pivotally joined by respectively meshing fingers.

Abstract: To provide a spool wrapped length of conductor cable with an exposed cable end at the outer perimeter of a spool flange for the starting wrap of the cable, a cable end guide is secured to the inside face of a spool flange by means of staples or adhesives. The cable end guide provides a supplemental interior flange face having a cable supporting outer edge along a spiral path around the spool hub into substantially tangent alignment with the spool hub. The cable guide may be vacuum formed from thermoplastic sheet into two or more sectors, each sector being physically independent of the others and nestably stackable with corresponding sectors.

Abstract: A twin sheet, thermoformed beer keg pallet has a load platform reinforced by parallel ribs formed inwardly from the bottom sheet. Rib ridges are thermally fused to the platform top sheet. Stiffener pockets in the shape of truncated pyramids are formed from the top sheet between the rib ridges. Pocket bottoms are fused to the bottom sheet. Pocket sidewalls are thermally fused to adjacent rib side walls. The platform ribs have a progressively greater depth between the platform top sheet and bottom sheet along the rib length from the pallet center plane outwardly in opposite directions. When loaded and lifted by a fork truck, the platform flexes about an axis in the center plane to tilt the tops of the kegs on the pallet inwardly to the center.

Abstract: An enclosed pallet unit comprises an assembly of two basic components that are twin sheet molded from high density polymer sheet material. Substantially identical pallet platforms serve as both the floor and roof of the assembly. A plurality of substantially identical load bearing wall units are slide bolt locked to both the floor and roof pallet platforms. Each load bearing wall unit is divided into two, twin sheet panels that are joined longitudinally by a strip portion of the opposite side sheets being fused together to form a hinge axis. A wall unit is socketed in receptacle channels adjacent each corner respective to the floor and roof pallets with each panel of a respective wall unit radiating substantially 90.degree. from the panel hinge axis. Additional wall units may be used midway along either or both pairs of pallet edges with one panel of each wall unit aligned parallel with the pallet edge and the other panel of a respective unit turned substantially 90.degree. to the pallet edge.