Abstract: Process and apparatus for forming plastics by heating an open mold and contacting the open mold with plastic particulate material to form a melted skin on the mold, and resulting articles made therefrom. Single skin molded articles may be multi-layered with or without paint on the surface. Multiple skin molded articles may be made by complementary male and female molds, brought together after the skins are made on the individual male and female molds, and may include sandwiched layers of plastic filler or expandable foam filled centers, with or without various inserts or reinforcements. Multi-layer composite articles are to made with inserts and/or reinforcements that may be embedded in and surrounded by expandable foam plastic, if used as a middle layer. Resulting articles include a pick-up truck bed box, an industrial tabletop, a series of modular housing panels, an airplane cockpit door, and material handling pallets, among others.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for forming plastics by heating an open mold and contacting the open mold with plastic particulate material to form a melted skin on the mold, and resulting articles made therefrom. Single skin molded articles may be multi-layered with or without paint on the surface. Multiple skin molded articles may be made by complementary male and female molds, brought together after the skins are made on the individual male and female molds, and may include sandwiched layers of plastic filler or expandable foam filled centers, with or without various inserts or reinforcements. Multi-layer composite articles are made with inserts and/or reinforcements that may be embedded in and surrounded by expandable foam plastic, if used as a middle layer. Resulting articles include a pick-up truck bed box, an industrial tabletop, a series of modular housing panels, an airplane cockpit door, and material handling pallets, among others.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making plastic molded articles generally having a double-skinned configuration with a foamed interior extending between the two skins. Such an article can be produced with a double beauty finish, and various inserts can be placed within the foamed interior between the two skins. The apparatus of the present invention includes the machinery used in order to make such a plastic article. The heated mold configurations can be made of inexpensive aluminum, compared to the traditional stainless steel production mold, and therefore will help the manufacture of large molded plastic articles.

Abstract: An encapsulated member made with open molds for forming the exterior surface of the encapsulated member, wherein the encapsulation is accomplished with at least an outer skin configuration of a plastic, metal, ceramic or other moldable material for encapsulating pre-forms, reinforcements, sheeted materials, metallic pre-forms and other core materials that can be protected from the outer elements and manufacturing considerations. FIG. 3c shows an encapsulated reinforced member located within an open mold having skins thereon, and being filled in between with foamable material.

Abstract: A lightweight plastic pick up truck box for use on street grade, light-duty pick-up trucks. It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a plastic pick up truck box with a light-duty truck dumping mechanism for pick-up trucks utilizing plastic molded truck box beds, with the tilting mechanism being used to dump the contents out of the pick-up truck box bed. Another embodiment of the invention includes a double-folding tailgate/ramp which can be utilized to extend to the ground in order to allow for easy carrying and loading of a pick-up box. The combination of the plastic molded pick-up truck box bed having inserts therein with a hydraulic stanchion support and dumping mechanism yields a light-duty truck which can be used for dumping. Although in its most simple form, a singular stanchion and hydraulic dumping mechanism may be utilized, more than one stanchion and hydraulic lifting mechanism may also be utilized.

Abstract: A light-duty truck dumping mechanism is disclosed for pick-up trucks utilizing singularly molded truck box beds, and the tilting mechanism used to dump the contents out of the pick-up truck box bed. Another embodiment of the invention includes a double-folding ramp which can be utilized to extend to the ground in order to allow for easy carrying and loading of a pick-up box. The combination of the singularly molded pick-up truck box bed having inserts therein with a hydraulic stanchion support and dumping mechanism yields a light-duty truck which can be used for dumping. Although in its most simple form, a singular stanchion and hydraulic dumping mechanism may be utilized, more than one stanchion and hydraulic lifting mechanism may also be utilized.

Abstract: A tire monitoring device for monitoring various tire conditions of a tubeless tire mounted on a vehicle wheel having a recessed portion of the wheel and a wheel rim 5 defining the recessed portion, including a composite wheel having at least one wire free transmitter and a receiver incorporated into and embedded into the surface of the composite wheel in the recessed portions of the wheel. The transmitter and receiver will monitor, transmit and receive signals about the tire condition, including tire pressure and temperature. Also included is an embedded antenna permanently incorporated into the recessed portion of 10 the composite wheel, such that the antenna becomes a part of the wheel, with an antenna winding length of from about 0.5 to about 5.0 meters long. Other embodiments include the use of a toroidal antenna in the recessed portion of the wheel.

Abstract: A tire monitoring device for monitoring various tire conditions of a tubeless tire mounted on a vehicle wheel having a recessed portion of the wheel and a wheel rim 5 defining the recessed portion, including a composite wheel having at least one wire free transmitter and a receiver incorporated into and embedded into the surface of the composite wheel in the recessed portions of the wheel. The transmitter and receiver will monitor, transmit and receive signals about the tire condition, including tire pressure and temperature. Also included is an embedded antenna permanently incorporated into the recessed portion of 10 the composite wheel, such that the antenna becomes a part of the wheel, with an antenna winding length of from about 0.5 to about 5.0 meters long. Other embodiments include the use of a toroidal antenna in the recessed portion of the wheel.