Abstract: A wood pallet includes a top deck affixed atop a plurality of spaced-apart wood spacer members such that openings for receiving tines of a forklift are defined between the spacer members. The top deck is formed by a plurality of elongate wood boards arranged parallel and side-by-side one another, the boards including two lead boards respectively located at two opposite edges of the top deck, and a plurality of intermediate boards disposed between the two lead boards. The intermediate boards are solid virgin wood boards. Each of the lead boards is a multi-ply laminated wood board made up of a plurality of wood material sheets adhesively laminated one atop another. The laminated wood boards have a capacity to withstand a greater number of edgewise forklift impacts of a given magnitude without failing, in comparison with the solid virgin wood boards.

Abstract: Flexible bulk containers are configured to be liftable without the necessity of a pallet. A base of a bulk bag has a pair of tine-receiving members secured thereto. The tine-receiving members have a cross-section for creating a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the filled container. The tine-receiving members advantageously are substantially water-resistant. The tine-receiving members can be formed of paperboard that is treated to increase its water-resistance. For example, the tine-receiving members can each be a portion of a round or non-round paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube. The paperboard of which the tube is constructed can comprise paperboard that is sized to increase its water-resistance.

Abstract: A core for a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprises a paperboard material wound about an axis and adhered together to form a tubular body, and a polymer film layer wrapped about and adhered to the outer surface of the tubular body so as to form a tape-receiving surface upon which adhesive tape is to be wound. The polymer film layer has an overlap joint between the opposite edges of the polymer film ply. A recessed region is formed in the outer surface of the tubular body, the recessed region being recessed radially inwardly relative to the cylindrical outer surface. At least a portion of the length of the overlapping edge of the polymer film ply extends into and terminates in the recessed region such that the overlapping edge is not contacted by the adhesive tape wound about the core.

Abstract: A core having enhanced ID stiffness is provided. The core includes inner, intermediate, and outer wall zones. The intermediate zone is spring-like in that it minimizes deformation of the inner zone from a radial deflection of the outer zone by absorbing at least some of the deformation. Similarly, the intermediate zone minimizes deformation of the outer zone from a radial deflection of the inner zone by absorbing at least some of the deformation. The intermediate zone includes at least first and second intermediate layers and one or more intermediate support layers. The first and second layers include a number of plies and gaps that are offset from each other, i.e. the plies of the first layer are radially aligned with the gaps of the second layer. The intermediate support layers are between the first and second layers and extend radially across the gaps of the first and second layers.

Abstract: A locating template for a non-round concrete form of the type having a round outer tube and an insert assembly installed in the outer tube for defining the desired non-round shape. The locating template can be fit into the end of the channel defined by the insert assembly. The locating template has a crosshair or series of marks indicating the center of the locating template, which corresponds to the center of the channel defined by the insert assembly. The contractor simply marks the outer surface of the outer tube at two or more locations aligned with the crosshair or marks on the locating template. The locating template is removed, and the form is set up on the ground with the marks on the outer tube aligned with the crosshair on the ground. The column can then be poured in the usual manner.

Abstract: A core for a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprises a paperboard material wound about an axis and adhered together to form a tubular body, and a polymer film layer wrapped about and adhered to the outer surface of the tubular body so as to form a tape-receiving surface upon which adhesive tape is to be wound. The polymer film layer has an overlap joint between the opposite edges of the polymer film ply. A recessed region is formed in the outer surface of the tubular body, the recessed region being recessed radially inwardly relative to the cylindrical outer surface. At least a portion of the length of the overlapping edge of the polymer film ply extends into and terminates in the recessed region such that the overlapping edge is not contacted by the adhesive tape wound about the core.

Abstract: A concrete form for pouring a polygonal column includes a plurality N of plate members arranged to form a polygonal tube having N sides, where N is an integer greater than or equal to three. The form further comprises a reinforcing framework including a plurality of ring assemblies longitudinally spaced along the tube and interconnected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal members. Each ring assembly extends circumferentially about the tube and comprises N ring segments each having an inner surface bearing against an outer surface of a respective one of the plate members, and an outer surface formed as a circular arc. The outer surfaces of the N ring segments collectively form a substantially circular outer surface. The form also includes a plurality of clamps respectively encircling the circular outer surfaces of the ring assemblies and being releasably tightened thereabout.

Abstract: A concrete form comprises a single insert assembly or a plurality of insert assemblies within an outer tube. Each insert assembly comprises a pre-formed polymer liner sheet, a pre-formed polymer backing sheet, and a plurality of prefabricated cellular material pieces. Each cellular material piece has a first surface configured to form a portion of the non-round cross-section desired for the column and an opposite second surface formed substantially as an angular section of a cylinder. An insert assembly is constructed by affixing the liner sheet to the first surfaces of a plurality of the cellular material pieces. The cellular material pieces are arranged in a plurality of laterally adjacent rows extending lengthwise along the liner sheet for a length approximately equal to the length of the outer tube. The backing sheet is affixed to the second surfaces of the cellular material pieces. The liner sheet and backing sheet together substantially fully envelope the cellular material pieces.

Abstract: A core for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprises a structural portion such as a wound paperboard tube, and a polymer film ply wrapped about the outer surface of the structural portion and adhered thereto. The polymer film ply has a release coating on its outer surface to allow an adhesive tape wound onto the core to readily and cleanly release from the core during unwinding. The polymer film ply has a lap joint between its opposite edges. The lap joint can be ultrasonically welded during formation of the tape core. Alternatively, the release coating along the underlying edge of the lap joint is removed by a solvent prior to formation of the lap joint.

Abstract: A test device includes a stationary web roll support assembly comprising a base and a pair of core supports spaced apart and affixed to the base with the core supports projecting upwardly from the base, the core supports structured and arranged to engage opposite ends of a core of a web roll so as to support the web roll. The test device also includes a movable weight load simulating assembly comprising a flexible belt having opposite ends, and a belt holder structured and arranged to secure the opposite ends of the belt to the belt holder with the belt forming a generally U-shaped loop about an outer surface of the web roll intermediate the opposite ends of the core. Movement of the belt holder away from the stationary web roll support assembly causes the belt to exert a load on the web roll, simulating weight load on the core and core supports.

Abstract: An improved support post for cushioning and supporting large products is provided. The post is made from a sheet that is convolutely wound around a mandrel and shaped into a desired shape. The improvement comprises making the sheet from multiple thicknesses of paper so that, upon winding the sheet into a tube, the middle layer of the tube is thicker than the outer layers. The post has a higher axial compression strength than a conventional post, but the same amount (weight) of material.

Abstract: In a wound paperboard tube, adhesive is applied between two or more structural paperboard layers in a partial-coverage pattern characterized by spaced regions of adhesive interspersed with adhesive-free portions of the facing surfaces of the layers. The pattern can comprise islands of adhesive spaced apart in both circumferential and longitudinal directions of the tube, or intersecting lines of adhesive spaced apart in both circumferential and longitudinal directions and forming a grid, or the like. The tubes can be spirally wound, convolutely wound, or formed by a linear draw process. Tube strength is not substantially compromised by reducing adhesive coverage substantially below 100%, on a surface area basis.

Abstract: There is provided a paperboard tube structure with an intermediate ply having cut-and-folded tabs to increase the effective thickness of the intermediate ply. The paperboard tube includes a plurality of paperboard plies wrapped one atop another about an axis with the intermediate ply positioned between an interior paperboard ply and an exterior paperboard ply. A plurality of cut-and-folded tabs are each created by a nonlinear incision in the intermediate ply that extends from a first endpoint to a second endpoint thereby creating a folding axis along a line from the first endpoint to the second endpoint. The tab is folded about the folding axis to overlie a region of the intermediate ply adjacent the folding axis. The tabs increase the effective thickness of the wall of the paperboard tube.

Abstract: Paperboard support posts are formed by linearly advancing paperboard plies to a mandrel and wrapping the plies about the mandrel with the ply edges parallel to the mandrel axis, the plies being adhered together to form a tube that is linearly advanced along the mandrel and then cut into desired lengths. In one embodiment, the tube is a multi-grade structure having one or more relatively low-grade plies in the middle of the tube wall and relatively higher-grade plies toward the inside and outside of the tube. In another embodiment, one or more intermediate plies are embossed or corrugated to increase their effective caliper.

Abstract: An improved support post for cushioning and supporting large products is provided. The post is made from a sheet that is convolutely wound around a mandrel and shaped into a desired shape. The improvement comprises making the sheet from multiple thicknesses of paper so that, upon winding the sheet into a tube, the middle layer of the tube is thicker than the outer layers. The post has a higher axial compression strength than a conventional post, but the same amount (weight) of material.

Abstract: Wide ply gaps are intentionally introduced into one or more plies in a radially intermediate zone of the wall of a spirally wound tube. Each ply having wide ply gaps is narrower than the width that would ordinarily be employed at a given spiral winding angle to achieve a butt joint between adjacent edges of consecutive turns of the ply, and the ply is wound at that given spiral winding angle in such a manner that gaps are defined between the adjacent edges of the consecutive turns of the ply. The wide ply gaps have the effect of increasing the compliance of the intermediate zone of the tube wall in the radial direction. Such increased radial compliance has been found to improve the ID stiffness of the tube relative to a tube constructed of the same materials but having no ply gaps in the intermediate zone.

Abstract: There is provided a paperboard tube structure with an intermediate ply having cut-and-folded tabs to increase the effective thickness of the intermediate ply. The paperboard tube includes a plurality of paperboard plies wrapped one atop another about an axis with the intermediate ply positioned between an interior paperboard ply and an exterior paperboard ply. A plurality of cut-and-folded tabs are each created by a nonlinear incision in the intermediate ply that extends from a first endpoint to a second endpoint thereby creating a folding axis along a line from the first endpoint to the second endpoint. The tab is folded about the folding axis to overlie a region of the intermediate ply adjacent the folding axis. The tabs increase the effective thickness of the wall of the paperboard tube.

Abstract: Wide ply gaps are intentionally introduced into one or more plies in a radially intermediate zone of the wall of a spirally wound tube. Each ply having wide ply gaps is narrower than the width that would ordinarily be employed at a given spiral winding angle to achieve a butt joint between adjacent edges of consecutive turns of the ply, and the ply is wound at that given spiral winding angle in such a manner that gaps are defined between the adjacent edges of the consecutive turns of the ply. The wide ply gaps have the effect of increasing the compliance of the intermediate zone of the tube wall in the radial direction. Such increased radial compliance has been found to improve the ID stiffness of the tube relative to a tube constructed of the same materials but having no ply gaps in the intermediate zone.