Bipartite tubular molded synthetic resin furniture part with internal reinforcement

Claim 1

A bipartite tubular molded synthetic resin furniture part with internal reinforcement comprising: a pair of complementary molded synthetic resin tube sections arranged side by side and having mating longitudinal marginal portions disposed in mutual contact and bonded to one another to join said tube sections into a unitary tube, said tube sections together defining a cavity extending longitudinally therethrough and bounded by interior wall surfaces of said tube sections; each of said tube sections including a plurality of integrally molded, plastic reinforcing ribs which project from the interior wall surface of said tube section and extend across said cavity in planes generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said cavity, said plurality of ribs being spaced along the length of said cavity and having projecting end edges which are seated against and bonded to the interior wall surface of the other tube section; the projecting ends of all of said ribs also having openings formed therein which are aligned longitudinally of said cavity; and a metal reinforcing rod extending longitudinally within said cavity and being received by all of said rib openings, the tube cooperatively formed by said pair of tube sections also having interior end surfaces which are engaged by respective ends of said metal reinforcing rod; whereby saiD reinforcing rod is effective to support a portion of any axial load placed upon said tube as well as reinforcing said tube against bending.