Abstract Foraminous support platforms capable of supporting objects in spaced relation to a floor or other supporting surface and which permit air circulation and/or liquid drainage through and around the platforms with respect to the objects supported thereon. The platforms can be constructed in a wide variety of structural forms and are formed of a mesh or mesh-type netting or screen fabric which can be produced with the desired physical and chemical properties depending on its intended end use. These platforms are capable of being used in a wide variety of environments and for a large number of intended uses. An exemplary, but non-limiting number of embodiments of the subject support platforms are disclosed herein and taught by the present invention. Some embodiments employ a single corrugated mesh or mesh-like fabric and other embodiments employ a corrugated mesh or a mesh-type member with a second relatively flat mesh-like sheet secured to the corrugation peaks of a corrugated member. A further embodiment includes a corrugated mesh-like fabric member with flat mesh-like sheet members secured to the peaks on both of the opposite sides of the corrugations of a corrugated member. Still another embodiment includes a relatively flat mesh-like sheet member with a plurality of support members or legs secured to one surface thereof at spaced locations. The invention also teaches the use of foraminous platforms formed of various layers comprising combinations of corrugated flat sheets and/or spaced support elements. The present invention also resides in various methods of making the disclosed platforms.
A one-piece foraminous support platform capable of being disposed on a supporting surface, said platform comprising a plurality of integrally connected intersecting plastic strands forming a mesh-like fabric member, said member being formed of a plastic substance that is relatively stiff but somewhat yieldable so that it retains its shape and resists deformation but can be rolled up for convenience in handling and storing, said fabric member having opposite surfaces capable of engaging and supporting an object in upwardly spaced relation to said supporting surface, said intersecting strands being interconnected to form apertures distributed throughout a substantial portion of said member, and means for supporting at least a portion of said fabric member in a position spaced upwardly from said supporting surface, said fabric member having permanent corrugations formed therein, said corrugations having oppositely extending apertured corrugation ridges some of which engage the supporting surface and others the object being supported, said apertured corrugations permitting relatively free circulation of air and water between the object being supported and the supporting surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A one-piece foraminous support platform capable of being disposed on a supporting surface, said platform comprising a plurality of integrally connected intersecting plastic strands forming a mesh-like fabric member, said member being formed of a plastic substance that is relatively stiff but somewhat yieldable so that it retains its shape and resists deformation but can be rolled up for convenience in handling and storing, said fabric member having opposite surfaces capable of engaging and supporting an object in upwardly spaced relation to said supporting surface, said intersecting strands being interconnected to form apertures distributed throughout a substantial portion of said member, and means for supporting at least a portion of said fabric member in a position spaced upwardly from said supporting surface, said fabric member having permanent corrugations formed therein, said corrugations having oppositely extending apertured corrugation ridges some of which engage the supporting surface and others the object being supported, said apertured corrugations permitting relatively free circulation of air and water between the object being supported and the supporting surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The foraminous support platform of claim 1 further characterized in that said corrugations all extend in the same direction and are defined by parallel ridges and valleys.