US6849677B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flame retardant polyolefin pallets and flame retardant master batch for their production
Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Co Inc
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Filing: 2002-09-17
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Granted: 2005-02-01
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Expires: 2022-09-17
Abstract
Abstract Polyolefin-based pallets capable of passing standard pallet flammability tests are prepared by molding the pallet or one or more subassemblies thereof, of a polyolefin molding resin containing a flame retardant package containing a halogenated organic flame retardant, alumina trihydrate, and antimony trioxide. The flame retardants are advantageously supplied as a master batch at a concentration higher than that desired in the pallet or subassembly, in a polyolefin-compatible polymer.
Inventors
- 👤 Trenton M. Overholt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:53
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08K; C08K3/00; C08K3/18; C08K3/20; C08K3/22; C08K3/2279; C08K2003/2227; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S108/00; Y10S108/901; Y10S108/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A flame retardant molded polyolefin pallet comprising one or more subassemblies, at least one subassembly comprising a polyolefin containing a flame retardant package comprising as flame retardant components a) 4-14% halogenated organic flame retardant, b) 4-15% alumina trihydrate, and c) 1-5% antimony trioxide, said percentages based on the weight of polyolefin and the sum of flame retardant components a) to c).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A flame retardant molded polyolefin pallet comprising one or more subassemblies, at least one subassembly comprising a polyolefin containing a flame retardant package comprising as flame retardant components a) 4-14% halogenated organic flame retardant, b) 4-15% alumina trihydrate, and c) 1-5% antimony trioxide, said percentages based on the weight of polyolefin and the sum of flame retardant components a) to c).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The pallet of claim 1 wherein the flame retardant components comprise a) 7-12% halogenated organic flame retardant; b) 8-12% alumina trihydrate; c) 2-4% antimony trioxide; and said percentages based on the weight of polyolefin and the sum of flame retardant components a) to c).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pallet of claim 1 , wherein subassemblies which comprise the most flammable portions of said pallet contain said flame retardant components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pallet of claim 1 , wherein all of said subassemblies contain said flame retardant components.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The pallet of claim 1 , wherein said polyolefin comprises polypropylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pallet of claim 1 , wherein said one or more subassemblies containing said fire retardant components further comprise a filler, fibrous reinforcement, or both filler and fibrous reinforcement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pallet of claim 1 , further comprising one or more auxiliary flame retardants.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pallet of claim 1 , wherein said halogenated flame retardant comprises tetrabromobisphenol A.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A process for the manufacture of a flame retardant polyolefin pallet or subassembly thereof, comprising a) supplying a polyolefin molding resin b) supplying a flame retardant package comprising flame retardant components b)i) from 4-14% halogenated organic flame retardant; b)ii) from 4-15% alumina trihydrate; b)iii) from 1-5% antimony trioxide; c) uniformly blending said polyolefin resin with the components b)i to b)iii of said flame retardant package to form a flame retardant-containing polyolefin molding resin; and d) molding a polyolefin pallet or subassembly thereof from said flame retardant-containing polyolefin molding resin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A process for the manufacture of a flame retardant polyolefin pallet or subassembly thereof, comprising a) supplying a polyolefin molding resin b) supplying a flame retardant package comprising flame retardant components b)i) from 4-14% halogenated organic flame retardant; b)ii) from 4-15% alumina trihydrate; b)iii) from 1-5% antimony trioxide; c) uniformly blending said polyolefin resin with the components b)i to b)iii of said flame retardant package to form a flame retardant-containing polyolefin molding resin; and d) molding a polyolefin pallet or subassembly thereof from said flame retardant-containing polyolefin molding resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The process of claim 9 , wherein said flame retardant components are supplied in a master batch of a polyolefin compatible polymer resin containing said flame retardant components in an amount higher than the amount desired in said pallet or subassembly thereof, and supplying sufficient polyolefin to reduce the level of said flame retardant components to the range of 4-14% a), 4-15% b), and 1-5% c).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process of claim 9 , wherein said pallet comprises at least a top deck and a bottom deck, optionally having a plurality of columns between said top deck and said bottom deck, at least one of said top deck, said bottom deck, or said columns being molded from a polymer of different flammability characteristics than another of said top deck, bottom deck, or columns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 11 , comprising molding said top deck of said flame retardant-containing polyolefin molding resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 11 , further comprising constructing said top deck or a portion thereof of a non-polyolefin polymer which exhibits greater inherent flammability resistant characteristics than polyolefin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 9 , wherein said polyolefin comprises polypropylene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 9 , wherein said polyolefin pallet or subassembly thereof further contains a filler, fibrous reinforcement, or a mixture thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
A flame retardant polymer master batch suitable for addition to a polyolefin molding resin to prepare the pallet or subassembly thereof of claim 1 , said master batch comprising 20 weight percent or more halogenated organic flame retardant, 20 weight percent or more of alumina trihydrate; 6 weight percent or more of antimony trioxide, and at least 10 weight percent of a polymer which is compatible with polyolefin in injection molding.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The master batch of claim 16 , comprising 20 to 25% halogenated flame retardant, 20 to 40% alumina trihydrate, 6 to 15% antimony trioxide, and minimally 10% polyolefin-compatible polymer, said percentages being based on the total weight of the master batch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The master batch of claim 16 , comprising 25-35% halogenated organic flame retardant, 25-40% alumina trihydrate, and 8-12% antimony trioxide, balance polyolefin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The master batch of claim 16 wherein said polyolefin comprises polypropylene.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The master batch of claim 16 , wherein said halogenated organic flame retardant comprises tetrabromobisphenol A.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-02-01 | 2008-08-02 | 2009-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-02-01 | 2012-08-02 | 2013-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-02-01 | 2016-08-02 | 2017-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |