US3596869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mold forming device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-03-10
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A mold forming device comprising a housing having open ends, a plurality of rods loosely filling the housing and individually adjustable longitudinally therein and means to constrict the inner dimension of the housing to lock the rods against longitudinal adjustment. The rods can be adjusted manually to create a molding surface of desired contour, or may be permitted to slide longitudinally and engage a physical surface, the shape of which is to be duplicated either positively or negatively whereupon the rods are locked so that the housing and the adjusted rods may be used as a forming mold. By laminating the housing, alternate laminations thereof may be relatively offset to effect constriction of the inner dimension of the housing in relation to the rods for locking them against longitudinal adjustment. To effect smoothing the molding surface presented by the ends of the rods, they may be covered by a flexible diaphragm. By having diaphragms at both ends of the housing and providing sealing means for the inner wall of the housing, the space among the rods may be evacuated for pulling the diaphragms at the ends of the rods into contact therewith. The housing and rods may be associated with vacuum-forming or pressure-forming chambers to hot-form sheets of plastic to the mold faces. By providing rods of equal length, whenever they are adjusted to form one molding surface, either male or female, the other ends of the rods form a complementary female or male molding surface respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 David H Humphrey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:37
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/26; B29C51/30; B29C51/36; B28; B28B; B28B7/00; B28B7/02; B28B7/025; B29C33/00; B29C33/30; B29C33/301; B29C33/302; B29C44/00; B29C44/34; B29C44/36; B29C44/38; B29C44/44; B29C44/445; B29C44/58; B29C44/585; B29C44/3415; B29C44/3426
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
In a mold forming device, a housing having open ends, a plurality of rods loosely filling said housing and individually adjustable longitudinally therein, and means to constrict the inner dimension of said housing to lock said rods against such longitudinal adjustment, said housing being laminated laterally of said rods, and alternate laminations being relatively movable, also laterally, to offset the inner dimensions of said alternate laminations and thereby effect such locking.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a mold forming device, a housing having open ends, a plurality of rods loosely filling said housing and individually adjustable longitudinally therein, and means to constrict the inner dimension of said housing to lock said rods against such longitudinal adjustment, said housing being laminated laterally of said rods, and alternate laminations being relatively movable, also laterally, to offset the inner dimensions of said alternate laminations and thereby effect such locking.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 1 wherein alternate laminations are provided with projections offset relative to each other when the inner surfaces of the laminations are aligned, and clamp means is provided for said projections which, upon operation, tends to align said projections and thereby offset said inner dimensions of said alternate laminations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said projections are at one side of said housing, and pivot means is provided through said laminations at a position substantially opposite said projections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 1 wherein flexible diaphragms cover the ends of said rods and are sealed to the open ends of said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 2 wherein flexible diaphragms span the open ends of said housing and cover the ends of said rods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 3 wherein flexible diaphragms span the ends of said housings and are sealed relative thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 4 wherein means is provided to evacuate the space among said rods, between said diaphragms and within said housing to draw said diaphragms into intimate contact with the ends of said rods.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said diaphragms have their marginal edges sealed with respect to the open ends of said housing, and means is provided to evacuate the space within said housing between said diaphragms to draw the latter into intimate contact with the ends of said rods.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 6 wherein means is provided to evacuate the space between said diaphragms and among said rods to draw the diaphragms into intimate contact with the ends of said rods.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 5 wherein a flexible tube is provided lining said housing and extending from diaphragm to diaphragm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 8 wherein a flexible tube is provided lining said housing, extending from diaphragm to diaphragm and sealed relative to said marginal edges thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
A mold forming device in accordance wIth claim 3 adapted for vacuum-forming a plastic sheet and wherein a clamping ring is provided for a peripheral portion of the plastic sheet with respect to one end of said housing, the other end of said housing having means for sealing the same to establish a vacuum chamber between said last mentioned means, said housing and said plastic sheet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
A mold forming device in accordance with claim 3 adapted for pressure-forming a plastic sheet and wherein a clamping ring is provided for a peripheral portion of the plastic sheet with respect to one end of said housing, means being provided for sealing said clamping ring with respect to said end of said housing to establish a pressure chamber between said last mentioned means, said clamping ring and said plastic sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a mold forming device, a housing having open ends, a plurality of rods loosely filling said housing and individually adjustable longitudinally therein, and means to constrict the inner dimension of said housing to lock said rods against such longitudinal adjustment, a chamber-defining member secured to one side of said housing and a pressure cap secured to said housing, a cavity being defined between the rods and the pressure cap for receiving beads to be expanded, and means for injecting steam into the housing and through said cavity for expanding said beads and forming an object conforming to the shape of the cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a mold forming device, a housing having open ends, a plurality of rods loosely filling said housing and individually adjustable longitudinally therein, and means to constrict the inner dimension of said housing to lock said rods against such longitudinal adjustment, a chamber-defining member secured to one side of said housing and a pressure cap secured to said housing, a cavity being defined between the rods and the pressure cap for receiving beads to be expanded, and means for injecting steam into the housing and through said cavity for expanding said beads and forming an object conforming to the shape of the cavity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a mold forming device, a housing having open ends, a plurality of rods loosely filling said housing and individually adjustable longitudinally therein, and means to constrict the inner dimension of said housing to lock said rods against such longitudinal adjustment, a wall means closing the ends of said housing and said rods being positioned to form a cavity for receiving beads to be expanded, means for injecting steam into said housing for expanding the beads to form an object corresponding to the shape of the cavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a mold forming device, a housing having open ends, a plurality of rods loosely filling said housing and individually adjustable longitudinally therein, and means to constrict the inner dimension of said housing to lock said rods against such longitudinal adjustment, a wall means closing the ends of said housing and said rods being positioned to form a cavity for receiving beads to be expanded, means for injecting steam into said housing for expanding the beads to form an object corresponding to the shape of the cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |