US3999930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mold assembly for forming and curing flexible seals
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-01-13
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Granted: 1976-12-28
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Expires: 1995-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A mold assembly, as much as 12 feet long, consists of a strip of material having a cavity extending from end to end, the cavity being smooth walled about its periphery and open at ends and on one side. Curable sheet composite elastomer material faced with a reinforcing sheet is folded around a mandrel leaving free flaps and slid endwise into the cavity. The flaps are then folded on each other over a filler and a cover strip forming a part of the mold is laid over them. This assembly is then loaded endwise into a container of similar length in which is an inflatable bag, the container being located in an oven. The bag is first inflated to press the cover strip against the exterior of the mold assembly and heat is applied to cure the elastomer material. Thereafter the bag is deflated, the mold assembly removed from the container, the elastomer material and mandrel removed endwise from the mold cavity and the mandrel removed from the cured elastomer material to free the cured finished product.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis E. Telbizoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:41
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D99/00; B29D99/0053; B29C; B29C33/00; E; E06; E06B; E06B7/00; E06B7/16; E06B7/22; E06B7/23; E06B7/2314; E06B7/2318; B29K; B29K2021/00; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
339 words
A mold assembly for the forming and curing of a flexible seal having a substantially hollow body, an attachment section and a connecting section therebetween extending throughout the length of the seal and of breadth less than the transverse breadth of said body, said mold assembly comprising a mold cavity member having a cavity conforming in shape and size to the body of said seal, said mold cavity member having side elements forming an opening on one side only of said cavity extending from end to end and a wall portion adjacent each side element, said opening being of uniform breadth less than the greatest transverse breadth of said cavity, said cavity having an uninterrupted continuous smooth interior around the entire interior wall surface from one side of said opening to the other whereby to provide a smooth exterior surface for the entire body free of any parting line, said cavity having substantially the same cross sectional shape and size from one end to the other, a mandrel within the body of said seal when said body is in the cavity, said mandrel having a fixed cross sectional shape and size, the greatest transverse dimension of the mandrel being greater than the breadth of said opening, a cover for said opening having a breadth greater than the breadth of said opening, whereby to overlie the sides of said opening at a location spaced from the opening and adapted to rest on said wall portions, said cover having a length substantially equal to the length of said opening, a chamber element providing a space for said mold assembly and having a wall structure surrounding said mold assembly, force means in said space in the area of said mold assembly, said force means being of uniform structure and operative effect on said mold cavity member and said cover throughout the length of the chamber and being adapted to maintain uniform pressure on said mold assembly while said mold assembly and said seal are being subjected to heat during a curing cycle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
339 words
A mold assembly for the forming and curing of a flexible seal having a substantially hollow body, an attachment section and a connecting section therebetween extending throughout the length of the seal and of breadth less than the transverse breadth of said body, said mold assembly comprising a mold cavity member having a cavity conforming in shape and size to the body of said seal, said mold cavity member having side elements forming an opening on one side only of said cavity extending from end to end and a wall portion adjacent each side element, said opening being of uniform breadth less than the greatest transverse breadth of said cavity, said cavity having an uninterrupted continuous smooth interior around the entire interior wall surface from one side of said opening to the other whereby to provide a smooth exterior surface for the entire body free of any parting line, said cavity having substantially the same cross sectional shape and size from one end to the other, a mandrel within the body of said seal when said body is in the cavity, said mandrel having a fixed cross sectional shape and size, the greatest transverse dimension of the mandrel being greater than the breadth of said opening, a cover for said opening having a breadth greater than the breadth of said opening, whereby to overlie the sides of said opening at a location spaced from the opening and adapted to rest on said wall portions, said cover having a length substantially equal to the length of said opening, a chamber element providing a space for said mold assembly and having a wall structure surrounding said mold assembly, force means in said space in the area of said mold assembly, said force means being of uniform structure and operative effect on said mold cavity member and said cover throughout the length of the chamber and being adapted to maintain uniform pressure on said mold assembly while said mold assembly and said seal are being subjected to heat during a curing cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mold assembly according to claim 1 wherein there is a laterally open recess on the side of said opening exterior relative to the mold cavity for reception of a portion of the seal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A mold assembly according to claim 1 wherein said force means is an inflatable bag extending longitudinally over the area of said mold assembly and has an operative position located between the mold assembly and a wall structure of said chamber element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A mold assembly according to claim 1 wherein said force means is a series of spaced rams extending through the wall structure of said chamber element into engagement with said mold cavity member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A mold assembly according to claim 1 wherein there is a heated curing space receptive of said entire mold assembly and a feed table at one end of said heated curing space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mold assembly according to claim 5 wherein there is a discharge table at the end of said curing space opposite said feed table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mold assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cavity is open at both ends.
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) | 1979-12-28 | 1980-06-28 | 1980-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-12-28 | 1984-06-28 | 1984-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-12-28 | 1988-06-28 | 1988-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |