Stress relieved molded cover assembly and method of making the same

Claim 2

A stress-relieved, molded hollow cover, comprising: A support ring having a marginal recess area; An elastomer band disposed within said marginal recess surrounding a portion of said support ring; A hollow portion of thermoplastic material injection molded directly about and enveloping the band of elastomer, interlocked with said ring and axially extending from said ring, said hollow portion cooperating with said ring to form said hollow cover.

Claim 3

A stress relieved fitment as recited in claim 1 wherein the marginal recess of said support ring has spaced thereon a a plurality of holes to receive elastomer compression.

Claim 4

A stress relieved fitment as recited in claim 2 wherein said elastomer is in a pre-formed shape having protrusions disposed on one surface to matchingly position within said support ring spaced holes.

Claim 5

A stress relieved fitment as recited in claim 3 wherein said pre-formed elastomer is cylindrical in shape and said protrusions are disposed inwardly on an interior surface of the cylinder.

Claim 6

A stress relieved fitment as recited in claim 3 wherein said pre-formed elastomer is in the shape of a washer disposed to fittingly snap over the support ring marginal recess and having a plurality of protrusions on a surface of said washer receivable within said spaced holes thereon.

Claim 7

A stress relieved fitment as recited in claim 5 wherein said washer has a variable thickness adjacent to a central cutout.

Claim 8

A stress relieved fitment as recited in claim 5 wherein a portion of said elastomer washer extends over the shoulder of said support ring.

Claim 9

In the injection molding of a plastic fitment directly onto a support ring having a tubular end region to receive the fitment, a method for reducing the formation of hoop stresses and thereby eliminating fitment cracks comprising the steps of: a. providing said support ring tubular end region with a plurality of holes spaced about a marginal recess; b. placing the support ring into working relationship with an injection molding machine; c. providing a layer of elastomer surrounding said support ring end region; d. placing a fitment mold about the support ring end section; e. injecting a heated thermoplastic directly into the mold and surrounding said elastomer and allowing the thermoplastic to fill the mold; f. allowing the thermoplastic to cool about said support ring; and g. removing said directly molded thermoplastic fitment from said injection machine.

Claim 10

In the injection molding of a plastic fitment directly onto a support ring having a tubular end region to receive the fitment, a method for reducing the formation of hoop stresses and thereby eliminating fitment cracks comprising the steps of: a. providing said support ring tubular end region with a plurality of holes spaced about a marginal recess; b. placing the support ring into working relationship with an injection molding machine; c. providing a layer of elastomer surrounding said support ring end region; d. placing a fitment mold about the support ring end section; e. injecting a heated thermoplastic directly into the mold and surrounding said elastomer and allowing the thermoplastic to fill the mold; f. allowing the thermoplastic to cool about said support ring; and g. removing said directly molded thermoplastic fitment from said injection machine.

Claim 11

A method as recited in claim 8 wherein step (c) includes: h. placing a preformed band of elastomer having a plurality of spaced protrusions on said support ring marginal end recess, said spaced protrusions being received within said spaced support ring holes.

Claim 12

A method as recited in claim 8 wherein step (c) includes: i. placing a preformed elastomer mold about said support ring; j. injecting an elastomer into said pre-form mold and allowing the mold and said support ring spaced holes to be filled with said elastomer; and k. removing said elastomer mold.

Claim 13

In the injection molding of a plastic fitment directly onto a receiver base, said receiver base having two tubular ring sections to receive the fitment, a first inner support ring section and a second outer ring section, each of said ring sections having a plurality of holes spaced about a marginal end region of said tubular sections, a method for eliminating hoop stresses and thereby eliminating fitment cracks and for sealing interlockingly together the fitment with the support ring, comprising the steps of: placing the receiver base into a working relation with an injection molding machine; placing a pre-formed elastomer mold about the inner support ring; injecting an elastomer into said pre-form mold and surrounding a portion of said support and allowing the mold and said support ring spaced holes to be filled with said elastomer; removing said elastomer mold; placing a fitment mold about the support ring end section; injecting a heated thermoplastic directly into the mold and surrounding said elastomer, and allowing the thermoplastic to fill the mold and the outer support ring spaced holes; allowing the thermoplastic to cool about the support ring; and removing said directly molded thermoplastic fitment from the injection machine.

Claim 14

In the injection molding of a plastic fitment directly onto a receiver base, said receiver base having two tubular ring sections to receive the fitment, a first inner support ring section and a second outer ring section, each of said ring sections having a plurality of holes spaced about a marginal end region of said tubular sections, a method for eliminating hoop stresses and thereby eliminating fitment cracks and for sealing interlockingly together the fitment with the support ring, comprising the steps of: placing the receiver base into a working relation with an injection molding machine; placing a pre-formed elastomer mold about the inner support ring; injecting an elastomer into said pre-form mold and surrounding a portion of said support and allowing the mold and said support ring spaced holes to be filled with said elastomer; removing said elastomer mold; placing a fitment mold about the support ring end section; injecting a heated thermoplastic directly into the mold and surrounding said elastomer, and allowing the thermoplastic to fill the mold and the outer support ring spaced holes; allowing the thermoplastic to cool about the support ring; and removing said directly molded thermoplastic fitment from the injection machine.