Segmented matrix with guide means and retaining pins

Claim 2

A mold assembly comprising a base, a matrix movable relative to said base, means carried by said base for normally urging said matrix away from said base, means between said base and matrix for guiding relative movement therebetween, means coupled between said base and matrix for maintaining the latter in assembled relationship in opposition to motion between said base and matrix created by said urging means urging said matrix away from said base, and means connected only to said base for retaining said urging means and guiding means upon said base upon the uncoupling of said coupling means and the disassembly of said matrix from said base.

Claim 3

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 including means for coupling said maintaining means to said base.

Claim 4

The mold assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said urging means includes a spring.

Claim 5

The mold assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said maintaining means includes a pin coupled to said base, said pin being in sliding relationship to said matrix, and abutment means between said pin and matrix for precluding separation between said base and matrix by relative motion therebetween created by said urging means.

Claim 6

The mold assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said urging means includes a spring, said guiding means are a pair of relatively telescopically movable sleeves encapsulating said spring, and means for preventing disassembly of said sleeves by relative telescopic movement in one direction.

Claim 7

The mold assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said urging means includes a spring, said guiding means are a pair of relatively telescopically movable sleeves encapsulating said spring, and said retaining means includes means connecting one of said sleeves to said base.

Claim 8

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 including means for quick-coupling and quick-uncoupling said maintaining means to said base.

Claim 9

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said urging means includes a spring.

Claim 10

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said maintaining means includes a pin coupled to said base, said pin being in sliding relationship to said matrix, and abutment means between said pin and matrix for precluding separation between said base and matrix by relative motion therebetween created by said urging means.

Claim 11

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said urging means includes a spring said guiding means are a pair of relatively telescopically movable sleeves encapsulating said spring, and means for preventing disassembly of said sleeves by relative telescopic movement in one direction.

Claim 12

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said urging means includes a spring, said guiding means are a pair of relatively telescopically movable sleeves encapsulating said spring, and said retaining means includes means connecting one of said sleeves to said base.

Claim 13

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said urging means includes a spring, said guiding means are a pair of relatively telescopically movable sleeves encapsulating said spring, means for preventing disassembly of said sleeves by relative telescopic movement in one direction, and said retaining means includes means connecting one of said sleeves to said base.

Claim 14

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said guiding means is in surrounding relationship to said urging means.

Claim 15

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said matrix is defined by a plurality of segments which in a closed position thereof define a generally annular configuration, and said urging and maintaining means are secured only to said base.

Claim 16

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein means separate and disassociated from said retaining means releasably couple said matrix to said base.

Claim 17

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said urging means includes a spring.

Claim 18

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said maintaining means includes a pin coupled to said base, said pin being in sliding relationship to said matrix, and abutment means between said pin and matrix for precluding separation between said base and matrix by relative motion therebetween created by said urging means.

Claim 19

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said urging means includes a spring, said guiding means are a pair of relatively telescopically movable sleeves encapsulating said spring, and means for preventing disassembly of said sleeves by relative telescopic movement in one direction.

Claim 20

The mold assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said urging means includes a spring, said guiding means are a pair of relatively telescopically movable sleeves encapsulating said spring and said retaining means includes means connecting one of said sleeves to said base.

Claim 21

A mold assembly comprising a base, a plurality of matrix segments movable relative to said base, said matrix segments in a closed position thereof defining a generally annular configuration, means coupled only to said base for normally urging said matrix segments away from said base, means between said base and matrix segments for guiding relative movement therebetween, means coupled only to said base for maintaining the matrix segments and base in assembled relationship in opposition to motion between said base and matrix segments created by said urging means, said maintaining means includes a plurality of pins coupled to said base, at least one pin being in sliding relationship to each matrix segment, abutment means between each pin and its associated matrix segment for precluding separation between said base and each matrix segment by relative motion therebetween created by said urging means, said urging means includes a plurality of springs, said guiding means are a pair of relatively telescopically movable sleeves encapsulating each spring, at least one of said urging means being associated with each matrix segment, means for preventing disassembly of said sleeves by relative telescopic movement in one direction, and means connected only to said base for retaining said springs and sleeves upon said base upon the uncoupling of said pins and the disassembly of said matrix segments from said base.

Claim 22

A mold assembly comprising a base, a plurality of matrix segments movable relative to said base, said matrix segments in a closed position thereof defining a generally annular configuration, means coupled only to said base for normally urging said matrix segments away from said base, means between said base and matrix segments for guiding relative movement therebetween, means coupled only to said base for maintaining the matrix segments and base in assembled relationship in opposition to motion between said base and matrix segments created by said urging means, said maintaining means includes a plurality of pins coupled to said base, at least one pin being in sliding relationship to each matrix segment, abutment means between each pin and its associated matrix segment for precluding separation between said base and each matrix segment by relative motion therebetween created by said urging means, said urging means includes a plurality of springs, said guiding means are a pair of relatively telescopically movable sleeves encapsulating each spring, at least one of said urging means being associated with each matrix segment, means for preventing disassembly of said sleeves by relative telescopic movement in one direction, and means connected only to said base for retaining said springs and sleeves upon said base upon the uncoupling of said pins and the disassembly of said matrix segments from said base.

Claim 23

The mold assembly as defined in claim 20 including means for quick-coupling and quick-uncoupling each pin to said base.

Claim 24

The mold assembly as defined in claim 21 wherein said last-mentioned means is a key and keyhold connection between each pin and said base.