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US4385025A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of coinjection molding of thermoplastic and thermoplastic elastomer

Assignee: Hutchinson Aerospace and Industry Inc
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Filing: 1980-10-20
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Granted: 1983-05-24
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Expires: 2000-10-20
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Abstract

Abstract Vibration isolators are manufactured by a co-injection molding process. Outer and inner parts of the isolators are molded first from a rigid or stiff thermoplastic material such as polystyrene and intermediate spring-like parts of the isolators are made of a thermoplastic elastomer such as copolymer of butadiene and styrene formed and bonded to the outer and inner parts in a subsequent molding step.

Inventors

  • 👤 Charles M. Salerno
  • 👤 Harold V. Hamilton
  • 👤 Dale W. Schubert

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 18:05
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/16; B29C45/1676; B29C45/0053; B29C45/006; B29C45/0062; B29C45/1635; F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/50; F16D3/76; F16D3/78; F16F; F16F1/00; F16F1/36; F16F1/373; F16F1/3732; F16F3/00; F16F3/08; F16F3/087; F16F3/093; B29C45/1657; B29C2045/1659; F16F2236/00; F16F2236/02; F16F2236/022

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 108 words
A method of producing a vibration isolator having (a) first and second concentric and mutually spaced parts molded of a substantially rigid thermoplastic material, and (b) a third part molded of a thermoplastic elastomer material and extending between and bonded to said first and second parts, said method comprising: (a) injection molding said first and second parts simultaneously in first and second mold cavities respectively; and (b) injection molding said third part between said first and second parts so that said thermoplastic elastomer material of which said third part is molded will fusion bond directly to the thermoplastic material of which said first and second parts are made.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 108 words
A method of producing a vibration isolator having (a) first and second concentric and mutually spaced parts molded of a substantially rigid thermoplastic material, and (b) a third part molded of a thermoplastic elastomer material and extending between and bonded to said first and second parts, said method comprising: (a) injection molding said first and second parts simultaneously in first and second mold cavities respectively; and (b) injection molding said third part between said first and second parts so that said thermoplastic elastomer material of which said third part is molded will fusion bond directly to the thermoplastic material of which said first and second parts are made.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said first and second parts are made of polystyrene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said third part is made of a copolymer of styrene and butadiene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of opening the mold so as to form a third mold cavity, disposed between said first and second parts and wherein said third part is molded within said third cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said third part is molded after said thermoplastic polymer material has set up but before it has reached its maximum hardness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 4 in which the injection molding of said third part occurs less than three seconds after the injection molding of said first and second parts.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 160 words
A method of molding a device having a first part molded of a substantially rigid thermoplastic material, and a second part molded of a thermoplastic elastomer material fusion bonded to said first part, said method comprising the following steps: (a) closing a movable mold, to a first position in which a first cavity is formed; (b) injection molding said first part in said first mold cavity while said mold is in said first position; (c) opening the mold to a second position in which a second cavity is formed adjacent and in communication with the first cavity; (d) injection molding said second part in said second mold cavity while said mold is in said second position, so that said thermoplastic elastomer material of which said second part is molded will fusion bond directly to the thermoplastic material of which said first part is made; and (e) opening the mold to a third position in which the parts can be removed.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 160 words
A method of molding a device having a first part molded of a substantially rigid thermoplastic material, and a second part molded of a thermoplastic elastomer material fusion bonded to said first part, said method comprising the following steps: (a) closing a movable mold, to a first position in which a first cavity is formed; (b) injection molding said first part in said first mold cavity while said mold is in said first position; (c) opening the mold to a second position in which a second cavity is formed adjacent and in communication with the first cavity; (d) injection molding said second part in said second mold cavity while said mold is in said second position, so that said thermoplastic elastomer material of which said second part is molded will fusion bond directly to the thermoplastic material of which said first part is made; and (e) opening the mold to a third position in which the parts can be removed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 47 words
A method of claim 7 wherein the mold comprises two opposing mold members between which said first and second cavities are formed, said mold members being movable toward or away from one another, and wherein the opening steps each comprise separating said mold members from one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said opening of the mold to a second position is performed after said thermoplastic, non-elastomer material has set up but before it has reached its maximum hardness.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 150 words
A method of molding a device having a first part molded of substantially rigid thermoplastic material, and a second part molded of thermoplastic elastomer material bonded to said first part, said mold including a first mold member and a second mold member, said first mold member being movably disposed relative to the second mold member, said method comprising the following steps: (a). forming a first mold cavity between the mold members; (b). after step (a), injection molding the thermoplastic material of said first part in said first mold cavity; (c). after step (b), forming a second mold cavity defind between the mold and the thermoplastic material in said first mold cavity; and (d). after step (c), injection molding the thermoplastic elastomer of said second part in said second mold cavity thereby fusion bonding the thermoplastic elastomer material of said second part directly to the thermoplastic material of said first part.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 150 words
A method of molding a device having a first part molded of substantially rigid thermoplastic material, and a second part molded of thermoplastic elastomer material bonded to said first part, said mold including a first mold member and a second mold member, said first mold member being movably disposed relative to the second mold member, said method comprising the following steps: (a). forming a first mold cavity between the mold members; (b). after step (a), injection molding the thermoplastic material of said first part in said first mold cavity; (c). after step (b), forming a second mold cavity defind between the mold and the thermoplastic material in said first mold cavity; and (d). after step (c), injection molding the thermoplastic elastomer of said second part in said second mold cavity thereby fusion bonding the thermoplastic elastomer material of said second part directly to the thermoplastic material of said first part.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 79 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the forming of the first mold cavity includes the step of moving the first mold member to a first position, and the forming of the second mold cavity includes the step of moving the first mold member to a second position; and further comprising, after the thermo-elastomer of said second part has set-up, moving the first mold member to a third position in which the parts are accessible for removal from the mold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the forming of the second mold cavity is performed after the thermoplastic material in the first mold cavity has set-up.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the injection molding of the thermoplastic elastomer in the second mold is performed before the thermoplastic material in the first mold cavity has reached maximum hardness.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 65 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the initial step of closing the mold by moving the first mold member towards the second mold member, and wherein the second mold cavity is formed by retracting the first mold member from the second mold member, with said second mold cavity defined by said first and second mold members and said thermoplastic material in the first cavity.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB840041A Cited
US3485911A Cited
US3608049A Cited
GB1456258A Cited
DE2558406A1 Cited
FR2397280A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-05-23 1986-11-22 1987-05-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-05-23 1990-11-22 1991-05-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-05-23 1994-11-22 1995-05-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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