Method and apparatus for molding a frame around the periphery of a flat or curved object

Claim 1

An apparatus for the injection molding of a precisely dimensioned frame (23) onto and around the circumference of a generally planar object (22) having a substantially fixed area but being subject to variations in circumferential dimensions, comprising: (a) a pair of mold halves (2, 3), each having an exterior and an interior surface, the interior surface of each mold half being contoured and comprising a central recessed portion (5) having an area less than said object area, a shoulder portion (19) surrounding said recessed portion and an interface portion (4) surrounding said shoulder portin, said interface portion and said shoulder portion defining a precisely dimensioned cavity portion (17), said mold halves being adapted to be secured together in contact at said interface portion with said object disposed therebetween, whereby said shoulder portions on each mold half are opposite one another, and said cavity portions define the precisely dimensioned outer surfaces of an edge frame mold surrounding the outer circumference of said object; (b) first sealing means (20) disposed in the recess portion of one of the mold halves and adapted to contact said object for defining, together with the object and said one mold half, a suction chamber for retaining the object in a predetermined position; (c) second sealing means (8, 9) disposed in said shoulder portion of each mold half and being individually and cooperably operable, when said mold halves are secured with said object therebetween, to engage the opposite surfaces of the object proximate and inwardly from an outer edge thereof to complete and seal the edge frame mold, and (d) means (18) for injecting a plastic or elastomeric material into the edge frame mold cavity under pressure.

Claim 2

An apparatus for the injection molding of a precisely dimensioned frame (23) onto and around the circumference of a generally planar object (22) having a substantially fixed area but being subject to variations in circumferential dimensions, comprising: (a) a pair of mold halves (2, 3), each having an exterior and an interior surface, the interior surface of each mold half being contoured and comprising a central recessed portion (5) having an area less than said object area, a shoulder portion (19) surrounding said recessed portion and an interface portion (4) surrounding said shoulder portin, said interface portion and said shoulder portion defining a precisely dimensioned cavity portion (17), said mold halves being adapted to be secured together in contact at said interface portion with said object disposed therebetween, whereby said shoulder portions on each mold half are opposite one another, and said cavity portions define the precisely dimensioned outer surfaces of an edge frame mold surrounding the outer circumference of said object; (b) first sealing means (20) disposed in the recess portion of one of the mold halves and adapted to contact said object for defining, together with the object and said one mold half, a suction chamber for retaining the object in a predetermined position; (c) second sealing means (8, 9) disposed in said shoulder portion of each mold half and being individually and cooperably operable, when said mold halves are secured with said object therebetween, to engage the opposite surfaces of the object proximate and inwardly from an outer edge thereof to complete and seal the edge frame mold, and (d) means (18) for injecting a plastic or elastomeric material into the edge frame mold cavity under pressure.