Apparatus for producing a fluid-assisted injection molded product

Claim 1

An apparatus for use in gas-assisted injection molding of plastic material so as to form an injection molded product, the apparatus comprising: a pair of mold members defining, when closed, a sealed cavity; a first opening provided in one of said mold members for allowing injection of a plastic material into said cavity; a second opening provided in one of said mold members, and spaced from said first opening, for allowing injection of gas into said cavity; a sleeve rigidly secured in one of said mold members and extending through said second opening, said sleeve having an open first end; a probe extending through said sleeve and adapted to be reciprocated therein from a retracted position to an extended position, said probe comprising: a first end, adapted to selectively extend into said cavity and past said sleeve open first end, a second end, and a longitudinally extending bore which terminates in a port adjacent said probe first end, said bore being used to channel the gas into said cavity when said probe first end extends into said cavity, wherein said port is then located past said sleeve first end; and, a means for reciprocating said probe in relation to said cavity.

Claim 2

An apparatus for use in gas-assisted injection molding of plastic material so as to form an injection molded product, the apparatus comprising: a pair of mold members defining, when closed, a sealed cavity; a first opening provided in one of said mold members for allowing injection of a plastic material into said cavity; a second opening provided in one of said mold members, and spaced from said first opening, for allowing injection of gas into said cavity; a sleeve rigidly secured in one of said mold members and extending through said second opening, said sleeve having an open first end; a probe extending through said sleeve and adapted to be reciprocated therein from a retracted position to an extended position, said probe comprising: a first end, adapted to selectively extend into said cavity and past said sleeve open first end, a second end, and a longitudinally extending bore which terminates in a port adjacent said probe first end, said bore being used to channel the gas into said cavity when said probe first end extends into said cavity, wherein said port is then located past said sleeve first end; and, a means for reciprocating said probe in relation to said cavity.

Claim 17

An apparatus for providing a fluid-assisted injection molded product of a viscous material, the apparatus comprising: a pair of mold member forming, when closed, a mold space; a first passage opening into said mold space for introducing said viscous material into said mold space; a second passage opening into said mold space, and spaced from said first passage, for introducing a pressurized non-viscous fluid into the viscous material in said mold space so that a fluid cavity is formed in the viscous material; a probe extending into said second passage and adapted to be reciprocated therein, said probe comprising: a first end having a pointed tip adapted to pierce a cooled skin layer of the viscous material, a second end, and a longitudinally extending bore through which the non-viscous fluid is adapted to flow; a means for supplying the pressurized non-viscous fluid to said one mold space through said longitudinally extending bore in said probe; and, a means for reciprocating said probe in relation to said second passage so that the pressurized fluid can selectively flow into said mold space wherein said means for reciprocating comprises: a base member on which said probe is mounted, a slidable member on which said base member is supported, and a means for selectively moving said slidable member wherein said base member and said slidable member meet along an angled plane such that a horizontal movement of said slidable member translates to a vertical movement of said base member, and hence said probe.

Claim 18

An apparatus for providing a fluid-assisted injection molded product of a viscous material, the apparatus comprising: a pair of mold member forming, when closed, a mold space; a first passage opening into said mold space for introducing said viscous material into said mold space; a second passage opening into said mold space, and spaced from said first passage, for introducing a pressurized non-viscous fluid into the viscous material in said mold space so that a fluid cavity is formed in the viscous material; a probe extending into said second passage and adapted to be reciprocated therein, said probe comprising: a first end having a pointed tip adapted to pierce a cooled skin layer of the viscous material, a second end, and a longitudinally extending bore through which the non-viscous fluid is adapted to flow; a means for supplying the pressurized non-viscous fluid to said one mold space through said longitudinally extending bore in said probe; and, a means for reciprocating said probe in relation to said second passage so that the pressurized fluid can selectively flow into said mold space wherein said means for reciprocating comprises: a base member on which said probe is mounted, a slidable member on which said base member is supported, and a means for selectively moving said slidable member wherein said base member and said slidable member meet along an angled plane such that a horizontal movement of said slidable member translates to a vertical movement of said base member, and hence said probe.

Claim 23

An apparatus for use in fluid-assisted injection molding of plastic material so as to form an injection molded product, the apparatus comprising: a pair of mold members defining, when closed, a sealed cavity; a first opening provided in one of said mold members for allowing injection of a plastic material into said cavity; a second opening provided in one of said mold members, and spaced from said first opening, for allowing injection of a fluid into said cavity; a sleeve extending through said second opening, said sleeve having a longitudinally extending bore with an open first end and an open second end; a means for rigidly securing said sleeve to said one of said mold members; a probe extending through said sleeve and adapted to be reciprocated therein from a retracted position to an extended position, said probe comprising: a first end, adapted to selectively extend into said cavity, a second end, and a longitudinally extending bore which terminates adjacent said second end, said bore being used to channel the fluid into said cavity; and, a means for reciprocating said probe in said sleeve such that, in an extended position, said probe first end extends past said sleeve first end.

Claim 24

An apparatus for use in fluid-assisted injection molding of plastic material so as to form an injection molded product, the apparatus comprising: a pair of mold members defining, when closed, a sealed cavity; a first opening provided in one of said mold members for allowing injection of a plastic material into said cavity; a second opening provided in one of said mold members, and spaced from said first opening, for allowing injection of a fluid into said cavity; a sleeve extending through said second opening, said sleeve having a longitudinally extending bore with an open first end and an open second end; a means for rigidly securing said sleeve to said one of said mold members; a probe extending through said sleeve and adapted to be reciprocated therein from a retracted position to an extended position, said probe comprising: a first end, adapted to selectively extend into said cavity, a second end, and a longitudinally extending bore which terminates adjacent said second end, said bore being used to channel the fluid into said cavity; and, a means for reciprocating said probe in said sleeve such that, in an extended position, said probe first end extends past said sleeve first end.