US5256366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of molding fiberglass
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-01-08
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Granted: 1993-10-26
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Expires: 2011-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A fiberglass molding method characterized by the use of a male mask to which glass fiber material is affixed and then sealed against a female mold by a vacuum actuated gasket system. Resin is placed into the bottom of the female mold and is pulled by vacuum through the glass fiber material by means of vacuum ports which extend through the bottom of a spillway and open at an elevation above the bottom of the spillway. The method also allows the resulting fiberglass part to be subsequently surfaced coated using the vacuum method.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Wejrock
- 👤 Allen T. Curry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:58
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/44; B29C70/443; B29C70/46; B29C70/467; B29C43/00; B29C43/02; B29C43/10; B29C43/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/50; Y10S264/78; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of fiberglass molding, comprising: a. removably affixing a glass fiber material to a male mask; b. pouring a resin material into a female mold; c. applying a vacuum to a gasket chamber formed within a perimeter gasket located between said male mask and said female mold so as to pull and seal said male mask against said female mold; d. applying a vacuum within a main part chamber formed between said male mask and said female mold, and inside of the perimeter of said perimeter gasket, so as to pull said resin by vacuum means through said glass fiber until said glass fiber is saturated with resin; e. terminating said vacuum to said main part chamber upon complete saturation of said glass fiber with resin, as resin begins to flow into a resin spillway; f. terminating said vacuum to said gasket chamber to release said male mask from said female mold; g. pulling said male mask from said female mold with a fiberglass part attached to said modem; and h. removing said fiberglass part from said male mask.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of fiberglass molding, comprising: a. removably affixing a glass fiber material to a male mask; b. pouring a resin material into a female mold; c. applying a vacuum to a gasket chamber formed within a perimeter gasket located between said male mask and said female mold so as to pull and seal said male mask against said female mold; d. applying a vacuum within a main part chamber formed between said male mask and said female mold, and inside of the perimeter of said perimeter gasket, so as to pull said resin by vacuum means through said glass fiber until said glass fiber is saturated with resin; e. terminating said vacuum to said main part chamber upon complete saturation of said glass fiber with resin, as resin begins to flow into a resin spillway; f. terminating said vacuum to said gasket chamber to release said male mask from said female mold; g. pulling said male mask from said female mold with a fiberglass part attached to said modem; and h. removing said fiberglass part from said male mask.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method of fiberglass molding as described in claim 1, wherein said spillway is a continuous trough which runs about the perimeter of said female mold between said perimeter gasket and said main part chamber, and wherein at least two vacuum ports extend though a bottom of said spillway at predetermined intervals, having an opening on each of said vacuum ports which extends above said bottom of said spillway to allow resin to be collected in said spillway without blocking said opening to said vacuum ports.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method of fiberglass molding as described in claim 1, wherein said perimeter gasket comprises an outer gasket, and an inner gasket, leaving a space between said outer gasket and said inner gasket so as to form said gasket chamber therebetween, and wherein at least one vacuum port extends through said female mold to allow said vacuum to be applied within said gasket chamber to pull said male mask against said female mold and to seal said perimeter gasket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method of fiberglass molding as described in claim 2, wherein said perimeter gasket comprises an outer gasket, and an inner gasket, leaving a space between said outer gasket and said inner gasket so as to form said gasket chamber therebetween, and wherein at least one vacuum port extends through said female mold to allow said vacuum to be applied within said gasket chamber to pull said male mask against said female mold and to seal said perimeter gasket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
A method of fiberglass molding as described in claim 1, further comprising the additional steps of: a. applying a coating or finish material to said female mold; b. placing said male mask with said fiberglass part attached thereto within said female mold; c. applying vacuum to said gasket chamber so as to pull said male mask against said female mold; d. applying a vacuum to said main part chamber so as to cause said coating or finish material to be applied to said fiberglass part by transporting said coating or finish material through said main part chamber by vacuum means until said fiberglass part is coated as desired; e. terminating said vacuum to said main part chamber and to said gasket chamber; and f. removing said male mask from said female mold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
A method of fiberglass molding as described in claim 2, further comprising the additional steps of: a. applying a coating or finish material to said female mold; b. placing said male mask with said fiberglass part attached thereto within said female mold; c. applying vacuum to said gasket chamber so as to pull said male mask against said female mold; d. applying a vacuum to said main part chamber so as to cause said coating or finish material to be applied to said fiberglass part by transporting said coating or finish material through said main part chamber by vacuum means until said fiberglass part is coated as desired; e. terminating said vacuum to said main part chamber and to said gasket chamber; and f. removing said male mask from said female mold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
A method of fiberglass molding as described in claim 3, further comprising the additional steps of: a. applying a coating or finish material to said female mold; b. placing said male mask with said fiberglass part attached thereto within said female mold; c. applying vacuum to said gasket chamber so as to pull said male mask against said female mold; d. applying a vacuum to said main part chamber so as to cause said coating or finish material to be applied to said fiberglass part by transporting said coating or finish material through said main part chamber by vacuum means until said fiberglass part is coated as desired; e. terminating said vacuum to said main part chamber and to said gasket chamber; and f. removing said male mask from said female mold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A method of fiberglass molding as described in claim 4, further comprising the additional steps of: a. applying a coating or finish material to said female mold: b. placing said male mask with said fiberglass part attached thereto within said female mold; c. applying vacuum to said gasket chamber so as to pull said male mask against said female mold; d. applying a vacuum to said main part chamber so as to cause said coating or finish material to be applied to said fiberglass part by transporting said coating or finish material through said main part chamber by vacuum means until said fiberglass part is coated as desired; e. terminating said vacuum to said main part chamber and to said gasket chamber; and f. removing said male mask from said female mold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2841823A
Cited
US4312829A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-10-25 | 1997-04-26 | 1997-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-25 | 2001-04-26 | 2001-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-25 | 2005-04-26 | 2005-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |