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US5437547A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for injection molding

Assignee: Becker Group Inc
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Filing: 1993-11-01
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Granted: 1995-08-01
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Expires: 2013-11-01
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Abstract

Abstract Injection molds suitable for use in injection molding, structural foam molding, low-pressure injection molding, and gas-assisted injection molding of plastic articles are described. The injection molds contain a thin metal layer contoured on its outer surface to the shape of the article to be molded, a rigid thermoset plastic material cast upon the inner surface of the metal layer and supporting the metal layer, and heat transfer elements cast within the plastic material and located adjacent to the metal layer to transfer heat for the metal layer and the plastic material. Preferably the thin metal layer is nickel, the plastic material is epoxy, and the heat transfer elements are metal chips and heat transfer tubing. The injection molds of the present invention can be prepared at considerable cost and time savings relative to conventional injection molds.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald Holton
  • 👤 Antony Gill

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 20:22
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/17; B29C45/26; B29C45/37; B29C33/00; B29C33/02; B29C33/04; B29C33/56; B29C33/565; B29C35/00; B29C35/18; B29K; B29K2063/00; B29K2863/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/11

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
An injection mold comprising, in order, (a) a thin metallic layer forming an interior surface of the mold for molding an article; (b) a first thermoset plastic layer which contains (1) metal chips and (2) heat transfer tubing for the circulation of a heat transfer medium through the mold, wherein the tubing is adjacent to the metallic layer; (c) a second thermoset plastic layer; and (d) a plurality of metal plates embedded within both the first and second thermoset plastic layers, said plates approximately perpendicular to the metallic layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 89 words
An injection mold comprising, in order, (a) a thin metallic layer forming an interior surface of the mold for molding an article; (b) a first thermoset plastic layer which contains (1) metal chips and (2) heat transfer tubing for the circulation of a heat transfer medium through the mold, wherein the tubing is adjacent to the metallic layer; (c) a second thermoset plastic layer; and (d) a plurality of metal plates embedded within both the first and second thermoset plastic layers, said plates approximately perpendicular to the metallic layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 1, wherein the metallic layer is a nickel layer and the first and second thermoset plastic layers are epoxy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 2, wherein the nickel layer is approximately 1/8 to 3/4 inches thick.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 3, wherein the nickel layer is approximately 1/8 to 3/8 inches thick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 2, wherein the metal chips are aluminum chips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 5, wherein the aluminum chips are flakes of about 1/16 to 3/8 by 1/16 to 3/8 by 0.010 to 0.050 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 31 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 2, wherein the heat transfer tubing is a continuous length of copper tubing with an inlet and an outlet for passage of water therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 46 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 7, where the metal plates are steel approximately 1/16 to 1/4 inches thick and wherein the edge of each of the steel plates adjacent to the nickel surface approximates the shape of the nickel layer adjacent to that edge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 97 words
An injection mold comprising, in order, (a) a first thin metallic layer forming an interior molding surface of the mold; (b) a second thin metallic layer; (c) a first thermoset plastic layer which contains (1) metal chips and (2) heat transfer tubing for the circulation of a heat transfer medium through the mold, wherein the tubing is adjacent to the second metallic layer; (d) a second thermoset plastic layer; and (e) a plurality of metal plates embedded within both the first and second thermoset plastic layers, said plates approximately perpendicular to the first and second metallic layers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 97 words
An injection mold comprising, in order, (a) a first thin metallic layer forming an interior molding surface of the mold; (b) a second thin metallic layer; (c) a first thermoset plastic layer which contains (1) metal chips and (2) heat transfer tubing for the circulation of a heat transfer medium through the mold, wherein the tubing is adjacent to the second metallic layer; (d) a second thermoset plastic layer; and (e) a plurality of metal plates embedded within both the first and second thermoset plastic layers, said plates approximately perpendicular to the first and second metallic layers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 39 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 9, wherein the first metallic layer is nickel, the second metallic layer is formed of a material selected between copper and zinc, and the first and second thermoset plastic layers are epoxy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 18 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 10, wherein the nickel layer is at least 1/16 inches thick.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 10, wherein the combined layers of the first and second metallic layers are at least 3/8 inches thick.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 25 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 10, wherein the combined layers of the first and second metallic layers are 3/8 to 3/4 inches thick.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 17 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 12, wherein the nickel layer is approximately 1/8 inches thick.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 15 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 10, wherein the metal chips are aluminum chips.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 15, wherein the aluminum chips are flakes of about 1/16 to 3/8 by 1/16 to 3/8 by 0.010 to 0.050 inches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 29 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 10, wherein the tubing is a continuous length of copper tubing with an inlet and an outlet for passage of water therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 46 words
An injection mold as defined in claim 10, where the metal plates are steel approximately 1/16 to 1/4 inches thick and wherein the edge of each of the steel plates adjacent to the nickel surface approximates the shape of the nickel layer adjacent to that edge.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-07-31 1999-01-30 1999-08-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-07-31 2003-01-30 2003-08-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-07-31 2007-01-30 2007-08-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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