Injection molds including vertical snap-gate devices and methods for producing molded articles using the same

An injection mold comprising:

• a mold cavity;
• and
• an injection molding conduit having:
• a cylindrical portion having a diameter that defines a first end of the conduit and a flared wing portion that defines a second end of the conduit;
• the second end defining an outlet in fluid communication with the mold cavity and comprising a first dimension that is larger than the diameter and a second dimension that is perpendicular to the first dimension, wherein the first dimension is at least two times larger than the second dimension, and wherein the first dimension is substantially aligned with a thickness of a portion of the mold cavity that is adjacent to the outlet of the injection molding conduit;
• and
• first and second cavities extending from opposing sides of and in fluid communication with the injection molding conduit;
• wherein each of the cavities is defined in part by a surface that extends from the cylindrical portion and the flared wing portion of the injection molding conduit and a periphery of the cavity;
• wherein each of the cavities extend outwardly from the cylindrical portion and the flared wing portion of the injection molding conduit;
• and wherein, for each of the cavities:
• the surface is angularly disposed at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a plane that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the injection molding conduit and bisects the injection molding conduit;
• and/or a line that extends along the surface in a direction from the first end of the injection molding conduit and toward the second end of the injection molding conduit is angularly disposed at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the longitudinal axis.