US 10,945,483 B2 · Molding process for rubber

Abstract

A one-piece rubber boot shell is created by a process comprising the steps of disposing rubber pieces within a cavity of a molding machine, the molding machine having an upper mold, a lower mold, and a last suspended between the upper mold and the lower mold. The process includes closing the molding machine by moving at least one of the upper mold, the lower mold, and the last toward each other so that they are adjacent each other, heating the rubber pieces to flow within the cavity and around the last to form a one-piece rubber boot shell, and opening the molding machine by moving at least one of the upper mold, the lower mold, and the last away from each other so that they are spaced apart from each. The one-piece rubber boot shell is then removed from the last.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A one-piece rubber boot shell created by a process comprising the steps of:

disposing one or more pieces of natural rubber within one or more cavities of a molding machine in an open position, the molding machine having an upper mold, a lower mold, and a last suspended between the upper mold and the lower mold and spaced apart from the upper mold and lower mold when in the open position;
transitioning the molding machine to a closed position by moving at least one of the upper mold, the lower mold, and the last toward each other so that they are adjacent each other;
heating the one or more rubber pieces to flow within the cavity and around the last to form a one-piece rubber boot shell;
and
opening the molding machine by moving at least one of the upper mold, the lower mold, and the last away from each other so that they are spaced apart from each;
removing the one-piece rubber boot shell from the last.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Molding process for rubber

Life of this patent

Molding process for rubber

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18