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US 12,005,663 B2Granted
Molding assembly and methods of using the same
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorBruce J. Kilgore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molding assembly having a top mold member and a base mold member. The top mold member can include a first top mold portion and a second top mold portion that shift between a top mold open configuration and a top mold closed configuration by rotating about a top mold hinge axis. The molding assembly can shift between a molding assembly open configuration and a molding assembly closed configuration by rotating at least the top mold member about a molding assembly hinge axis.
Claims17
A molding assembly, comprising:
- a base mold member;
- a top mold member, the top mold member comprising a first top mold portion and a second top mold portion, wherein the first top mold portion and the second top mold portion are rotatable, about a top mold hinge axis, between a top mold open configuration and a top mold closed configuration;
- and
- a top plate disposed adjacent the first top mold portion and the second top mold portion and opposite the base mold member, the top plate being in a fixed orientation relative to the top mold hinge axis,
- wherein at least the top mold member is rotatable, about a molding assembly hinge axis, between a molding assembly open configuration and a molding assembly closed configuration, wherein as the top mold member rotates about the molding assembly hinge axis from the first top mold portion and the second top mold portion of the top mold member shift away the base mold member, wherein, when in the molding assembly closed configuration, the base mold member and the top mold member in the top mold closed configuration, are cooperatively adapted to form at least a portion of a mold surface for an article, and wherein the top mold hinge axis and the molding assembly hinge axis are positioned within 15 centimeters of one another.
2 more elements
A molding assembly, comprising:
- a base mold member;
- a top mold member, the top mold member comprising a first top mold portion and a second top mold portion, wherein the first top mold portion and the second top mold portion are rotatable, about a top mold hinge axis, between a top mold open configuration and a top mold closed configuration;
- a top plate, the top plate comprising one or more top mold member securing mechanisms adapted to secure the top mold member in the top mold closed configuration, the top plate being in a fixed orientation relative to the top mold hinge axis,
- wherein at least the top mold member is rotatable, about a molding assembly hinge axis, between a molding assembly open configuration and a molding assembly closed configuration, wherein as the top mold member rotates about the molding assembly hinge axis from the first top mold portion and the second top mold portion of the top mold member shift away from the base mold member, wherein, when in the molding assembly closed configuration, the base mold member and the top mold member in the top mold closed configuration, are cooperatively adapted to form at least a portion of a mold surface for an article, and wherein, when in the molding assembly closed configuration, the top mold member is positioned between the top plate and the base mold member.
1 more element
A method for utilizing a molding assembly, the method comprising:
- securing an article to a top plate using one or more article securing mechanisms;
- rotating one or both of a first top mold portion and a second top mold portion of a top mold member about a top mold hinge axis, the top mold hinge axis being in a fixed orientation relative to the top plate, from a top mold open configuration to a top mold closed configuration;
- and
- rotating the top mold member in the top mold closed configuration, the top plate, and the article, about a molding assembly hinge axis, toward a base mold member into a molding assembly closed configuration, wherein the top mold hinge axis and the molding assembly hinge axis are positioned within 15 centimeters of one another;
- and
- rotating the top mold member from the top mold closed configuration to the top mold open configuration;
- wherein as the top mold member rotates about the molding assembly hinge axis from the top mold closed configuration to the top mold open configuration the first top mold portion and the second top mold portion of the top mold member shift away from the base mold member.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.