Paw-shaped toy
AssigneeT.F.H. Publications, Inc.
InventorsGlen S. AXELROD, Ajay GAJRIA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for molding a pet toy having one or more fabric inserts molded into a portion of the surface of the toy. The mold may comprise a cover plate, a cavity plate and a separator plate, the cavity plate including one or more projections and the separator plate including one or more complementary-shaped openings such that pieces of fabric placed on the projections may have skirt areas engaged by the engagement of the separator plate to the cavity plate. The fabric may stretch when the mold is filled with rubber or plastic to form discrete fabric-covered areas on the toy.
Claims18
A method for making a molded toy comprising:
- providing a fabric having a front side and a backside;
- providing a material that is moldable with heating;
- providing a mold having at least three components, a cavity plate, a separator plate and a cover plate;
- wherein said cover plate includes one or more projections and said separator plate includes one or more openings which complement said one or more projections;
- locating said fabric on said one or more projections;
- placing said separator plate onto said cover plate so that said one or more projections engage said one or more openings and said fabric is positioned over said one or more projections;
- placing said cavity plate over said separator plate to form a closed mold;
- introducing said material into said closed mold and into contact with said backside of said fabric wherein the rubber or polymer material stretches and mechanically engages said fabric;
- solidifying said material;
- and
- removing said molded toy from said mold.
An apparatus for providing a molded toy having discrete areas covered by fabric, comprising:
- a mold comprising a plurality of interfacing plates, including at least a cavity plate, a separator plate and a cover plate;
- wherein said cover plate includes one or more projections having peripheries and said separator plate includes one or more openings having insides which complement said one or more projections, such that when said separator plate is placed onto said cover plate said one or more projections engage said one or more openings, and fabric is positioned over said one or more projections and extends beyond said peripheries and is engaged between the peripheries of the projections and the insides of the openings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.