Device for mold coating plastic parts

Abstract

A device and method for mold coating plastic parts producing a class A finish is disclosed. The method of mold coating plastic parts includes the steps of molding the part; allowing the part to solidify; opening the mold a controlled distance and maintaining a seal between the parts of the mold, while holding the part in the core of the mold; injecting a measured amount of coating material into the space; and closing the mold to form and cure the coating material. The device includes a seal disposed around the perimeter of the mold at the surfaces separating the halves of the mold. The seal is configured to allow the halves of the mold to be separated by as much as 0.100 inches or greater without breaking the seal between the mold halves. When the halves of the mold are separated to create the space a vacuum may be created in the space between the surface of the mold and the surface of the part to augment dispersion of the coating. A controlled amount of coating material is injected into the space and the mold is closed to cure the coating material and bond the coating to the part. The resulting part has a class A finish which duplicates the finish of the surface on the inside of the cavity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.