Lightweight outline mold with low thermal inertia for shaping glass sheets

An outline mold for bending glass sheets, comprising:

• a shaping rail disposed in edgewise relation so that its upper edge surface conforms in elevation and outline to a configuration similar to and slightly smaller than the periphery of the glass sheets after bending, said shaping rail having a height of less than about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) and a thickness of about 0.090 inch (2.3 millimeters) to provide reduced thermal inertia of said shaping rail;
• a horizontal disposed structurally stable reinforcing frame;
• a plurality of upright rods welded at their lower end portion to said reinforcing frame and extending upwardly therefrom;
• a reinforcing tab for each of said rods said tab having its longest dimension extending approximately vertically and welded at its lower portion only to the upper portion of its associated one of said rods, said tab having a major surface contacting side surface of said shaping rail and being complementary therewith;
• and
• fastening means of the type capable of securement without requiring localized heating for securing the upper portion of each of said reinforcing tab to said shaping rail at a fastening point spaced from adjacent fastening points to prevent distortion of the frame.