Method for protecting a pre-formed projecting appendage during plastic molding

A method of molding a product from a thermoplastic or thermosetting material formed about a mold core in which the product has integrally embedded therein a portion of the pre-formed non-rigid elongated member, the remaining length and free end of the pre-formed non-rigid member extending from the molded product to form an elongated appendage projecting therefrom, comprising the steps of:

• anchoring one end of the pre-formed non-rigid member at a selected position on the mold core,
• positioning a portion of the pre-formed non-rigid member adjacent at least a portion of the surface of the mold core,
• isolating from the mold core the remaining length and free end of the pre-formed non-rigid member extending beyond a pre-determined location for permitting the pre-formed non-rigid member to exit the surface of the product when molded,
• storing said isolated remaining length and free end of the pre-formed non-rigid member in a protected enclosure adjacent the mold core for protecting said remaining length and free end of said pre-formed non-rigid member during subsequent molding steps,
• forming the molded product about the mold core from a preselected molding material and integrally embedding the portion of the pre-formed non-rigid member within the molded product,
• removing the molded product and integrally embedded portion of the pre-formed non-rigid member from the mold core, and
• freeing said remaining length and free end of the pre-formed non-rigid member for forming an elongated appendage projecting from the molded product.

A method of injection molding a generally cylindrical sleeve-like penile prosthesis from a thermoplastic or thermosetting molding material formed by utilizing a male mold core and a pair of female mold halves in which the prosthesis has encased in a wall therein a selected length of a preformed resilient tubing, the remaining length and free end of the tubing extending from the molded prosthesis to form a length of free tubing projecting therefrom, comprising the steps of:

• anchoring one end of the tubing at a selected position on the mold core,
• positioning a first portion of the tubing adjacent at least a portion of the mold core and between at least one of the female mold halves,
• isolating the remaining length and free end of the tubing that extends beyond a predetermined location on the inner surface of at least one of the female mold halves for permitting the tubing to exit the surface of the molded prosthesis,
• storing said isolated remaining length and free end of the tubing in a protected enclosure adjacent the mold core and disposed in at least one of the pair of female mold halves for protecting said remaining length and free end of said tubing during subsequent molding steps,
• injecting the molding material into the closed female mold halves for forming said prosthesis around said mold core and embedding said first portion of the tubing within a wall of the molded prosthesis,
• removing the prosthesis from the mold core, and
• freeing the remaining length and free end of the tubing from said enclosure for forming a length of free tubing projecting from the molded prosthesis.