Process and apparatus for the production of a cushion element

Apparatus for producing a cushion element having covering material encasing same comprising:

• first and second clamping frames adapted to clamp therebetween edge portions of said covering material for encasing said cushion elements so that a space is provided within said clamped covering material to receive a reaction mixture therein;
• first and second mold portions adapted to provide a mold open position and a mold closed position, each said mold portion having a recess wherein said first and second clamping frames are disposed in mutually opposite cooperating relationship in said mold closed position;
• and
• a feed opening provided in at least one of said clamping frames in said mold closed position for introduction of said reaction mixture into said space within said covering material.

Apparatus for the production of an element comprising a body portion of plastic foam and a cover encasing said body portion in close contact with the surface thereof comprising:

• first and second clamping members adapted to co-operate with each other to hold therebetween the edge region of at least one portion of cover material so disposed in said clamping members as to provide an enclosed space within said at least one portion, said clamping members extending around said at least one portion,
• first and second mold portions each comprising means defining respective portions of a mold cavity therein, at least one of said mold portions being movable relative to the other between a first position in which said mold portions are spaced from each other and a second position in which said mold portions are in a mold-closing condition such that said respective portions of said mold cavity are in mutually co-operating relationship;
• means operable to move said mold portions between said first and second positions thereof,
• at least one of said mold portions including means around the respective said mold cavity portion adapted to receive a respective said clamping member whereby in said second position of said mold portions with said clamping members disposed between said mold portions said mold portions and said clamping members co-operate to define the closed mold cavity
• duct means in each said mold portion communicating with the respective said mold cavity portions and adapted to be connected to a suction source for drawing said cover material portion into contact with the inside surfaces of said mold cavity in the closed condition thereof;
• in at least one said clamping member a feed opening means for the introduction of plastic foam-forming material into said closed mold cavity;
• and
• means for introducing plastic foam-forming material through said opening means into said mold cavity.