Apparatus for forming a 360 degree skin handle
AssigneeDavidson Textron Inc.
InventorsReza Kargarzadeh, Ken E. Tuttle, John A. Grimes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for practicing a method for forming a 360 degree integral skin handle in a thermoplastic part for use in automotive trim products. The apparatus includes a mold with a recess therein and a plug being supported on the mold for movement into a position for closing the tube surface and into a demolding position for releasing the molded part. A heater device directs heat from a first source through the mold and from a second source through the plug to form a completely closed, curved, heated tube surface on which thermoplastic material is cast against the curved, heated tube surface to fuse and cure a layer of material thereon in the form of a tube skin segment which is releasable from the mold when the plug is removed.
Claims2
Apparatus for molding a shell of thermoplastic material having an integral tube handle portion thereon including a heated mold with a recess therein, said apparatus comprising:
- means forming a partially closed curved surface defining an opening therein;
- said surface being in the recess for receiving thermoplastic material during a casting cycle;
- plug means for closing the opening in said curved surface, said plug means having an inboard surface thereon extending said partially closed curved surface to form a full 360 degree continuous tube surface constructed to receive thermoplastic material that is fused and curved therein;
- and
- heater means in said plug means for directing heat into part of the full 360 degree continuous tube surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.