Latch bearing for blow-molded case, and method and apparatus for forming same

In combination with a split mold for blow-molding from thermoplastic material one component of a double-wall case having relatively movable base and cover components, said one component of said case being adapted to mount a preformed latch member having a pivot element for pivotal movement, the improvement comprising:

• means carried by said mold for positioning said pivot element of said latch member at a preselected location within said mold, and for causing said thermoplastic material to form a bearing element, during formation of said one of said case components and integral therewith, about said pivot element of said latch member.

A method of making a double-wall, blow-molded case from thermoplastic material, and of substantially simultaneously permanently and pivotally securing a preformed latch member to the case, comprising:

• using part of the thermoplastic material to mold the primary part of the case;
• and
• forming, from the thermoplastic material and substantially simultaneously with formation of the case, a bearing integral with the case and permanently and pivotally securing the latch member to the case.

A method of pivotally securing a pivot element of a latch member to a component of a blow-molded case, having relatively movable base and cover components, during blow-molding of the case in a mold from heated thermoplastic material, comprising:

• positioning the pivot element of the latch member at a selected location within the mold;
• utilizing part of the heated thermoplastic material introduced into the mold to form the body of the case component and to substantially simultaneously form a bearing member encircling the pivot element of the latch member and integrally connected to the body of the case component.