Molding apparatus

A molding apparatus capable of being selectively opened and closed for molding and demolding operations comprising:

• (a) a molding receptacle for receiving a shell having a finish and a non-finish side, said molding receptacle having a molding surface for defining a void between said non-finish side of said shell and said molding surface;
• (b) male mold closing means for applying sufficient pressure to said shell during the molding operation;
• (c) a seal groove and a self-retainable elastomeric seal, said seal groove in one or more of said molding receptacle, said male mold closing means or said shell adapted for releasably retaining said elastomeric seal, said seal groove comprising an open end and a closed end, the lateral cross-sectional dimension at said open end being smaller than the lateral cross-sectional dimension at said closed end, said elastomeric seal adapted for closing said void between said non-finish side of said shell and said molding surface when said mold is closed, said elastomeric seal comprising a first lateral cross-sectional dimension for cooperation with an inside surface of said seal groove in a first molding surface which is larger than said lateral cross-sectional dimension of said open end of said seal groove, and a second lateral cross-sectional dimension extending beyond said seal groove which is smaller than said lateral cross-sectional dimension at said open end of said seal groove, whereby said elastomeric seal is retained within said seal groove when said molding apparatus is opened, and wherein said first lateral cross-sectional dimension comprises a first layer of elastomeric material having a first hardness value and said second lateral cross-sectional dimension comprises a second layer of elastomeric material joined to said first layer for engagement to a second molding surface, said second layer having a different hardness value than said first layer.