Molding apparatus

A molding device for making molded items from modeling compound comprising:

• a first mold insert having a first angular alignment portion, said first mold insert defining at least one cavity for forming a first portion of the molded item;
• a first mold insert holder to hold said first mold insert, said first mold insert holder having a surface to rotatably engage said first mold insert and a second angular alignment portion operatively engaging said first angular alignment portion for aligning said first mold insert with respect to said first mold insert holder when said first mold insert is rotated relative to said first mold insert holder, said first mold insert being removable from said first mold insert holder, said first mold insert holder having a first end and a second end, said second end having a first handle means;
• a second mold insert having a third alignment portion, said second mold insert defining at least one cavity for forming a second portion of the molded item;
• a second mold insert holder to hold said second mold insert holder having a surface to rotatably engage said second mold insert and a fourth alignment portion operatively engaging said third angular alignment portion for aligning said second mold insert with respect to said second mold insert holder when said second mold insert is rotated relative to said second mold insert holder, said second mold insert being removable from said second mold insert holder, said second mold insert holder having a first end and a second end, said second end having a second handle means;
• and
• hinge means operably connecting said first mold insert holder to said second mold insert holder
• wherein said cavities of said first and second mold inserts align to form said molded item when said molding device is closed with said first and second mold inserts attached to said first and second mold insert holders.

A molding device for making molded items from molding compound comprising:

• a first mold insert having a perimeter, a first opening, and a second opening, said first and second openings being oppositely disposed on said perimeter of said first mold insert, said second opening being narrower than said first opening, said first mold insert defining at least one cavity for forming a first portion of the molded item;
• a first mold insert holder having a first end to hold said first mold insert and a second end having a first handle, said first end of said first mold insert holder having a first hook and a second hook narrower than said first hook, said first and second hooks to secure said first mold insert to said first holder in a first operating position by passing said first and second hooks of said first mold insert holder through said first and second openings in said perimeter of said first mold insert and rotating said first mold insert with respect to said first mold insert holder, said first hook of said first mold insert holder being wider than said second opening of said first mold insert, said first handle having first aligning means;
• a second mold insert having a perimeter, a first opening, and a second opening, said first and second openings being oppositely disposed on said perimeter of said second mold insert, said second opening being narrower than said first opening, said second mold insert defining at least one cavity for forming a second portion of the molded item;
• a second mold insert holder having a first end to hold said second mold insert and a second end having a second handle, said second end of said second mold insert holder having a first hook and a second hook narrower than said first hook, said first and second hooks to secure said second mold insert to said second mold insert holder in a second operating position by passing said first and second hooks of said second mold insert holder through said first and second openings in said perimeter of said second mold insert and rotating said second mold insert with respect to said second mold insert holder, said first hook of said second mold insert holder being wider than said second opening of said second mold insert, said second handle having second aligning means for aligning said first and second handles;
• and
• a living hinge operably connecting said first end of said first mold insert holder to said first end of said second mold insert holder
• wherein said cavities of said first and second mold inserts align to form said molded item when said molding device is closed with said first and second mold inserts attached to said first and second mold insert holders in said first and second operating positions.

A mold insert holding device in combination with a first mold insert and a second mold insert for making molded items from modeling compound, said first mold insert having a perimeter, a first opening, and a second opening, said first and second openings being oppositely disposed on said perimeter of said first mold insert, said first mold insert defining at least one cavity for forming a first portion of said molded item, said second mold insert having a perimeter, a first opening, and a second opening, said first and second openings being oppositely disposed on said perimeter of said second mold insert, said second mold insert defining at least one cavity for forming a second portion of the molded item, said mold insert holding device comprising:

• a first mold insert holder to hold said first mold insert in a first operating position, said first mold insert holder having a first hook and a second hook to engage said first mold insert by passing said first and second hooks of said first mold insert holder through said first and second openings in said perimeter of said first mold insert and rotating said first mold insert with respect to said first mold insert holder, said first hook of said first mold insert holder being wider than said second opening of said first mold insert, wherein said first mold insert is removable from said first mold insert holder;
• and
• a second mold insert holder to hold said second mold insert in a second operating position, said second mold insert holder having a first hook and a second hook to engage said second mold insert by passing said first and second hooks of said second mold insert holder through said first and second openings in said perimeter of said second mold insert and rotating said second mold insert with respect to said second mold insert holder, said first hook of said second mold insert holder being wider than said second opening of said second mold insert, wherein said second mold insert is removable from said second mold insert holder and said cavities of said first and second mold inserts align to form said molded item when said first and second mold insert holders operatively engage with said first and second mold inserts attached to said first and second mold insert holders in said first and second operating positions.

A molding device for making molded items from molding compound comprising:

• a first mold insert having a perimeter, a first opening, and a second opening, said first and second openings being oppositely disposed on said perimeter of said first mold insert, said second opening being narrower than said first opening, said first mold insert defining at least one cavity for forming a first portion of the molded item;
• a first mold insert holder to hold said first mold insert in a first operating position, said first mold insert holder having a first hook and a second hook for engaging said first mold insert by passing said first and second hooks of said first mold insert holder through said first and second openings in said perimeter of said first mold insert and rotating said first mold insert with respect to said first mold insert holder, said first hook of said first mold insert holder being wider than said second opening of said first mold insert, said first mold insert being removable from said first insert holder;
• a second mold insert having a perimeter, a first opening, and a second opening, said first and second openings being oppositely disposed on said perimeter of said second mold insert, said second opening being narrower than said first opening, said second mold insert defining at least one cavity for forming a second portion of the molded item;
• and
• a second mold insert holder to hold said second mold insert in a second operating position, said second mold insert holder having a first hook and a second hook for engaging said second mold insert by passing said first and second hooks of said second mold insert holder through said first and second openings in said perimeter of said second mold insert and rotating said second mold insert with respect to said second mold insert holder, said first hook of said second mold insert holder being wider than said second opening of said second mold insert, said second mold insert being removable from said second insert holder, said first and second holders operatively engaging such that
• said cavities of said first and second mold inserts align to form said molded item when said molding device is closed with said first and second mold inserts attached to said first and second mold insert holders in said first and second operating positions.