# US 5,707,582 A · Process for vacuum forming a stud plate from a plastic sheet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,582 A - Document ID: US5707582A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/499,096 - Filed: 1995-07-06 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1992-07-23 - Inventors: Heinrich Wischemann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707582A ## CPC - B29C 51/225: {mounted on a vacuum drum (for surface shaping B29C59/06)} - B29C 51/34: for undercut articles - F24D 3/142: {integrated in prefab construction elements} - Y02B 30/00: Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC] - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A process for producing a stud plate from plastic by vacuum forming uses a positive mold (21) in which these is held on the end face (32) of each stud (28), a flexible elastic disc which protrudes with a part (45) of its flexible length over the edge. A projection (22, 24) of a hollow stud is formed thereon. During demolding a part (44) of the disc lying radially further inwards bends upwards from the end face, so that the protruding part (45) yields and readily slides along the inner wall (49) of the previously molded hollow stud (11). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Process for vacuum forming from a plastic sheet a stud plate having hollow studs standing up from a base plate at pre-determined positions, each hollow stud being provided with an inner wall and an upper circumferential edge with at least one radially protruding projection, comprising: using positive molds (26), each having an associated mold stud (28) with a molding side, including an upper end face (32), on which said hollow studs are formed, fixing and holding down a center part (38) of a flexible elastic disc (33) in continuous contact with said upper face (32) on said molding side of said associated mold stud (28) by fixing means (41, 42), said fixing means being accessible to fix and hold down said center part (38) from said molding side of said mold studs (28), said fixing means fixing and holding down said center part (38) in continuous contact with said upper end face (32) in a direction opposite to the direction in which said plastic sheet (46) is pulled from said mold studs (28) following vacuuming forming, forming said at least one projection by means of said disc (33), said disc (33) having a flat, lower side and an upper side, said disc (33) being held with a first part (44) of said flat, lower side lying flat and loosely on said upper end face (32) and projecting with a second part (45) of said flat, lower side, continuous with said first part (44), beyond a circumferential edge of said upper end face (32), said disc (33) having a flexural rigidity such that said second part (45) remains extended substantially beyond said circumferential edge of said upper end face (32) when said plastic sheet (46) is drawn over said mold studs (28), and such that at least said first part (44) bends upwards from said upper end face (32) when said hollow stud (11) is pulled upwards from said mold studs (28), drawing said plastic sheet (46) over said mold studs (28) by vacuum to form said at least one projection (21, 22, 23, 24) and pulling said hollow stud (11) upwards from said mold stud (28), said second part (45) sliding along said inner wall (49) of said hollow stud (11), wherein said positive mold has at least one base plate (63, 64, 65,75) in the form of at least a section of a cylindrical barrel from which said mold studs (28) project radially outwards towards said molding side of said mold studs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said disc (90) projects with said second part (91) beyond the entirety of said circumferential edge (92) of said upper end face. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said disc (93) projects with said second part (94) beyond only a partial region of said circumferential edge (92) of said upper end face. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said disc (95) projects with said second part (96) beyond a plurality of partial regions, distributed in the circumferential direction, of said circumferential edge (92) of said upper end face. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said disc (97, 101) is sub-divided in the circumferential direction so that a plurality of said second parts (100) are connected to a common first part (99, 102), said second parts (100) projecting beyond partial regions, distributed in the circumferential direction, of said circumferential edge (92) of said upper end face. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Process according to claim 5, wherein said disc (97) is sub-divided by edge incisions (98) that extend from the periphery of said disc towards its center. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Process according to claim 6, wherein said edge incisions (98) extend to near said center. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) Process according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of second parts comprises four second parts in the form of strips (34, 35, 36, 37), said disc (33) having a cross-shaped structure that is fixed at said center part (38) in the center of said upper end face (32). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Process according to claim 8, wherein said four strips (34, 35, 36, 37) are fastened on said mold stud (28) such that they project beyond said upper end face (32) to face towards four mold studs remote from said associated mold stud (28). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said radially protruding projections are formed by at least two said discs (101, 105) that are held with portions of their first parts (102) lying against one another on said upper end face (32) of said mold stud (28) and project with their second parts (103, 104) beyond different partial regions of said circumferential edge (92) of said upper end face. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Process according to claim 10, wherein said at least two said discs are in the form of strips (101, 105) fixed in a cross-shape having said first parts (102) lying one upon the other in the center of said upper end face. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said second part (45) of said disc projects approximately 1-3 mm. beyond said circumferential edge of said upper end face (32). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said mold stud (28) has an approximately circular cross-section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said upper end face is flat. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said upper end face (106) is concave. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said disc is comprised of plastic material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Process according to claim 16, wherein said plastic material comprises a silicone elastimer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said disc (33) is comprised of metal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) Process according to claim 18, wherein said metal comprises spring steel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) Process according to claim 1, wherein said fixing means (41, 42) comprises a head (42) contacting said upper side of said disc (33) and a stem (41) that passes through said disc (33) and is fixed to said mold stud (28).