Method for applying molded silicone design elements onto substrates
AssigneeUbertech Texas, Inc.
InventorDonald G. Harrison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for applying molded silicone design elements onto substrates is provided. The apparatus and method of the present invention use a cold-mold injection molding process to apply molded silicone design elements onto substrates, including delicate substrates such as fabrics and paper. A cold-mold injection molding process is used to avoid tearing, burning or otherwise damaging the substrates. The molded silicone design elements are preferably multi-colored and three-dimensional. The design elements may include foreground elements and background elements of varying colors and dimensions, which together form an overall artistic design in relief. The molded silicone design elements may also be textured.
Claims10
A method of applying a molded design element onto a substrate, comprising:
- placing an injection mold having at least one open cavity into tight engagement with the substrate such that the at least one open cavity communicates with a first surface of the substrate;
- injecting a thermosetting material into the at least one open cavity of the mold to fill the mold while the mold is at a temperature below the curing temperature of the thermosetting material so that said thermosetting material penetrates said first surface of the substrate and forms a substrate-thermosetting material interface;
- supplying heat to a second surface of the substrate during said step of injecting the thermosetting material to cause the thermosetting material to cure in said interface and preventing bleeding of the injected thermosetting material through said second surface;
- and
- supplying heat to the mold after the thermosetting material is injected into the mold, the heat supplied to the mold being sufficient to cure remaining thermosetting material within the mold, the cured thermosetting material adhering to the substrate to form the molded design element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.