Blow molded article having an integrally molded living hinge and method of making the same
AssigneeInternational Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.
InventorsMichael W. Moran, Michael P. Schoemann, Anthony Spagnuolo, Timothy Noggle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blow molded structure comprising a body made out of a first polymeric material and an integrally molded, coextruded living hinge made out of a second, more flexible polymeric material. A method of making a blow molded article having a coextruded living hinge.
Claims20
A method of forming a blow molded article having a coextruded living hinge, the method comprising:
- providing a blow mold machine comprising a blow mold;
- coextruding a parison comprising a first material and a second, more flexible, longitudinal strip of material;
- closing the mold about the parison;
- blow molding the parison into the article;
- cooling the article in the mold;
- opening the mold;
- and
- removing the article from the mold;
- wherein the article comprises a body made out of a first material having a first body portion and a spaced apart second body portion, and an integrally molded, coextruded living hinge made out of a second material, the hinge being disposed between the body portions, such that the first and second portions are disposed on and contact laterally spaced sides of the living hinge, wherein the first material is a first polymeric material and the second material is a second polymeric material which is more flexible than the first polymeric material.
A method of forming a blow molded article having a coextruded living hinge, the method comprising:
- coextruding a parison comprising a first material and a second, more flexible, longitudinal strip of material;
- and
- blow molding the parison into the article;
- wherein the article comprises a body made out of the first material and an integrally molded, coextruded living hinge made out of the second material, wherein the body has portions contacting opposing sides of the living hinge, and the body has portions disposed on three sides of the living hinge, wherein the first material is a first polymeric material and the second material is a second polymeric material which is more flexible than the first polymeric material.
A method of forming a blow molded article having a coextruded living hinge, the method comprising:
- coextruding a parison comprising a first material and a second, more flexible, longitudinal strip of material;
- and
- blow molding the parison into the article;
- wherein the article comprises a body made out of the first material, the body having a first side and a spaced apart second side, and an integrally molded, coextruded living hinge made out of the second material, the living hinge being disposed between the first and second sides, wherein the body has first and second portions disposed on and contacting laterally spaced sides of the living hinge, wherein the first material is a first polymeric material and the second material is a second polymeric material which is more flexible than the first polymeric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.