In-mold hinge assembly and method of fabricating the same
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsKenneth R. Levey, Eric G. Parker, Bo Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molded hinge assembly is provided. The molded hinge assembly includes a male portion, a female portion formed unitarily with the male portion, a swivel shaft formed unitarily with the male portion, the swivel shaft including a plurality of channels defined along a rotational axis thereof. The molded hinge assembly also includes a plurality of molding gates formed at an intersection between each respective channel and the female portion, the female portion being subsequently rotatable with respect to the male portion after the molding gates are broken. During operation, the swivel shaft is friction fit within the female portion after the subsequent rotation of the female portion to break the molding gates.
Claims28
A molded hinge assembly comprising:
- a male portion;
- a female portion formed unitarily with the male portion;
- a swivel shaft formed unitarily with the male portion, the swivel shaft including a plurality of channels defined along a rotational axis thereof;
- and
- a plurality of molding gates formed at an intersection between each respective channel and the female portion, the female portion being subsequently rotatable with respect to the male portion after the molding gates are broken.
A method of fabricating a molded hinge assembly, said method comprising:
- injecting a molding material into a mold assembly to form the hinge assembly including a female portion, a male portion that is formed unitarily with the female portion, and a swivel shaft having a plurality of channels defined along a rotational axis thereof that is formed unitarily with the male portion;
- removing the hinge assembly from the mold;
- and
- rotating at least one of the female portion and the male portion to break a plurality of molding gates formed at an intersection between each respective channel and the female portion to separate the female portion from the male portion and such that the male portion remains rotatably coupled to the female portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.