Method of making a plastic angle bracket

Details Method of making a plastic angle bracket Method of making a plastic angle bracket

1998-05-27

2001-01-09

Heitbrink, Jill L. (Department: 1732)

Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes

Mechanical shaping or molding to form or reform shaped article

Shaping against forming surface

C248S674000, C248S200000, C248S903000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06171540

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is related to a bracket for holding a tool element forming part of a fixture.
BACKGROUND ART
Angle brackets are used in the making of tools and quality control fixtures to support a wide variety of items on a tool bed or other fixture. Angle brackets are typically made of steel or iron for strength and durability. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,500 to Valet, discloses a multipurpose angle bracket made of steel that is formed by either casting or by mechanical assembly and welding. U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,012 to Haddad, discloses a workpiece holding apparatus used to check part dimensions. The Haddad patent discloses a base that is cast as a single integral element and subsequently machined to a generally cubical configuration.
A problem with such prior art angle brackets is that metal brackets add to the weight of the tooling. They also require machining and finishing steps that add to the cost of manufacturing. Metal brackets are also costly to replace.
Angle brackets are used to support tool elements that are designed to withstand normal loads applied in a predetermined manner. If metal angle brackets are subjected to a side impact or other unintended load, they may become distorted or bent and the force of impact may be transferred to the tool necessitating repair of the tool. If a substantial unintended load is applied to the tool, damage may be caused to expensive tooling parts supported by the angle bracket.
The electrical conductivity of metal angle brackets can cause problems if there is an electrical malfunction of the equipment to which the bracket is attached. Metal angle brackets do not isolate tooling elements from the base and will not prevent short circuiting through the angle brackets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems described above and provides a bracket fixture which is made of a reinforced light weight polymeric material that is comparable in strength to steel angle bracket fixtures.
The method of making an angle bracket of the present invention offers the advantage of providing a molded fiber reinforced member that is formed in an injection molding process that does not require machining or surface finishing. The molded angle bracket is formed to its final dimensional size and shape in a single molding step.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a bracket that may be produced in a single molding step that does not require machining or assembly.
According to the present invention, an angle bracket is provided for holding tooling elements formed generally of a first material in a fixed relationship relative to each other. The angle bracket is formed by a molding process to have a base leg and a perpendicular leg that hold the tooling element in a spaced relationship relative to a base.
According to the method of the present invention, a method of making an angle bracket is provided wherein a polymer and fiber reinforcement mixture is supplied to an injection molding machine. The mixture is heated to a predetermined molding temperature. The injection molding die is closed, the heated mixture is injected into the mold and initially cured. The die is opened and the angle bracket is removed from the mold. The angle bracket is then held for final curing and inspected. The angle bracket is ready for installation on a tooling fixture without other assembly or finishing steps required for the angle bracket.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the attached drawings and following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.


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Hiramatsu Design Standard: Standard Locator Construction (HMS 00740).

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