Injection mold cavity and dispensing cap manufactured therein

Details Injection mold cavity and dispensing cap manufactured therein Injection mold cavity and dispensing cap manufactured therein

1999-07-09

2001-09-11

Heitbrink, Tim (Department: 1722)

Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus

Female mold and charger to supply fluent stock under...

With product ejector

C264S328700, C425S577000, C425S809000, C425SDIG005

Reexamination Certificate

active

06287106

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an injection mold cavity. More particularly, the invention relates to an injection mold cavity including an articulated compound movement slide. The invention further relates to dispensing caps manufactured in the mold cavity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Articulated molds are used to permit the release of molded objects formed with undercut portions. These molds include sections which move laterally for simplifying the release of the molded object. Examples of articulated molds include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,698 to Darnall, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,209,160 to Vanotti, U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,312 to Von Holdt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,897 to Von Holdt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,958 to Wiechard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,421 to Takeda, U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,127 to Ramsey, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,655 to Tajiri et al.
The articulated sections of the cited molds are designed for release from a specific surface of the molded object, while the remainder of the mold is released from the mold cavity. Unfortunately, however, the articulated sections provide only limited movement and these sections are not appropriate for a wide variety of applications.
One such application which has yet to be addressed by the prior art is the effective release of a slide in the molding of a flip top dispensing cap with an integrally formed flip top closure. While current mold cavities permit the release of the integrally formed flip top dispensing cap by moving the slide from the flip top closure prior to release of the entire cap, current mold cavities require that the dispensing opening be formed from the other side of the molded cap.
As a result, any change in the shape of the opening requires substantial modification of the mold cavity. Specifically, any modification requires that the slide and gate core be replaced to facilitate changes in the size, shape or number of openings formed in the flip top dispensing cap. Such a change involves much down time and is generally very expensive. In addition, by molding the opening from the opposite side, the potential shape of the bevel extending from the opening is restricted, thus limiting the potential seal designs which may be employed in closing the flip top.
After studying the prior art, it is clear that a need exists for a novel articulated mold cavity permitting simple modification to facilitate design variations in the molded product. The present invention provides such an articulated mold cavity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold cavity for injection molding a product. The mold cavity includes a stationary half supporting a plurality of moveable molding plates defining a moveable half of the mold cavity. The stationary half and the moveable half define therebetween a cavity in which the molded product is defined. The cavity also includes a slide assembly positioned amongst the plurality of moveable molding plates. The slide assembly includes a subslide which moves in a first direction and a primary slide which moves in a second direction. In use, the primary slide defines a first portion of the molded product and the subslide defines a second portion of the molded product.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold assembly wherein the subslide moves in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold assembly wherein the subslide moves within the primary slide.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold assembly wherein the subslide is pivotally coupled to a connecting rod which controls movement of the subslide as the moveable molding plates move in a predetermined manner.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold assembly wherein the primary slide is coupled to an opening cam which controls opening movement of the primary slide as the moveable molding plates move in a predetermined manner.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold assembly wherein movement of the moveable molding plates is controlled by a piston housed within the moveable molding plates.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold assembly wherein the moveable molding plates include a bottom clamp plate, a first plate and a second plate. In use, relative movement between the plates causes movement of the subslide in a first direction and movement of the primary slide in a second direction.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold assembly wherein the moveable molding plates further include a third plate and the stationary half includes a stationary plate and a stripper plate positioned adjacent the third plate. In use, relative movement between the third plate and stripper plate causes the release of the molded product from the third plate, and relative movement between the stripper plate and the stationary plate causes the release of the molded product from the mold cavity.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold assembly wherein the molded product is a flip top dispensing cap.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold assembly wherein the primary slide defines an underside of the flip top closure of the flip top dispensing cap.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold assembly wherein the subslide defines a dispensing opening formed in an upper surface of the flip top dispensing cap.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing cap including a substantially hollow body adapted for attachment to a receptacle. The body includes an open first end shaped and dimensioned for coupling to the receptacle, a side wall and a substantially closed second end including a dispensing opening formed therein. The cap also includes a closure integrally formed with the body. The closure is pivotally formed to move between a closed position in which the closure covers the dispensing opening so as to prevent the flow of material through the dispensing opening and an open position in which the closure is removed from the dispensing opening to permit the flow of material through the dispensing opening. The dispensing opening is defined by a tapered surface which opens as it extends from the interior of the body to the exterior of the body.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dispensing cap wherein the body is substantially cylindrical and includes a wall at the second end in which the dispensing opening is formed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dispensing cap wherein the closure is integrally formed with the wall at the second end of the body.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing cap wherein the closure engages the tapered surface defining the dispensing opening to form a watertight seal about the dispensing opening.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dispensing cap wherein the closure includes a downwardly extending wall which engages the tapered surface defining the dispensing opening to form a watertight seal about the dispensing opening.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an articulated mold cavity for injection molding a dispensing cap including a substantially hollow body adapted for attachment to a receptacle. The body includes an open first end shaped and dimensioned for coupling to the receptacle, a side wall and a substantially closed second end including a dispensing opening formed therein. The cap also includes a closure integrally formed with the body. The closure is pivotally formed to move between a closed position in which the closure covers the dispensing opening so as to prevent the flow of material through the dispensing opening and an open position in which the closure

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