Injection molded component and method of injection molding

• US 10,479,007 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2018
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
• Original Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
• Inventors: Guerry, Brian Robert, Rutigliano, Matthew Richard, Ogawa-Garcia, Sydney Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Ing, Matthew W
• Application Number:
  US15/899,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20180264695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 34057218, 26427215
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14114 using an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14155 using vacuum or suction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0046 Details relating to the filling pattern or flow paths or flow characteristics of moulding material in the mould cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14311 using means for bonding the coating to the articles B29C45/14795 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14778 the article consisting of a material with particular properties, e.g. porous, brittle
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/73 of the mould B29C45/2642 and B29C45/2737 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7178 Pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0016 and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape

Abstract

An injection molded component includes a wall that has an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface. A sensor is molded into one of the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface. A channel is at least partially surrounding the sensor.

Claims

1. A method of forming an injection molded component comprising the steps of:

locating a sensor against a first surface of a mold, wherein an edge of the sensor is surrounded by a wall extending from the first surface of the mold; and

injecting an injectable material into the mold such that the injectable material travels over an inner surface of the sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is attached to a construction and the construction contacts the first surface of the mold.

3. The method of claim 2, including heating the mold in a region of the sensor to adhere the construction to the injectable material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wall is spaced inward from a perimeter of the first surface of the mold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the wall completely surrounds the sensor.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor includes a UHF sensor.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor includes a NFC sensor.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor includes a GPS sensor.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor includes a Bluetooth sensor.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

11. The method of claim 4, including shielding an edge of the sensor from the injectable material with the wall.

12. The method of claim 11, including extending pins across a mold cavity to engage an inner surface of the sensor.

13. The method of claim 4, including creating negative pressure with a vacuum line in fluid communication with the first surface to adhere the sensor to the first surface.

14. The method of claim 4, including statically charging the sensor to adhere the sensor to the first surface.

15. The method of claim 14, including contacting an inner side of the sensor with an extendable arm to increase contact between the sensor and the first surface of the mold.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a construction having an outer surface that forms a portion of an outer surface of the injection molded component.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor includes an antenna having an inner surface and an outer surface and the outer surface of the antenna is attached to an inner surface of the construction with an adhesive and an inner surface of the antenna is attached to an inlay and the inlay is attached to a second construction with an adhesive and the second construction includes a smaller surface area relative to the construction.

18. A method of forming an injection molded component comprising the steps of:

locating a sensor against a first surface of a mold, wherein an edge of the sensor is surrounded by a wall extending from the first surface of the mold;

injecting an injectable material into the mold such that the injectable material travels over an inner surface of the sensor; and

shielding an edge of the sensor from the injectable material with the wall.

19. The method of claim 18, including extending pins across a mold cavity to engage an inner surface of the sensor.

20. A method of forming an injection molded component comprising the steps of:

locating a sensor against a first surface of a mold, wherein an edge of the sensor is surrounded by a wall extending from the first surface of the mold;

injecting an injectable material into the mold such that the injectable material travels over an inner surface of the sensor; and

including creating negative pressure with a vacuum line in fluid communication with the first surface to adhere the sensor to the first surface.

21. A method of forming an injection molded component comprising the steps of:

locating a sensor against a first surface of a mold, wherein an edge of the sensor is surrounded by a wall extending from the first surface of the mold;

injecting an injectable material into the mold such that the injectable material travels over an inner surface of the sensor; and

statically charging the sensor to adhere the sensor to the first surface.

22. The method of claim 21, including contacting an inner side of the sensor with an extendable arm to increase contact between the sensor and the first surface of the mold.