Method of making vacuum formed article with integrally joined device
First Claim
1. A method of simultaneously vacuum forming a thermoplastic article and mechanically joining a device to the article comprising the steps of:
- providing the device with a locking configuration and at least one vacuum hole in the locking configuration,providing a vacuum mold with a mold surface defining the shape of the article and with vacuum holes in the mold surface and with a cavity in the mold surface for receiving said device,inserting said device in said cavity with said locking configuration projecting outward,laying a sheet of thermoplastic material heated to a formable state over said mold surface and said locking configuration, andwithdrawing air from between the heated the heated thermoplastic sheet and said mold surface through said vacuum holes in said mold surface and from between the heated thermoplastic sheet and said locking configuration through said at least one vacuum hole in said locking configuration to draw the heated thermoplastic sheet onto said mold surface to form the article while also drawing the heated thermoplastic sheet onto said locking configuration in substantially full area contact therewith to form a mechanical interlock between the device and the formed article when the heated thermoplastic sheet is cooled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of simultaneously vacuum forming a plastic article and integrally joining a device thereto is disclosed wherein a lock defining surface is formed on an anchoring end of the device, a heat activated adhesive is applied to the lock defining surface, and air is drawn through vacuum holes in the mold surface that defines the shape of the article and is also drawn through vacuum holes in the lock defining surface to draw a heated sheet of thermoplastic material onto the mold surface and also into interlocking relationship with the lock defining surface to form the article and to mechanically interlock and adhere the device to the formed article.
23 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of simultaneously vacuum forming a thermoplastic article and mechanically joining a device to the article comprising the steps of:
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providing the device with a locking configuration and at least one vacuum hole in the locking configuration, providing a vacuum mold with a mold surface defining the shape of the article and with vacuum holes in the mold surface and with a cavity in the mold surface for receiving said device, inserting said device in said cavity with said locking configuration projecting outward, laying a sheet of thermoplastic material heated to a formable state over said mold surface and said locking configuration, and withdrawing air from between the heated the heated thermoplastic sheet and said mold surface through said vacuum holes in said mold surface and from between the heated thermoplastic sheet and said locking configuration through said at least one vacuum hole in said locking configuration to draw the heated thermoplastic sheet onto said mold surface to form the article while also drawing the heated thermoplastic sheet onto said locking configuration in substantially full area contact therewith to form a mechanical interlock between the device and the formed article when the heated thermoplastic sheet is cooled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification