Forming mold with recess having snap-fit end seal

• US 6,439,537 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: YKK Corporation of America (YKK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: YKK Corporation of America (YKK Corporation)
• Inventors: Minato, Tsuyoshi, Graham, Craig Jay, Fujisawa, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbaugh, Jan H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HECKENBERG JR, DONALD H
• Application Number:
  US09/664,601
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 425/117, 425/127, 425/817.R, 249/83, 249/85
• US Class Current: 249/85
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0044 for sealing off parts of inserts projecting into the mould cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/14 against the mould wall
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3005 Body finishings
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/58 Upholstery or cushions, e.g. vehicle upholstery or interior padding mattresses, cushions B29L2031/751

Abstract

The invention is a seat bun mold (10) with a recess (12) suitable for containing a fastener strip (18) to be molded into the seat bun, the recess (12) having an end wall (14) shaped so as to provide a snap-fit seal against the end of the fastener strip (18), in order to prevent fouling of the fastener strip (18) during the seat bun molding process. End wall (14) extends from the bottom to the top of the recess (12), and substantially curves inward along its lower extent and outward along its upper extent. The end of fastener strip (18) is snapped into recess (12) by first aligning fastener strip (18) over recess (12) and then exerting downward pressure. The tension of the end of fastener strip (18) against end wall (14) forms a seal to prevent intrusion of liquid molding material through end wall (14) of recess (12).

Claims

1. A mold for forming an object, comprising:

(a) a mold cavity, and

(b) a recess located on a surface of said mold cavity, said recess having at least one end and suitable for receiving a fastening assembly having at least one end, and

(c) an end wall located at one said end of said recess below the uppermost point of said recess, said end wall having a projection thereon in order to frictionally engage and seal one said end of said fastening assembly against fouling during a forming process, said projection being defined by one portion of the surface of said end wall extending inward toward the interior of said recess and another portion of the surface of said end wall extending outward away from the interior of said recess.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said recess has a floor which is inset below said surface of said mold cavity.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said recess has a floor which is substantially level with said surface of said mold cavity, and said end wall protrudes above said surface of said mold cavity.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said end wall has an upper portion, and said upper portion of said end wall has a bevel located thereon in order to facilitate entry of said fastening assembly into said recess.

5. A mold for forming an object, comprising:

(a) a mold cavity,

(b) a recess located on a surface of said mold cavity, said recess having at least one end and suitable for receiving a fastening assembly having at least one end,

(c) an end wall located at one said end of said recess below the uppermost point of said recess, said end wall having a projection thereon in order to receive and retain one said end of said fastening assembly in a snap-fit relationship, said projection being defined by one portion of the surface of said end wall extending inward toward the interior of said recess and another portion of the surface of said end wall extending outward away from the interior of said recess.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said recess has a floor which is inset below said surface of said mold cavity.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said recess has a floor which is substantially level with said surface of said mold cavity, and said end wall protrudes above said surface of said mold cavity.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said end wall has an upper portion, and said upper portion of said end wall has a bevel located thereon in order to facilitate entry of said fastening assembly into said recess.

9. A mold for forming an object, comprising:

(a) a mold cavity,

(b) a recess located on a surface of said mold cavity, said recess having a floor and at least one end and suitable for receiving a fastening assembly having at least one end,

(c) a side wall located along the length of said recess, said side wall being substantially perpendicular to said floor,

(d) an end wall substantially shorter than said side wall and located at one said end of said recess, said end wall having a projection thereon in order to frictionally engage and seal one said end of said fastening assembly against fouling during a forming process.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said end wall has an upper and a lower portion, and said projection is defined by said lower portion of said end wall extending inward toward the interior of said recess and said upper portion of said end wall extending outward away from the interior of said recess.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said floor is inset below said surface of said mold cavity.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said floor is substantially level with said surface of said mold cavity, and said end wall protrudes above said surface of said mold cavity.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein said end wall has an upper portion, and said upper portion of said end wall has a bevel located thereon in order to facilitate entry of said fastening assembly into said recess.

14. A mold for forming an object, comprising:

(a) a mold cavity, and

(b) a recess located on a surface of said mold cavity, said recess having at least one end and suitable for receiving a fastening assembly having at least one end, and

(c) an end wall located at one said end of said recess, said end wall having an arcuate shape in order to receive and retain one said end of said fastener assembly, thereby sealing said end of said fastening assembly against fouling during a forming process.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said end wall has an upper and a lower portion, and said lower portion of said end wall curves inward toward the interior of said recess, and said upper portion of said end wall curves outward away from the interior of said recess, such that said upper and lower portions of said end wall together form a projection into the interior of said recess.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said recess has a floor which is inset below said surface of said mold cavity.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein said recess has a floor which is substantially level with said surface of said mold cavity, and said end wall protrudes above said surface of said mold cavity.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein said end wall has an upper portion, and said upper portion of said end wall has a bevel located thereon in order to facilitate entry of said fastening assembly into said recess.