Molded casket shell and trim therefore

• US 6,530,134 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Batesville Services Incorporated (Hillenbrand Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Batesville Services Incorporated (Hillenbrand Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rojdev, Ilija, Laphan, Dennis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbaugh, Jan H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Edmund H.
• Application Number:
  US09/304,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 27/2, 27/7
• US Class Current: 27/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 17/0136 Plastic material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/006 Using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/10 Forming by pressure difference, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/12 of articles having inserts or reinforcements

Abstract

A method of forming an article of manufacture which includes an undercut therein comprises the steps of providing a tool, removably positioning at least one consumable form adjacent to the tool, providing settable material from which to mold a finished part, molding the material onto the tool and on the form so as to encapsulate the form within the material to thereby form an undercut therein, allowing the material to set to form the finished part and separating the tool from the finished part and the encapsulated form. A method is also provided for forming articles of manufacture of various configurations utilizing a single generic tool by repeating the steps with differently shaped forms removably affixed to the single generic tool in different locations to produce a plurality of finished parts of varying configurations with the single generic tool.

Claims

1. A casket shell comprising:

a single layer of settable material molded into the size and shape of a casket shell;

a form positioned relative to said settable material only in an area associated with casket shell trim;

said molded material being molded on said form so as to shape said material around said form thereby forming an undercut in said material, said form creating the appearance of casket shell trim;

wherein said form is colored and said material is translucent whereby the color of said form is visible through said translucent material.

2. A casket shell comprising:

a single layer of settable material molded into the size and shape of a casket shell;

a form positioned relative to said settable material only in an area associated with casket shell trim;

said molded material being molded on said form so as to shape said material around said form thereby forming an undercut in said material, said form creating the appearance of casket shell trim;

wherein said form is textured whereby the texture of said form is visible through said material.

3. A casket shell comprising:

settable material molded into the size and shape of a casket shell;

said molded material being molded on a form so as to capture said form within said material;

wherein said form is colored and said material is translucent whereby the color of said form is visible through said translucent material.

4. A casket shell comprising:

settable material molded into the size and shape of a casket shell;

said molded material being molded on a form so as to capture said form within said material;

wherein said form is textured whereby the texture of said form is visible through said material.

5. A casket shell comprising:

settable material molded into the size and shape of a casket shell;

said molded material being molded on a form so as to capture said form within said material;

wherein said form is hollow and is injected with structural foam thereby creating a unitized form structure about the periphery of said casket shell.

6. A casket shell comprising:

settable material molded into the size and shape of a casket shell;

a form positioned relative to said settable material only in an area associated with casket shell trim;

said molded material being molded on said form so as to shape said material around said form thereby creating a peripheral skeletal structural framework in said material and the appearance of casket shell trim.

7. The casket shell of claim 6 wherein the settable material is plastic.

8. The casket shell of claim 6 wherein the settable material is a composite.

9. The casket shell of claim 6 wherein said form includes fastners premounted thereon whereby hardware may be attached to said form after molding said material onto said form.

10. The casket shell of claim 6 wherein said form is colored and said material is translucent whereby the color of said form is visible through said translucent material.

11. The casket shell of claim 6 wherein said form is textured whereby the texture of said form is visible through said material.

12. The casket shell of claim 6 wherein said form is hollow and is injected with structural foam thereby creating a unitized form structure about the periphery of said casket shell.