Method of overmolding a substrate

• US 7,955,543 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Deininger, Steve T., Kast, John E., Peters, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier; Alicia
• Application Number:
  US10/836,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20050244611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,594 Days
• Field of Search: 428/131, 264/279.1
• US Class Current: 264/279.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14893 Preventing defects relating to shrinkage of inserts or coating material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14942 Floating inserts, e.g. injecting simultaneously onto both sides of an insert through a pair of opposed gates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14967 Injecting through an opening of the insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1671 with an insert
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 Composite web or sheet

Abstract

A method of overmolding a substrate having a first side and a second side and a product made by that process. A plurality of support feet are placed on the first side of the substrate. The substrate is placed in an injection mold. The mold is filled with a molding material with the molding material enveloping both the first side and the second side of the substrate. The substrate is removed having been overmolded from the injection mold.

Claims

1. A method of overmolding a substrate having a first side, a second side and a central hub opening, comprising the steps of:

placing a plurality of support feet on only said first side of said substrate;

placing said substrate in an injection mold having at least one injection hole in a first side of said injection mold and having a continuous second side opposite said first side, said first side of said substrate being toward said first side of said injection mold and said second side of said substrate being toward said second side of said injection mold;

filling said mold through said at least one injection hole in said first side of said injection mold with a molding material with said molding material enveloping said first side and enveloping said second side of said substrate though said central hub opening with a force exerted on said first side of said substrate by a flow of said molding material being about the same as a force exerted on said second side of said substrate by said flow of said molding material during said filling step; and

removing said substrate having been overmolded from said injection mold.

2. A method of overmolding as in claim 1 wherein molding material is substantially evenly distributed on said first side and said second side during said filling step.

3. A method of overmolding as in claim 2 wherein said placing a plurality of support feet step comprises molding a plurality of support feet on said first side of said substrate.

4. A method of overmolding as in claim 1 wherein said injection mold has injection openings on one side of said injection mold and wherein said molding material is injected into said mold through said injection openings.

5. A method of overmolding as in claim 4 wherein said substrate is placed in said injection mold with said first side of said substrate facing said one side of said injection mold.

6. A method of overmolding as in claim 5 wherein said molding material is distributed to said second side of said substrate through said central hub opening.

7. A method of overmolding as in claim 1 wherein said feet have a circular cross-section.

8. A method of overmolding as in claim 7 wherein molding material forms around each of said plurality of feet.

9. A method of overmolding as in claim 8 wherein said central hub opening has a circular post around which said molding material is allowed to form.