Barbed metal insert overmolding using crosslinked polymers

• US 8,220,126 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation), Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation, Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Yunk, Robert, Christian, Earl Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cozart, Jermie
• Application Number:
  US12/618,296
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 285/242, 285/293.1, 285/294.1, 264/236, 264/279, 295/271, 295/272, 294/47
• US Class Current: 29/447
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0877 using electron radiation, e.g. beta-rays
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0805 using electromagnetic radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14598 Coating tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 71/04 by wave energy or particle radiation , e.g. for curing or vulcanising preformed articles during moulding, e.g. in a mould B29C35/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 47/22 using shrink-down material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49865 by temperature differential [e.g., shrink fit]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

The invention described herein relates to method by which a leak-proof connection may be made to a refrigeration device using shape memory characteristics of crosslinking and overmolding to affect the leak-proof connection.

Claims

1. A process for securing a house water line to a water distribution system within a refrigeration device comprising the steps of:

overmolding a polymeric attachment means onto a tube at or adjacent one end of said tube, a composition of said overmolded polymeric attachment means being at least partially chemically compatible with said tube;

crosslinking at least a portion of said tube and said attachment means to set a permanent internal diameter of said tube and shape memory characteristics in said portion;

inserting a shaft of a connector into said tube, an internal diameter (I.D.) of said tube being equal to or smaller than an outer diameter (O.D.) of said shaft; and

applying an external or internal stimulus to at least said portion to contract said tube about said shaft.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein

said external stimulus is a temperature in excess of a transition temperature (T_trans).

3. The process of claim 1 wherein

said internal stimulus is time.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein said step of crosslinking said tube is between 40-90% crosslinking.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein

said shaft of said connector is metallic and further comprises raised retention means.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein

said shaft is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and brass;

and

said retention means is selected from the group of laterally-extending ribs and raised barbs.