Mould for moulding a glazing profile on a sheet of glazing material

• US 20030017309A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ciro Paudice, Nicola Caldoro
• Original Assignee: Ciro Paudice, Nicola Caldoro
• Inventors: Paudice, Ciro, Caldoro, Nicola
• Granted Patent: US 6,890,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/194
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0044 for sealing off parts of inserts projecting into the mould cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/005 characterised by the location of the parting line of the mould parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/04 using liquids, gas or steam tyre moulds with incorporated heating or cooling means using liquids, gas or steam B29D30/0601
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/18 using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/30 Mounting, exchanging or centering moulds, mould parts or cores; B29C33/485 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/44 with means for, or specially constructed to facilitate, the removal of articles, e.g. of undercut articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14434 Coating brittle material, e.g. glass B29C45/14377, B29C45/14418 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/763 the edges being disposed in a substantial flat plane
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/78 Moulding material on one side only of the preformed part
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/778 Windows profiled elements for making window frames B29L2031/005, windscreens B29L2031/3052
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24793 Comprising discontinuous or differential impregnation or bond

Abstract

A mould is described for moulding an elastomeric glazing profile in situ on a single major face of a sheet of glazing material, e.g. a glass sheet. The mould comprises a first mould segment and at least one further mould segment which are relatively movable into intimate contact, so that they define, together with the sheet, a mould cavity for moulding the profile on the single major face. The profile has a show face, (i.e. one which is visible in use), and the portion of the mould cavity that moulds the show face is entirely formed by a single mould segment to avoid mould lines on the show face. Also described are a corresponding moulding method and the glazing product thereby obtained, which may be used as a vehicle window.

Claims

1. A mould for moulding an elastomeric glazing profile in situ on a sheet of glazing material having two major faces and a peripheral edge face, the profile having a show face, wherein the mould comprises a first mould segment and at least one further mould segment which are relatively movable into a position in which they are in intimate contact with each other, at least one of the mould segments being arranged to receive the sheet of glazing material, and the mould segments defining together with the sheet a mould cavity for moulding the profile on a single major face of the sheet, and wherein the portion of the mould cavity that moulds the show face is entirely formed by a single mould segment.

2. A mould as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion of the mould segment that moulds the show face is undercut.

3. A mould as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the mould segments is annular in form.

4. A mould as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first mould segment includes a sealing means to seal against the sheet of glazing material, the contact area between the sheet and the profile is positioned a short distance inboard of the periphery of the sheet, and the joint between the sealing means and the remainder of the first mould segment is also positioned inboard of said periphery.

5. A mould as claimed in claim 1, comprising a single further mould segment.

6. A mould as claimed in claim 5, wherein the outline of the further mould segment in plan view corresponds approximately to the outline of the sheet of glazing material.

7. A mould as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profile extends adjacent the periphery of the sheet of glazing material for part or all of the periphery, and the surface of the further mould segment forming part of the mould cavity walls extends for a corresponding distance.

8. A mould as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plan area of the further mould segment is greater than the plan area of the sheet of glazing material.

9. A mould as claimed in claim 1, wherein the direction of relative movement of the mould segments is substantially perpendicular to a plane tangential to the centre of the sheet of glazing material.

10. A method of making a glazing by moulding an elastomeric glazing profile in situ on a sheet of glazing material having two major faces and a peripheral edge face, the profile having a show face, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the sheet of glazing material in a mould comprising a first mould segment and at least one further mould segment,

retaining the sheet in position with retaining means,

moving at least one of the mould segments relative to the others into a position in which they are in intimate contact with each other and together with the sheet of glazing material define a mould cavity for moulding the profile on a single major face of the sheet, wherein the part of the mould cavity that moulds the show face is formed entirely on a single mould segment,

injecting liquid material into the mould cavity,

allowing the liquid resinous material to cure at least to the extent that it becomes solid,

moving at least one of the mould segments relative to the others into a position in which they are apart, and

removing the glazing from the mould.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, including removing the glazing from the mould by temporarily deforming part of the profile to allow it to pass over one of the mould segments.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the part of the profile which is temporarily deformed is a lip, and it is deflected through an angle of at least 10°

, preferably at least 30°

.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the liquid resinous material is at least 50% cured, preferably at least 60% cured, when the glazing is removed from the mould.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the liquid resinous material is not more than 90% cured, preferably not more than 70% cured when the glazing is removed from the mould.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the relative movement of the mould segments is in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane tangential to the centre of the sheet of glazing material.

16. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first mould segment is annular to allow removal of the profile from the mould.

18. A glazing as claimed in claim 17, wherein the contact area between the sheet and the profile extends adjacent the periphery of the sheet of glazing material, but is slightly displaced from the periphery in a direction towards the centre of the sheet.

19. A glazing as claimed in claim 17, wherein the profile includes a lip extending outwardly from the centre of the sheet, and the show face is on the lip.

20. A glazing as claimed in claim 17, wherein the profile extends around the entire periphery of the sheet.

17. A glazing comprising a sheet of glazing material having 2 major faces and a peripheral edge face, and an elastomeric glazing profile bonded to a single major face of the sheet, the profile having a show face, wherein the profile is formed by moulding it in situ on the sheet in a mould cavity of a mould comprising two or more mould segments wherein the part of the mould cavity that moulds the show face is formed entirely on a single mould segment.