Woodbridge Foam Corporation

Craig A Hunter

Leslie E Clark

Robert B Magee

Wilfred W Cheng

Gerry V Wetering

Donald J McFarland

Gerry Vande Wetering

Hassan Balbaa

Christopher A Leite

Harold W Freitag, Jr

A mold ( ) for producing foamed articles is described. The mold comprises an upper mold and a lower mold ( ) releasingly engageable in a closed position to define a mold cavity ( ) having a parting line about a periphery of the mold cavity. The parting line of the mold defines: (i) a first channel ( ) along a first length of a periphery of the mold cavity, and (ii) a second channel ( ) in communication with first channel, the second channel having a second length which is less than the first length. A method for producing a molded article use is also described. The subject mold and method are particularly well suited for the production of molded foam (e.g, polyurethane) articles.

Vented mold and method for producing a molded article

A vent for a mold for producing foamed articles is described. The mold comprises an upper mold and a lower mold releaseably engageable in a closed position to define a mold cavity. The vent comprises a housing which is engageable to the mold, a passageway and an obstruction disposed in the passageway. The passageway and the obstruction are slidably movable in a first direction with respect to one another and define an opening between an interior and an exterior of the housing. The obstruction has a varying diameter in a direction parallel to the first direction. The subject mold and method are particularly well suited for the production of molded foam (e.g., polyurethane) articles.

Method for producing a molded article using a vented mold

A mold for producing foamed articles includes an upper mold and a lower mold which define a mold cavity. A vent is provided in communication with the mold cavity and has a vent passageway with an entrance and an exit. Structure is also provided for sealingly engaging the upper mold with the lower mold to cause, in cooperation with the predetermined size and shape of the vent passageway, liquid foam polymeric composition expanding inside the mold cavity to enter the vent entrance but to not exit from the vent exit to cause at least partial curing of the foam composition within the vent passageway. Preferably, the vent may be ribbon-shaped so that a ribbon of foamed composition adheres to the foamed article and may be folded flat against the article thus avoiding the labor step of trimming the flash from the product. Additionally, or alternatively, the vent may comprise a vent passageway with an obstruction disposed therein to provide one or more openings between the outer surface of the obstruction and the inner surface of the vent passageway. The foam composition in these openings may be expelled by driving the obstruction axially within the passageway. Again, the labor step of hand trimming the flash is avoided.

Mold having vent passageways to obivate trimming of flash

A mold for producing foamed articles includes an upper mold and a lower mold which define a mold cavity. A vent is provided in communication with the mold cavity and has a vent passageway with an entrance and an exit. Structure is also provided for sealingly engaging the upper mold with the lower mold to cause, in cooperation with the predetermined size and shape of the vent passageway, liquid foam polymeric composition expanding inside the mold cavity to enter the vent entrance but to not exit from the vent exit to cause at least partial curing of the foam composition within the vent passageway. Preferably, the vent may be ribbon-shaped so that a ribbon of foamed composition adheres to the foamed article and may be folded flat against the article thus avoiding the labor step of trimming the flash from the product. Additionally, or alternatively, the vent may include a vent passageway with an obstruction disposed therein to provide one or more openings between the outer surface of the obstruction and the inner surface of the vent passageway. The foam composition in these openings may be expelled by driving the obstruction axially within the passageway. Again, the labor step of hand trimming the flash is avoided.

Mold having vent passageways to obviate trimming of flash

A novel method of molding an article includes providing a mold with a vent of a pre-determined size such that, due to the difference in viscosities, gases to be vented from the mold may easily pass through the vent while the material to be molded cannot quickly pass through the vent. In fact, the vent is designed such that the material to be molded which enters the vent, does not exit the end of the vent. In the most preferred embodiment, the vent is in the form of a thin ribbon-like groove so that the material to be molded which does enter the vent forms a thin ribbon of extruded material which need not be removed prior to a finish cover being applied to the molded article.

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Milton, Canada

Craig A Hunter