Voplex Corporation

Dick T vanManen

Phillip L Miller

An automotive panel bracket 10 is formed from a strip having a central fold line 22 forming a double-walled stand-off 15 between a pair of base portions 11 and 12 interconnected with an automotive panel 20. A pair of confronting semi-cylindrical grooves 17 and 18 in double walled stand-off 15 form a generally cylindrical pilot hole 16 guiding a fastener 25 that extends through panel 20, through pilot hole 16 in stand-off 15, and into an automotive body 30 to which panel 20 is secured.

Automotive panel bracket

A resin cladding is extruded onto a base strip 10 that is assembled into a cushioned automotive pull strap handle. This is done by feeding a continuous length of base strip 10 through an extrusion mold 12 that forms a continuous resin cladding 13 surrounding base strip 10 and providing raised shoulders 15 extending along longitudinal side edges of strip 10. Discrete strips 30 are cut from continuous strip 10 and resin cladding 13 is cut and stripped away from end regions 31 of discrete strips 30. Apertures 33 are punched in end regions 31 and discrete strips 30 are assembled into strap handles. Resin cladding 13 can also be cut and stripped away from end regions 31 before discrete strips 30 are cut from continuous strip 10.

Extrusion cladding of base strip for cushioned automotive strap handle

A caulker 10 dispenses two viscous components contained separately in inner and outer molded resin chambers. The outer chamber 12 holds one of the components 14 around the inner chamber 11 and is generally cylindrical with standard dimensions to fit existing caulking guns and dispensing equipment. The second component 15 is held within collapsible inner chamber 11 aranged inside outer chamber 12 and having accordion pleats that collapse when axially compressed. Inner chamber 11 has a rear end filling opening 17, and a molded resin plunger 13 fitting closely within outer chamber 12 is secured to the rear end of inner chamber 11. The forward regions of both chambers join and form passageways merging at the forward end of caulker 10. Inner chamber 11 is sealed by an openable barrier 22, and a removable closure element 26 seals outer chamber 12. When barrier 22 is opened and closure element 26 is removed and a nozzle 30 with a static mixer 31 is attached, plunger 13 can advance within outer chamber 12 and collapse inner chamber 11 forcing both components 14 and 15 from their chambers and through static mixer 31 before being dispensed out nozzle 30.

Caulker for dispensing two viscous components

A method for molding a product 20 bearing a trim strip 14 first extrudes a supporting base 12 and bonds trim strip 14 to supporting base 12. Then the supporting base 12 is used to position and protect trim strip 14 within a mold 18 where product 20 is formed. Product 20 and supporting base 12 are formed of resin materials that bond together securely as the product is injection molded within mold 18.

Method of extrusion/injection molding of trimmed product

The inventive method and apparatus make a backout stop for a caulker cartridge having a cylindrical barrel of resin material. The backout stop is formed at the rear end of the barrel as an inwardly oriented hook that has a generally triangular cross-sectional shape. The two exposed sides of the hook are an inclined surface sloping radially inward so a plunger can slide over the backout stop into the rear of the barrel and an abrupt edge extending radially inward to prevent the plunger from backing out of the barrel. The apparatus includes a tool with a socket that fits over the rear end of the barrel and has a resin-forming edge protruding obliquely into the socket to extend along the inclined surface of the hook when the tool is seated on the rear end of the barrel. The barrel and tool are supported on a common axis, are moved into axial engagement, and are rotated relative to each other while pressed together so that the edge plows along the inclined surface and forms the resin material into the hook. The tool can use several edges and preferably rotates through a short enough arc to form the stop as several separated segments around the rear end of the barrel.

Method and apparatus for making backout stop for caulker cartridge

A cartridge plunger has a generally cup-shaped body molded of a relatively rigid resin material, and a seal material is joined to the body and molded of a substantially softer and more resilient resin material. The body has an annular wall closely spaced from the inner surface of the cartridge, and the seal material extends around the outside of the annular wall which presses the seal material tightly against the inner surface of the cartridge when the plunger is in the cartridge. The seal material can also extend rearwardly of the plunger body and around the rearward edge of the cartridge for an additional seal when the plunger is initially seated in the cartridge. The softness and conformability of the sealing material forms a better sealing engagement with the cartridge to protect the contents from moisture and air.

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Canandaigua, NY, United States of America

Dick T vanManen