Other

Centurion International, Inc.

Douglas McKeown

Jonathan Lee Sullivan

Glen A Wilcox

William P Hayes

A multi-stage method of insert molding is described including the steps of: providing a vertically movable first mold member with a cavity formed therein; providing a second mold member having a substantially flat upper molding surface; providing a third mold member having an upper end with a cavity formed therein; positioning an insert directly on the flat upper molding surface of the second mold member; positioning the first mold member with respect to the second mold member so that the cavity of the first mold member receives the insert; injecting a first flowable plastic material into the cavity in the first mold member to partially encapsulate the insert; allowing the first flowable plastic material to cool and solidify, thereby creating a first stage molding; removing the first mold member and the second stage molding from the second mold member; positioning the first mold member with respect to the third mold member so that the first stage molding registers with the cavity of the third mold member; injecting a second flowable plastic material into the cavity of the third mold member; allowing the second plastic material to cool and solidify to form a second stage molding; and ejecting the second stage molding from the cavities in the first and third mold members.

Multi-stage insert molding method

The method of assembling an antenna and over-molding the same with a thermoplastic material is described which ensures that the elongated rod of the antenna is centrally positioned in its molding material and ensures that the helical spring of the antenna is also centrally positioned in the molding material. A sub-assembly is first created by connecting a helical spring to one end of an elongated metal rod and then inserting a threaded location mandrel in the spring. The assembled sub-assembly is then placed in an injection molding tool and is over-molded with a thermoplastic material. During the initial molding process, the metal rod and helical spring are centered in their respective cavities. The molded sub-assembly is then removed from the injection tool and placed in a second injection tool wherein the interior of the helical spring is filled with a thermoplastic material at the same time as an end cap is created. At the same time, the exposed end of the metal rod is also over-molded.

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Lincoln, NE, United States of America

Douglas McKeown