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Automotive Plastic Technologies, Inc.

Automotive Plastic Technology, Inc.

William A Nelson

Vernon A Daniels

Joseph Shemanski

Anthony Gill

Improved plastic cladding and body molding parts are provided. These improved parts incorporate at least one and preferably a plurality of large gas channels within the plastic part having corresponding attachment surfaces to allow easy and efficient attachment of the improved parts to a substrate surface. The large gas channels are designed to provide sufficient attachment surfaces so that the monolithic, one-piece plastic part can be attached directly to the desired substrate surface using an adhesive system. Preferably, the adhesive system is an adhesive tape applied directly to the attachment surfaces. More preferably, the adhesive is an acrylic plastic tape applied directly to the attachment surfaces. The improved plastic cladding and body molding parts are especially adapted and suitable for use in automotive applications. A method of attaching the improved plastic cladding and body molding parts to the substrate surface is also described.

Plastic cladding and body molding parts

A booklet having pages of a gasket material, are attached together to form a booklet. Several pages have a scored outline of a gasket member. Each gasket member can be individually removed from its corresponding page. The booklet has a cover with a pocket for storing a loose gasket. The booklet has a width and thickness permitting it to be inserted in the user's pocket.

Gasket booklet

A method and apparatus for gas assisted injection molding which will first inject a shot of molten plastic into a suitable mold, shut off the plastic flow into the mold, and either immediately, or after a delayed time, inject a suitable pressurized gas into the mold at a desired injection pressure. The pressure of the gas in the mold is then controlled by stepping up or stepping down the pressure in the mold in a series of steps to arrive at a second predetermined and precisely controlled pressure. The predetermined pressure is held for a desired time. The setting and holding of pressure is repeated as many times as desired, and is then stepped down to a final pressure. The mold is then opened, and the article is removed.

Apparatus for gas assisted injection molding having precise control of

An improved injection molding system having gas injected through an injection pin associated with an ejector pin. The injection pin is movable between a retracted position at which it is sealed from the mold cavity, to an extended position where it delivers gas into the cavity. In a first embodiment, the injection pin is powered by a cylinder to move between the extended and retracted positions. In a second embodiment, the injection pin is actuated by the pressurized gas. The improved system injects gas into a mold cavity without the requirement of a separate injection aperture. Further, the inventive injection pins have outlet ports sealed from the flow of plastic until the injection pin is extended to deliver the gas.

Retractable gas injection pin for an injection mold

An improved nozzle for gas-assisted injection molding and a method of gas-assisted injection molding using the improved nozzle are provided. This improved nozzle employs a very simple design to vent the gas from the mold cavity once the plastic article has cooled sufficiently to be self supporting. In one especially preferred embodiment of this invention, the improved nozzle contains a separate plastic shut-off valve, a separate gas inlet passage with a check valve, and a separate gas venting passage containing a movable pin. Venting of the pressurized gas occurs by movement of the movable pin so that the pressurized gas can burst through the thin layer of plastic material covering the gas venting passage. The improved nozzle design and method allow for almost continuous operation with minimal operator attention to the nozzle.

Nozzle for gas-assisted injection molding

A method and associated apparatus for gas assisted injection molding wherein a quantity of fluid molding material is injected through a first injection flow path in a gas assisted injection molding nozzle into a mold cavity. The injection is then stopped by interrupting the flow of fluid through the first mold cavity, and introducing a time delay if desired. After any time delay, a quantity of pressurized gas or fluid at a first desired pressure is injected into the mold cavity through a second injection flow path which is isolated from the first injection flow path. The pressure is then reduced to a desired holding pressure, and the pressure is held in the mold while the part cools enough to be self supporting, at which time the pressure is vented from the mold cavity, and the part removed. The apparatus used, by isolating the molding material from the gas passages, is able to be of a simpler construction, avoid clogging of the passages, and use larger gas passages, all without the use of any check valves.

Method and apparatus for gas assisted injection molding

A check valve is provided that is especially useful in gas-assisted injection molding wherein pressurized gas is injected into molten plastic material. A tapered or cone-shaped valve member which seats into a correspondingly tapered or cone-shaped valve chamber provides the mechanism by which the valve seals against reverse flow. Any plastic material entering the gas passageway would contact the base end of the tapered or cone-shaped valve member and not any sealing surfaces. By minimizing contact with the sealing surfaces, the useful lifetime of the check valve is significantly increased.

Check valve for a fluid-assisted plastic injection molding apparatus

A construction kit consisting of telescoping strut members and pre-measured elastic or inelastic tendons, for the purpose of constructing tensile-integrity structures. The invention is made of reusable elements. By introducing struts which can be adjusted to various lengths the invention circumvents the necessity of measuring, cutting and tying different lengths of tendons for different structures and considerably simplifies the construction process.

Telescoping strut members and tendons for constructing tensile integrity

A construction kit consisting of rigid or telescoping elongate strut members which may be attached together by flexible tendons to form a variety of designs and model structures. The invention places no limits on the number of struts which can be attached at one vertex or their relative angles, and the length of each strut may be varied within broad limits. Furthermore, the end of one strut may be attached not only to the end of another, but to any point along its length. Accordingly, an almost unlimited variety of constructions is possible.

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New Baltimore, MI, United States of America

William A Nelson