The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 04, 1989
Filed:
Apr. 12, 1988
Kurt Mente, Hanover, DE;
J. H. Benecke GmbH, Hanover, DE;
Abstract
A deep drawing molding process for the formation of shaped plastic elements in which a certain thickness of the thermoplastic sheet to be formed is heated to the plastic flow state while an embossed or decorated outer side of the sheet is maintained at a temperature below the plastic state by means of a cooling air stream. The plastic element producted has an undamaged decorated side and improved wear properties such that it may be used in high ambient temperature applications, such as automobile dashboards, without cracking. The apparatus for heating and forming the plastic element includes a clamping frame to hold the sheet, a heating element disposed above the sheet, a molding box below the frame, which box is provided with inlets and outlets for cooling air and the application of vacuum, and a moldign tool also disposed above said frame, which is forced through said frame and against said sheet when a certain thickness of the sheet has been heated to the desired plastic flow temperature.