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. 03, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 01, 1997
Kevin Bird, Holland, MI (US);
Lloyd Kaper, Hamilton, MI (US);
Bob Herrmann, Grand Haven, MI (US);
Craig Bienick, Jenison, MI (US);
Gary Reames, Muskegon, MI (US);
Howard Daley, Zeeland, MI (US);
Greg Wolters, Zeeland, MI (US);
Gemtron Corporation, Sweetwater, TN (US);
Abstract
A peripherally encapsulated unit is manufactured by molding a peripheral encapsulation of a predetermined internal peripheral contour and internal peripheral size from hot polymeric material in a mold. The mold is opened and a member is positioned in internal relationship to the hot molded peripheral encapsulation. Thereafter, the hot molded peripheral encapsulation shrinks as it cools to reduce its internal peripheral size thereby unitizing the peripheral encapsulation with a peripheral edge portion of the member to form a peripherally encapsulated unit, such as a cook top, range door, “touch” control panel, or the like.