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:
Aug. 27, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 02, 1999
Toshihiro Takai, Aichi-ken, JP;
Kenichi Mizoguchi, Aichi-ken, JP;
Akio Yoshikoshi, Aichi-ken, JP;
Takashi Kikkawa, Aichi-ken, JP;
Tatsushi Maeda, Aichi-ken, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Asano Kenkyusho, Aichi-gun, JP;
Abstract
A thermoforming apparatus includes a female die and a movable plug for thermoforming a softened thermoplastic resin sheet. The female die includes a rim forming recess in the shape of a bowl-shaped recess, communicating with a bottom opening and forming a bottom wall of the bowl, an outer wall, a bottom wall and an inner wall of a rim of the bottom, and a bottom plate movable forward and backward relative to the rim forming recess. The softened thermoplastic resin sheet is thrust by the plug while the bottom plate is held at a first stop position. The thermoplastic resin sheet is brought into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the bowl-shaped recess and then the bottom plate is moved to a second stop position so that a rim is formed.