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:
Mar. 11, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 20, 2001
Richard A. Held, Sun City West, AZ (US);
Gill Athletics, Inc., Urbana, IL (US);
Abstract
A method of forming a molded article and a molded article itself having a passage therein which has a cross-sectional dimension adjacent an end which is less than at a location which is spaced from the end are disclosed. In the method an elongate, rigid mandrel is covered over a substantial portion of its length with a flexible mandrel. The flexible mandrel, when covering the rigid mandrel, has an exterior surface which has a cross-sectional dimension which is less adjacent an end thereof than at a location which is spaced from that end. The flexible mandrel is then covered with a material which is to form the molded article with the rigid and flexible mandrels defining the mold about which the article is formed by the material. The material is then set to form the molded article about the mandrels with the mandrels defining the passage in the molded article. The mandrels are then removed from the molded article from the end of the passage which has a cross-sectional dimension which is less than at the location which is spaced from that end.