Patents Assigned to Build A Mold Limited
  • Patent number: 7344670
    Abstract: A method of producing a molded article includes the steps of positioning an insert within a first mold, and filling the first mold with a low melt allow to form a lost core assembly. The lost core assembly includes an external shape corresponding to the desired cavity formed within the molded article. The inserts are supported within the lost core and form a part of the surface of the cavity of the completed molded article. The lost core assembly is over-molded with a thermoplastic or thermoset material. The alloy material is removed leaving the inserts within the molded article to form specific portions of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Build A Mold Limited
    Inventor: Horst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7094376
    Abstract: A carrier assembly controls movement of a movable member within a mold tool to first receive a quantity of molten material, and then displace that molten material back into a mold cavity during solidification of a molded article. The moveable member moves relative to the surface of the mold cavity to compensate for local volume changes in a molded part that occur during solidification to substantially eliminate depressions and sink marks on an outer surface of a plastic injection molded part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Build A Mold Limited
    Inventor: Horst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7011777
    Abstract: A mold tool includes upper and lower sections defining a cavity within which a plastic film preform is placed before injection of plastic forming a molded article. The plastic film extends between an interface defined between the sections of the mold. The interface secures a position of the plastic film within the mold tool preventing movement during injection of plastic. The interface is specifically configured to secure the plastic film without damage. The specific configuration of the interface is determined according to a relationship between molding process parameters and physical characteristics of the plastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Build a Mold Limited
    Inventor: Horst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7008585
    Abstract: An assembly disposed within a mold for forming openings in a plastic part includes a punch pin and a backing pin having faces disposed flush with a surface of a mold cavity. The backing pin is disposed opposite the punch pin. The punch pin is driven into the completed plastic part removing material to form an opening. The waste material is driven into a bore housing the backing pin. The backing pin recedes into the bore to accept the waste material. Upon ejection of the plastic part the waste material ejects from the mold cavity as the backing pin moves back to a position flush with the surface of the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Build A Mold Limited
    Inventor: Tony Romanello
  • Patent number: 5447546
    Abstract: An improved air filter has a plurality of tubular or cylindrical openings extending through a lower plate which are aligned with the venturis in a carburetor. The venturis in the carburetor draw in air through the filter. The openings in the air filter eliminate the turbulence or efficiency losses typically resulting from the use of an air filter. The openings are constructed to guide the air flow thus increasing the air volume through the carburetor. The inventive air filter configuration results in a seven to eight percent decrease in air flow over free air flow through the carburetor. Prior art air filters result in decreases on the order of twenty percent. In the use of carburetors for racing applications, the addition of approximately a twelve percent increase in air flow with the inventive air filter configuration provides enormous unexpected benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Build-A-Mold Limited
    Inventor: Dennis Thibodeau
  • Patent number: 5314288
    Abstract: A simplified wheel-lift mechanism is disclosed. The components of the wheel-lift mechanism are all formed of a plastic material that is corrosion resistant. Further, the wheel-lift mechanism includes a one-piece flexible coupling which reduces the complexity of the system over prior art systems. The one-piece flexible coupling includes a plurality of integrally molded discs connected by a plurality of circumferentially-spaced integrally molded posts. This results in a strong coupling which allows relative angular motion between the ends of the coupling. In a further feature of this invention, a locking key is operable to lock the wheel hub at a particular location. The locking key is selectively released to allow the wheel to be lowered. A unique drive mechanism is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Build-A-Mold Limited
    Inventor: Horst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5261199
    Abstract: A high density closed-cell foam burial vault is disclosed. The vault consists of top and bottom halves which are formed of a closed-cell foam having a density between 8-30 pounds per cubic feet. The foam is sufficiently rigid to protect a casket within the burial vault, and is also resistant to leakage of water into the vault. The foam results in a lightweight, easy to manufacture burial vault. The top and bottom halves nest within each other, such that a large number of foam burial vaults may be stored in a relatively small space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Build-A-Mold Limited
    Inventor: Horst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5242154
    Abstract: A wheel-lift mechanism is disclosed which incorporates a unique torque limiting structure. A drive is transmitted to a first shaft, which is in turn transmitted to a second shaft. The second shaft drives a reel for raising and lowering a flexible lift member and an attached wheel hub from beneath a vehicle. The torque limiting structure consists of an outer drive member which has an inner periphery including a plurality of ears which are received within notches in an inner driven member. The first shaft rotates the outer drive member and the inner driven member in turn rotates the second shaft. Should the relative torque transmitted from the first shaft to the second shaft exceed a predetermined limit, the ears deform the notch radially inwardly and the outer drive member slips relative to the inner driven member. Nodes are positioned radially outwardly of the notches on each circumferential side. A space is formed radially inwardly of the notch in the inner driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Build-A-Mold Limited
    Inventor: Horst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5238454
    Abstract: A one-piece flexible coupling is integrally molded from plastic. A plurality of discs are connected by posts over small circumferential extents with slots formed over the remainder of the circumferential extent of the discs. The posts between adjacent discs are offset by 90.degree. from the previous and subsequent discs. Shafts are connected at both ends of the flexible coupling, and the flexible coupling transmit rotation between the shafts, even when they are at non-parallel angles relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Build-A-Mold Limited
    Inventor: Horst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5112207
    Abstract: A mold forms a portion of a part having a first cross-section of a first thickness further removed from a body of the part than a second cross-section of a reduced thickness. The mold includes pairs of mold pins which are moved between a molding position at which they define a cavity to form the portion of the part, to a release position at which they allow the portion to move outwardly of the mold so that the part may be released. In an embodiment, the mold pins are actuated by a first actuator, and a second actuator actuates a plurality of ejector pins to force the part off the mold. In this way, it is ensured that the part is forced off of the mold, which can then be operated without supervision. In a preferred embodiment, a ramp member moves a holder for the mold pins between first and second positions, which causes the mold pins to move between the molding and release positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Build-A-Mold Limited
    Inventor: Alec Pinsonneault