Abstract: A washer door or lid as defined by a tempered glass panel bordered by an open frame-like encapsulation of one-piece injection molded polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plastic material. The latter material is preferably acrylonitrile/styrene/acrylate polymer blended with mica glass beads at a ratio of substantially 70%-30% to 90%-10% by weight, but preferably 80%-20% by weight. Further specifics of the washer lid include a relatively thick inner periphery of the encapsulation which securely grips and reinforces an outer peripheral edge of the tempered glass panel, a rigid outer peripheral skirt, an indiscrete handle, a reinforced hand corder for a switch actuator and opposite rear corners carrying hinges for securing the washer lid to an associated washer opening.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the manufacture of lites (glass sheets) which have at least a pair of thin spacers applied thereto which maintain the lites in spaced relationship when stacked upon pallets, wrapped and shipped. The spacers are preferably only partially adhered to the lites, either by weak bonding adhesive or electrostatically, and can be readily removed during end-use applications. The spacers are applied automatically during production runs of the lites, and the spacers are applied from above or from below relative to the path of travel of the lites.

Abstract: A peripherally encapsulated product, such as an oven door outer shell, is molded in accordance with this invention by placing a piece of glass between mold clamping portions of relatively movable closed bodies when the latter are in an open position. Preferably both bodies are heated and thermosetting polymeric material (SMC or BMC) is placed upon selected areas of one of the mold bodies within and about an area corresponding to an annular mold cavity and outboard of a peripheral edge of a piece of glass. The glass is clamped between mold clamping portions of the mold bodies which are then progressively closed creating compression forces which extrude the thermosetting polymeric material into the annular cavity and into complete encapsulation of the continuous peripheral edge of the piece of glass. The thermosetting polymeric material is cured, the mold bodies are opened and the product is removed therefrom.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is performed by providing a glass sheet having first and second opposite surfaces merging with each other along a peripheral ground angled surface setting-off with the glass sheet first surface an included angle substantially greater than normal. The glass sheet is placed in a mold having opposing cavity portions which collectively define a cavity including a peripheral edge cavity portion defined in part by a cavity defining surface which lies in the plane of the glass sheet first surface when the mold is closed. The mold is then closed such that the cavity defining surface and the glass sheet round angled surface set-off and angled complementary to the included angle and with the glass sheet per surface abutting the cavity defining surface inboard of the glass sheet -ground angled surface.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the manufacture of lites (glass sheets) which have at least a pair of thin spacers applied thereto which maintain the lites in spaced relationship when stacked upon pallets, wrapped and shipped. The spacers are preferably only partially adhered to the lites, either by weak bonding adhesive or electrostatically, and can be readily removed during end-use applications. The spacers are applied automatically during production runs of the lites, and the spacers are applied from above or from below relative to the path of travel of the lites.

Abstract: A refrigerator shelf is defined by a glass shelf panel bounded by an integral, injection molded, substantially homogeneous, one-piece frame of polymeric/copolymeric plastic material. The frame includes two thin spaced depending peripheral walls spanned by a plurality of spaced reinforcing webs effecting rigidifying of the frame to afford the shelf appreciable weight bearing and anti-torquing characteristics. A pair of identical relatively broad hooks each including a plurality of vertically extending parallel reinforcing ribs are utilized for interlocking the shelf to relatively broad horizontally aligned openings in a refrigerator inner liner.

Abstract: A refrigerator compartment includes opposite side walls having vertically spaced shelf-supporting ledges along the side walls in horizontally aligned pairs. A shelf includes a one-piece open frame made of molded synthetic material and a piece of glass closing an opening of the frame. Each of opposite side frame portions are defined by an upper wall, a side wall and at least one finger with the opposing fingers being spaced from each other and each defining with an associated upper wall a glass piece side edge-receiving channel. The glass piece is snapped into the glass piece side edge-receiving channels. The fingers slide upon the ledges whereby product loading upon the glass piece which might cause the fingers to inadvertently deform and release the glass piece side edges is effectively resisted to preclude inadvertent glass piece/frame disassembly under load.

Abstract: An article of manufacture, such as an encapsulated dual lens sealed instrument cover, includes four components, namely, a first lens having a peripheral edge encapsulated by a polymeric/polymeric injection molded encapsulation or border and a second lens also have a peripheral edge encapsulated by a second injection molded polymeric/copolymeric encapsulation or border. A hermetic chamber is thereby formed between the two lenses. The first encapsulation is also provided with threads or similar fastening means to readily secure the instrument cover to an instrument “can” containing any variety of instruments, such as a nautical compass, amperage/voltage, fuel, etc. The first lens is inserted into a cavity of a mold and the first encapsulation is injection molded thereabout. The latter two components are then assembled with respect to the second lens and the second encapsulation is injection molded thereabout.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the manufacture of lites (glass sheets) which have at least a pair of thin spacers applied thereto which maintain the lites in spaced relationship when stacked upon pallets, wrapped and shipped. The spacers are preferably only partially adhered to the lites, either by weak bonding adhesive or electrostatically, and can be readily removed during end-use applications. The spacers are applied automatically during production runs of the lites, and the spacers are applied from above or from below relative to the path of travel of the lites.

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.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is performed by providing a glass sheet having first and second opposite surfaces merging with each other along a peripheral ground angled surface setting-off with the glass sheet first surface an included angle substantially greater than normal. The glass sheet is placed in a mold having opposing cavity portions which collectively define a cavity including a peripheral edge cavity portion defined in part by a cavity defining surface which lies in the plane of the glass sheet first surface when the mold is closed. The mold is then closed such that the cavity defining surface and the glass sheet round angled surface set-off and angled complementary to the included angle and with the glass sheet per surface abutting the cavity defining surface inboard of the glass sheet ground angled surface.

Abstract: This method involves the injection molding of a polymeric/copolymeric frame about a peripheral edge of glass panel in association with a pair of brackets to form a refrigerator shelf. The glass panel is placed in a cavity of a mold with a peripheral edge of the cavity corresponding to a peripheral edge of the glass panel. The cavity has side cavity portions each housing one of the shelf brackets. Polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plastic material is injected into the cavity preferably adjacent corners thereof such that the forces of the injected material are essentially self-balancing about the peripheral edge of the glass panel, thereby maintaining the glass panel in substantially mating conformity with the cavity to produce a relatively consistently contoured and cross-sectioned frame which, upon the solidification of the plastic material, also unites the shelf brackets to the glass panel.

Abstract: An appliance, such as a cooking range, a clothes dryer, a clothes washer, an oven or the like, includes a console along a rear edge of the appliance which can pivot between an upright in-use position and a lower shipping, repair and/or servicing position. The console is preferably of a two-part construction including a front housing body having an integrally injection molded encapsulation or frame peripherally retaining a touch sensor control panel which can be readily accessed when the console is in its lower repair position.

Abstract: A serving tray includes a tempered glass panel of a predetermined peripheral configuration defined by a substantially continuous peripheral edge bounded by a one-piece injection molded polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plastic material encapsulation. The encapsulation includes upper and lower leg portions and a bight portion therebetween with an upper surface of the panel and the upper leg portion being in peripheral liquid-tight sealed engagement to define a liquid dam therebetween. Legs projecting beyond the lower leg portions space a lowermost decorative surface of the glass panel away from an adjacent stacked panel or an underlying supporting surface.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for adapting injection molding machines utilizing horizontally opening and closing molds and their opening and closing mechanisms to vertically opening and closing molds and their opening and closing mechanisms and vice versa. An injection molding machine might, for example, be utilized to inject hot synthetic resin substantially horizontally into a cavity between horizontally opening and closing molds associated with horizontally opening and closing mechanisms. This horizontal mold and its opening and closing mechanism is removed relative to the injection molding machine and substituted therefor is a vertically opening and closing mold and its associated vertically opening and closing mechanisms. The hot plastic material from the horizontal injection molding machine is initially constrained in movement horizontally but subsequently vertically into the cavity of the vertically opening mold.

Abstract: An encapsulated shelf with pre-encapsulated bracket, and preferably adapted for use in refrigeration and/or freezer compartments, includes a glass or other panel supported by a support such as a bracket having a cover encapsulating a substantial majority thereof and a flange extending into and interconnecting with a rim formed separately from the panel and around an edge of the panel. The rim and cover preferably engage and cooperate with one another. A slide rail may be integrally formed in one piece with the encapsulating cover. The support includes holes extending through the support for mechanical interconnection with the rim and cover. The support may also be provided with a mounting portion adapted to couple with a refrigerator wall or the like at a variety of vertical locations. The rim may further define a spill dam to contain spills on the panel surface, while additional brackets or stiffeners may be included for extra wide shelves.

Abstract: A novel glass display case is disclosed herein and includes a plurality of vertical side walls with openings therethrough, a plurality of brackets associated with the side walls, each bracket including a body of a generally U-shaped configuration defined by a pair of spaced legs and an arm joined therebetween, a slot defined by the pair of legs and arm for supportingly receiving therein an edge of an article-supporting shelf, and the legs defining therebetween recesses disposed normal to each other for receiving ends of rods from which can be suspended or supported for display purposes suitable articles, such as ties or shoes.