Patents by Inventor Gerald R. Hobson

Gerald R. Hobson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7361298
    Abstract: A method of trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parison between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves together to form a cavity and enclose a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by applying a vacuum to those portions adjacent to a cutter and by then moving the cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom. The apparatus for achieving this method includes a cutter slidably disposed in a first slot and having a slot plugging member slidably exposed in a second slot wherein the cutter and slot plugging member will prevent plastic from entering the first and second slots when the plastic product is being formed. After the plastic is formed, a vacuum is applied to portions of the product adjacent to the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Progressive Components International Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Publication number: 20040173951
    Abstract: A method of trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parison between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves together to form a cavity and enclose a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by applying a vacuum to those portions adjacent to a cutter and by then moving the cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom. The apparatus for achieving this method includes a cutter slidably disposed in a first slot and having a slot plugging member slidably exposed in a second slot wherein the cutter and slot plugging member will prevent plastic from entering the first and second slots when the plastic product is being formed. After the plastic is formed, a vacuum is applied to portions of the product adjacent to the cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Patent number: 6719554
    Abstract: A method of trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parison between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves together to form a cavity and enclose a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by applying a vacuum to those portions adjacent to a cutter and by then moving the cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom. The apparatus for achieving this method includes a cutter slidably disposed in a first slot and having a slot plugging member slidably exposed in a second slot wherein the cutter and slot plugging member will prevent plastic from entering the first and second slots when the plastic product is being formed. After the plastic is formed, a vacuum is applied to portions of the product adjacent to the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Progressive Components International Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Publication number: 20020093127
    Abstract: A method of trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parison between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves together to form a cavity and enclose a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by applying a vacuum to those portions adjacent to a cutter and by then moving the cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom. The apparatus for achieving this method includes a cutter slidably disposed in a first slot and having a slot plugging member slidably exposed in a second slot wherein the cutter and slot plugging member will prevent plastic from entering the first and second slots when the plastic product is being formed. After the plastic is formed, a vacuum is applied to portions of the product adjacent to the cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Patent number: 6113366
    Abstract: An apparatus for pressurizing a vessel of a type including a one piece blow molded hollow member, a first end and a second end of the member being constructed of a first plastic material, the one end being adapted to be attached to and in fluid communication with a pressure vessel. An intermediate bellows portion of the member is constructed of a plastic, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, that is more flexible and less rigid than the first plastic material, such as polypropylene, whereby the intermediate bellows portions can flex to change in size to vary the volume of fluid therein. A first one-way valve is operatively disposed in the first end of the molded hollow member for permitting flow from the interior of the intermediate bellows portion to the pressure vessel when the intermediate bellows portion is reduced in volume, but not allowing flow from the pressure vessel to the intermediate bellows portion as the intermediate bellows portion of returns to a larger volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Patent number: 5910283
    Abstract: A method of trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parison between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves to form a cavity and close a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by moving a cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Patent number: 5698236
    Abstract: An apparatus for trimming blow-molded products while in the mold including the steps of placing a parson between a mold having two mold halves, moving the two mold halves to form a cavity and close a portion of the parison, pressurizing the inside of the parison to produce a product and trimming a portion of the product while it is in the mold by moving a cutter across the cavity and across the portion of the product to be cut. The mold halves are then separated and the product is removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Patent number: 5480607
    Abstract: The present invention teaches an improved method and apparatus for molding plastic products which results in the removal of plastic residue such as flash from the products during the molding process itself. The invention teaches the use of flash retainers, situated within the mold, and into which a portion of the plastic flash becomes trapped during the molding process. After the mold is opened, the product is removed, leaving the flash still secured to the mold. The flash is then removed from the mold by the use of ejector rods which are inserted to within the flash retainers, forcing the flash from the retainer and thereby releasing the flash from the mold. In one embodiment, the flash is pinched between two members which are moved simultaneously away from the molded product to tear the flash completely away from the outer periphery of the molded product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson
  • Patent number: 4746283
    Abstract: Plastic blow molding equipment of a type including a die housing with a tubular chamber disposed therein. The die housing includes an inner portion on the inside of the tubular chamber and an outer portion on the outside of the tubular chamber. The tubular chamber has an outlet therein. Head tooling is attached to the die housing and this head tooling has a tubular passageway therethrough of an unequal diameter throughout the length thereof. The tubular passageway in the head tooling is in communication with the outlet in the die housing. An adjusting mechanism is associated with the head tooling for forming a parison outlet of different sizes. The adjusting mechanism includes an inner section inside of the tubular passageway and an outer section on the outside of the tubular passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Inventor: Gerald R. Hobson