Patent ID: 8366987
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: B29C,B29K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a sheet of polymeric material, comprising the steps of: heating the sheet to a first temperature wherein the sheet is heated past a glass transition temperature and said sheet achieves a glass transition state; terminating heating of said sheet prior to placing in a first mold half; retaining the sheet between said first and a second mold half of a forming mold with the sheet supported along a peripheral edge of one of said first and second mold halves; forming the peripheral edge of the sheet by the contacting of the first and second mold halves to form a desired non-planar contour or curve portion above or below a horizontal plane contour or curve on the peripheral edge; generating a pressure on one side of the sheet thereby moving the sheet into a space of one of said first and second mold halves while a center portion of the sheet remains supported in space relationship to one of said first and second mold halves; and cooling the sheet from said first temperature to a second temperature upon achieving a specified size depth of the sheet within one of said first and second mold halves; and forming a sheet having a complementary non-planar contour or curve in an edge portion of the polymeric material contoured or curved peripheral edge.