Patent ID: 6308929
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B22C,B29C

Abstract:
An insert that is disposed in a mold that includes a pair of mold halves that define a mold cavity when the mold halves are disposed together in a closed position, the insert comprising:(a) a plug having an outer axial face that is exposed toward one the mold halves when the mold halves are disposed in the closed position, the plug having a body and an axis about which it can rotate, the outer axial face contoured to affect a hardenable molding material comprising one of a metal, a plastic or a polymer;(b) a plug receiver disposed in another one of the mold halves and having a cavity therein having an opening at one end of the plug receiver through which the plug is inserted;(c) (1) a groove in one of the plug and the plug receiver that encircles the periphery of the plug and which is comprised of (i) a single circumferential band portion that does not extend completely around the periphery of the plug and that is generally perpendicular to the axis of plug rotation, and (ii) a helical entranceway portion disposed at an angle relative to the circumferential band portion and which connects with the circumferential band portion, and (2) a locator that extends from the other one of the plug and the receiver and that (i) is received in the entranceway portion of the groove during assembly of the plug to the plug receiver, (ii) is received in the circumferential band portion of the groove when the plug is received in the plug receiver, and (iii) prevents removal of the plug from the plug receiver when the plug is received in the plug receiver and the locator is disposed in the circumferential band of the groove, and(d) a rotation resisting element carried by one of the plug and the plug receiver that contacts the other one of the plug and the plug receiver that resists rotation of the plug when the plug is disposed in the cavity in the plug receiver.