Patent ID: 6210618
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B29C,B29K,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a peripherally encapsulated unit defined by an internal member and a peripheral encapsulation comprising the steps of(a) injection molding a peripheral encapsulation in a closed mold, with the peripheral encapsulation being of a predetermined internal peripheral contour and internal peripheral size, from hot polymeric material with the peripheral encapsulation including at least one inwardly opening channel;(b) after performing step (a), at least partially opening the mold and relatively positioning a member in internal relationship to the hot molded peripheral encapsulation,(c) shrinking the hot peripheral encapsulation sufficiently to bring the inwardly opening channel into embracing relationship with a peripheral edge portion of the member by cooling the encapsulation to reduce the internal peripheral size thereof to thereby unitize the member and peripheral encapsulation into a peripherally encapsulated unit, and(d) thereafter removing the encapsulated unit from the mold.