Adjustable casting mold

A new and improved adjustable casting mold including a mold base having a generally rectangular configuration. Included in the device is a fixed mold form having a generally L-shaped configuration. The fixed mold form is integral with the mold base offset from a center portion thereof. Also included in the device is an adjustable mold form having a generally L-shaped configuration. The adjustable mold form is positionable on the mold base and positioned against the fixed mold form. The adjustable mold form is positioned against the fixed mold form to create a casting area. A clamp assembly is removably positioned against the adjustable mold form and the fixed mold form. The clamp assembly is secured thereto by two washers and two wing nuts. The clamp assembly serves to secure the adjustable mold form to the fixed mold form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an adjustable casting mold and more 
particularly pertains to enabling the encapsulation of specimens in almost 
any size within its range of movement with an adjustable casting mold. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of casting molds is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
casting molds heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of casting 
materials are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious 
structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,394 to Hirata discloses a mold 
clamping apparatus for molding apparatus. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,214 to Filion discloses a laterally adjustable divider 
wall for molding two color shells. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,315 to Vaubel et al. discloses an adjustable continuous 
casting mold arrangement. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,724 to Vial discloses an ingot mold with adjustable 
dimensions for a continuous casting machine. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,727 to Gladwin discloses an adjustable width continuous 
casting mold. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe an adjustable 
casting mold for enabling the encapsulation of specimens in almost any 
size within its range of movement. 
In this respect, the adjustable casting mold according to the present 
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs 
of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of enabling the encapsulation of specimens in 
almost any size within its range of movement. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved adjustable casting mold which can be used for enabling 
the encapsulation of specimens in almost any size within its range of 
movement. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills 
this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
casting molds now present in the prior art, the present invention provides 
an improved adjustable casting mold. As such, the general purpose of the 
present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, 
is to provide a new and improved adjustable casting mold and method which 
has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a mold base 
having a generally rectangular configuration. The mold base has an upper 
surface and a lower surface. The lower surface has a plurality of 
apertures formed therein. The device contains a fixed mold form having a 
generally L-shaped configuration. The fixed mold form has a longer extent 
and a shorter extent. The longer extent and the shorter extent have an 
inner surface and an outer surface. The shorter extent has an aperture 
formed therethrough. The fixed mold is integral with the upper surface of 
the mold base offset from a center portion thereof. The device contains an 
adjustable mold form having a generally L-shaped configuration. The 
adjustable mold form has a longer extent and a shorter extent. The longer 
extent and the shorter extent have an inner surface and an outer surface. 
The adjustable mold form is positionable on the upper surface of the mold 
base with the inner surface of the longer extent positioned against the 
shorter extent of the fixed mold form and the shorter extent positioned 
against the inner surface of the longer extent of the fixed mold form. The 
adjustable mold form is positioned against the fixed mold form to create a 
casting area. The device contains a clamp assembly having a first extent 
and a second extent. The first extent has two long screws secured thereto 
on end portions thereof. The second extent has two apertures formed 
therethrough on end portions thereof. The apertures align with the two 
long screws for coupling therewith. The clamp assembly is removably 
positioned against the outer surface of the longer extent of the 
adjustable mold form and the outer surface of the fixed mold form. The 
clamp assembly is secured thereto by two washers and two wing nuts. The 
clamp assembly serves to secure the adjustable mold form to the fixed mold 
form. The device contains a plurality of rubber foot pads. Each of the 
rubber foot pads is coupled with the plurality of apertures formed in the 
lower surface of the mold base. The plurality of rubber foot pads serve to 
prevent the device from sliding on a flat surface. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved adjustable casting mold which has all the advantages of the prior 
art casting molds and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
adjustable casting mold which may be easily and efficiently manufactured 
and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved adjustable casting mold which is of durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved adjustable casting mold which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby 
making such an adjustable casting mold economically available to the 
buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved adjustable casting mold which provides in the apparatuses and 
methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while 
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated 
therewith. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved adjustable casting mold for enabling the encapsulation of 
specimens in almost any size within its range of movement. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved adjustable casting mold comprising a mold base having a generally 
rectangular configuration. Included in the device is a fixed mold form 
having a generally L-shaped configuration. The fixed mold form is integral 
with the mold base offset from a center portion thereof. Also included in 
the device is an adjustable mold form having a generally L-shaped 
configuration. The adjustable mold form is positionable on the mold base 
and positioned against the fixed mold form. The adjustable mold form is 
positioned against the fixed mold form to create a casting area. A clamp 
assembly is removably positioned against the adjustable mold form and the 
fixed mold form. The clamp assembly is secured thereto by two washers and 
two wing nuts. The clamp assembly serves to secure the adjustable mold 
form to the fixed mold form. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIG. 1 thereof, 
the preferred embodiment of the new and improved adjustable casting mold 
embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and 
generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described. 
Specifically, it will be noted in the various Figures that the device 
relates to a new and improved adjustable casting mold for enabling the 
encapsulation of specimens in almost any size within its range of 
movement. In its broadest context, the device consists of a mold base, a 
fixed mold form, an adjustable mold form, a clamp assembly, and a 
plurality of rubber foot pads. 
The device 10 contains a mold base 12 having a generally rectangular 
configuration. The mold base 12 has an upper surface 14 and a lower 
surface 16. The lower surface 16 has a plurality of apertures formed 
therein. The mold base 12 is preferably fabricated of a rigid plastic 
material. 
The device 10 contains a fixed mold 22 form having a generally L-shaped 
configuration. The fixed mold 22 form has a longer extent 24 and a shorter 
extent 26. The shorter extent 26 is perpendicular to the longer extent 24. 
The longer extent 24 and the shorter extent 26 have an inner surface and 
an outer surface. The shorter extent 26 has an aperture 30 formed 
therethrough. The aperture 30 allows an eye hook to be cast into a mold 
through the aperture 30. The fixed mold 20 is integral with the upper 
surface 14 of the mold base 12 offset from a center portion thereof. The 
fixed mold 22 is positioned in a corner of the mold base 12. 
The device 10 contains an adjustable mold form 34 having a generally 
L-shaped configuration. The adjustable mold form 34 has a longer extent 36 
and a shorter extent 38. The shorter extent 38 is perpendicular to the 
longer extent 36. The longer extent 36 and the shorter extent 38 have an 
inner surface and an outer surface. The adjustable mold form 34 is 
positionable on the upper surface 14 of the mold base 12 with the inner 
surface of the longer extent 36 positioned against the shorter extent 26 
of the fixed mold form 22 and the shorter extent 38 positioned against the 
inner surface of the longer extent 24 of the fixed mold form 22. The 
adjustable mold form 34 is positioned against the fixed mold form 22 to 
create a casting area 40. The casting area 40 can be increased or 
decreased in size depending on the size of the specimen to be 
encapsulated. The casting area 40 will decrease as the shorter extent 38 
is positioned closer to the shorter extent 26 of the fixed mold form 22. 
The casting area 40 will increase when the shorter extent 38 is positioned 
further away from the shorter extent 26 of the fixed mold form 22. 
The device 10 contains a clamp assembly 44 having a first extent 46 and a 
second extent 48. The first extent 46 has two long screws 50 secured 
thereto on end portions thereof. The second extent 48 has two apertures 52 
formed therethrough on end portions thereof. The apertures 52 align with 
the two long screws 50 for coupling therewith. The clamp assembly 44 is 
removably positioned against the outer surface of the longer extent 36 of 
the adjustable mold form 34 and the outer surface of the longer extent 24 
of the fixed mold form 22. The clamp assembly 44 is secured thereto by two 
washers 54 and two wing nuts 56. The clamp assembly 44 serves to secure 
the adjustable mold form 34 to the fixed mold form 22. The two wing nuts 
56 are simply loosened or tightened for the clamp assembly 44 to secure 
the adjustable mold form 34 in place or to remove the adjustable mold form 
34. When the clamp assembly 44 is in place, molding can begin within the 
casting area 40. 
The device 10 contains a plurality of rubber foot pads 60. Each of the 
rubber foot pads 60 is coupled with the plurality of apertures formed in 
the lower surface 16 of the mold base 12. The plurality of rubber foot 
pads 60 serve to prevent the device 10 from sliding on a flat surface. The 
preferred amount of rubber foot pads 60 is four positioned in four corners 
of the lower surface 16 of the mold base 12. 
The present invention is a mold with a flexible design that enables the 
encapsulation of specimens in almost any size within its range of 
movement. 
The present invention is fabricated from plastic, wood, hardware, and a 
starter set of supplies for making the castings. The kit consists of a 
mold base 12, a fixed mold form 22, an adjustable mold form 34, a clamp 
44, a resin kit, stirring sticks, mold release, paintbrushes, mixing cups, 
and a basic set of instructions. The base 12 and the fixed form 22 are 
assembled as one piece, with the form being L-shaped and located toward 
one corner. The adjustable form 34, which is also L-shaped, can be 
positioned anywhere along the edges of the fixed form 22. It is secured in 
place with the clamp 44. 
To use the kit for encapsulating an insect, for example, the form is 
assembled to accommodate its size with a proportional border on each side. 
Then the clamp 44 is tightened around the forms 22,34. Using a suitable 
sealant, the seams in the mold are filled to prevent leaks. The actual 
casting begins by coating the mold with mold release and allowing it to 
dry. Then the mold is filled with the resin halfway and allowed to cure. 
The specimen is placed on the cured resin, and more resin is poured to 
fill the mold cavity. 
The present invention eases the task of encapsulating specimens of 
different sizes. By utilizing the optional key chain slot, key chains can 
be made using the same mold. People who enjoy preserving various items are 
almost certain to appreciate the advantages of this advantage. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the 
manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and 
obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to 
those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.