Molded framework for electroless and electrolytic plating racks

A platable plastic product substrate assembly is disclosed. The product substrate assembly comprises a runner system having at least one runner and at least one clip for engaging the framework of a plating rack. A plurality of product substrates are removably attached to gates with clip protruding from the runner.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to the art of plating on plastics and, more 
particularly, to an injected molded assembly having a runner system on 
which product substrates are attached which includes clip means for 
attaching the runner system to the framework of electroless and 
electrolytic plating racks. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In recent years, many plated products comprise a molded plastic substrate 
which is first electrolessly plated and then electrolytically plated. 
In conventional electroless plating processes, the plating substrate is 
first etched with a strong oxidizing acid or base. The etched substrate is 
then immersed in a solution containing a noble metal catalyst, e.g., a 
tin-palladium catalyst. If required, the substrate is then immersed in an 
activator solution, e.g., exposing the palladium of the tin-palladium 
catalyst. Finally, the activated substrate is immersed in an autocatalytic 
electroless plating solution where an initial coating of a conductive 
metal, such as copper or nickel, is established on the substrate by 
chemical deposition. 
In a conventional electrolytic plating process, the electrolessly plated 
plastic substrate is first immersed in cleaning solutions and then 
activated by immersion in a dilute acid solution, e.g., a dilute sulfuric 
acid solution. It is then immersed in one or more electroplating baths 
wherein metal is deposited on the surface of the substrate 
electrolytically. In many applications, for example, layers of copper, 
nickel, and chromium are plated onto the substrate. 
Conventional plating racks used in electroless and electrolytic plating 
processes comprise a metal framework having metal contacts for holding the 
plastic substrates on the rack. With electrolytic plating racks, the 
contacts also provide means for electrical communication between the racks 
and the plastic substrates. The plastic substrates are manually mounted on 
the contacts which hold the substrates firmly so that they do not fall off 
the racks in agitated plating solutions and, in the case of electrolytic 
plating racks, to provide uninterrupted electrical contact with the 
substrates. 
The contacts are typically in the form of metal wire, rods, strips, and the 
like. Two or more contacts are usually used in a manner which applies 
pressure, generally in the form of a spring force or a gripping force, at 
two or more contact points on the substrate. These contact points are 
generally at locations on the substrate which are not seen when the 
substrate is assembled as a final product. 
The number of substrates held by an electroless or electrolytic plating 
rack depends on the size of the rack, which is in turn usually dependent 
on the size of the plating tanks, and on the size of the substrates. It is 
not uncommon for an electroless or electrolytic plating rack to hold 25 or 
even 100 or more substrates. Since each substrate typically requires at 
least two rack contacts, it is apparent that such racks require a great 
deal of material and time to construct and are accordingly very expensive 
to build. Moreover, many substrates are difficult to hold and require 
complicated contact design. This further increases the expense of 
constructing the racks. 
For very small substrates or for substrates which, because of their design, 
cannot be held directly by the rack contacts, the plating racks are 
designed so that the contacts grip or otherwise hold a runner or portion 
of a runner which is not removed from the substrate after it is molded. 
Here again, however, the rack must comprise separate contacts for each 
such runner. Such racks are expensive and time consuming to construct for 
the reasons mentioned above. 
Not only are conventional plating racks expensive to build, their utility 
is restricted to the particular substrate or substrates for which it is 
designed. Once the production of that particular substrate is over, the 
use of that plating rack ceases and it must be discarded or rebuilt to 
hold a different substrate. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a molded product substrate assembly which 
eliminates the need for separate plating rack contacts for each product 
substrate. The product substrate assembly comprises a runner system to 
which at least one product substrate is removably attached. The runner 
system comprises at least one runner and means for releasably engaging the 
framework of a plating rack, i.e., electroless and/or electrolytic plating 
rack. 
Preferred means for releasably engaging the framework of an electrolytic 
plating rack comprises one of more clips along one runner for gripping the 
plating rack framework. A preferred means for releasably engaging the 
framework of an electroless plating rack comprises a second clip for 
releasably gripping, the electroless plating rack framework. Another 
preferred means for releasably engaging the framework of an electroless 
plating rack comprises one or more capturing members which either captures 
or is captured by the framework of the electroless plating rack to thereby 
hold the substrate assembly within the electroless plating rack framework. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the runner system further 
comprises means for releasably engaging the framework of an electroless 
plating rack and means for releasably engaging the framework from an 
electrolytic plating rack. 
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the runner system 
comprises spacers for spacing the product substrate of assembly from an 
adjacent product substrate assembly mounted on the framework of an 
electrolytic and/or electroless plating rack. Preferred spacers comprise 
coupling means for engaging adjacent product assemblies so that one 
product assembly can be stacked on top of an adjacent product assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In the preferred practice of the present invention, there is provided a 
one-piece injection molded plastic product substrate assembly which can be 
mounted on the framework of an electrolytic plating rack and on the 
framework of an electroless plating rack. An electrolytic plating rack 
particularly suited for use with the product substrate assembly of the 
present invention has only a metal framework, i.e., having no contacts for 
holding product substrates. With reference to FIG. 1, such a plating rack 
10 comprises a framework 11 which is immorsed in various solutions during 
the course of an electroplating process. The framework 11 is suspended 
from a hook 12. 
The hook 12 may be of any appropriate design for engaging the cathodic 
connection of the electroplating tank, whether that be a simple bugg bar 
or the arm or an automatic electroplating machine. The framework 11 is 
made of metal, preferably stainless steel, and comprises a pair of 
generally vertical side rails 13 and a pair of spaced apart center rails 
14. The center rails 14 are spaced apart forwardly and rearwardly from the 
plane of the side rails 13 and are connected to the side rails 13 at their 
top ends by upper framing members 16 and at their bottom ends by lower 
framing members 17. The upper and lower framing members 16 and 17 are 
covered with a non-conductive coating, e.g., plastisol, to prevent plating 
on those members. The metal of the side rails 13 and center rails 14 are 
exposed to enable electrical contact with the product substrate 
assemblies. 
The electroplating rack 10 further comprises a weight 18, e.g., a lead 
block, or the like at its lower end to prevent [unwanted vertical 
movement, i.e.], bouncing or jostling of the electroplating rack 10 when 
immersed in agitated solutions. The weight 10 assures undisrupted contact 
between the hook 12 and the cathode connection, e.g., buss bar of the 
electroplating tank. The weight 18 is covered with a non-conductive 
coating to prevent plating on it. 
With reference to FIGS. 2-4, there is shown a product substrate assembly 
constructed in accordance with the present invention for use with the 
plating rack of FIG. 1. The product substrate assembly 20 is a one-piece 
injection molded unit made of a pliable plastic such as ABS, nylon and the 
like. The product substrate assembly 20 comprises a plurality of product 
substrates 21 which, in the embodiment shown, are rectangular plates, 
e.g., name plates. The product substrates 21 are attached to a runner 
system 22 which, in the embodiment shown, comprises a single elongated, 
generally horizontal main runner 23 and a plurality of gates 24 which 
extend forwardly from the main runner 23 to the product substrates 21. 
The gates 24 are of conventional design used in injection molding product 
substrates. However, rather than detaching the product substrate from the 
gates immediately after molding, the product substrates remain attached. 
The gates 24 maintain the product substrates 21 in proper orientation and 
spacing during electroless plating and electroplating. 
After electroplating, the product substrates 21 can be degated if removed 
from the runner system 22 by conventional means such as twisting the 
product substrate 21 until it detaches from the gate 24, clipping the gate 
with a pin of wire snips, or the like. This typically leaves a blemish or 
scar on the product substrate at the location of the gate. Accordingly, 
molds are preferably designed so that the gates 24 are attached to the 
product substrates 21 at locations which cannot be seen when the product 
substrate is assembled into a final product. 
In the embodiment shown, the gates 24 are attached to the back side of the 
name plates. The gates 24 narrow adjacent the product substrate to 
facilitate detachment of the product substrate and to minimize the size of 
the blemish which remains. 
The runner system 22 further comprises a pair of end clips 26 for 
releasably attaching the product substrate assembly 20 to the side rails 
13 of the framework 11 of the electroplating rack 10. The end clips 26 
comprise a pair of fingers 27 and 28 which extend rearwardly at each end 
of the main runner 23. The fingers 27 and 28 are spaced apart forming a 
slot 29 having a width about equal to the diameter of the side rails 13 of 
the plating rack framework 11 to which it is attached. Each finger 27 and 
28 has an enlarged end remote from the main runner 23, the distance 
between the enlarged ends being slightly less than the diameter of the 
side rails 13 of the plating rack framework 11. Thus, the opening to slot 
29 is slightly less than the diameter of the side rails 13. 
The product substrate assembly 20 is mounted on the electroplating rack by 
pressing the side rail 13 into the slot 29 so that the enlarged ends of 
the fingers 27 and 28 capture the side rail 13 and hold it firmly within 
the slot 29. Such an arrangement not only keeps the product substrate 
assembly 20 firmly attached to the plating rack 10, but assures continuous 
electrical contact between the plating rack 10 and the product substrate 
assembly 20. 
In the embodiment shown, the outer finger 28 is slightly longer than the 
inner finger 27. In such an arrangement, the outer finger 28 acts as a 
hook which resists disengagement from the side rail 13 when the runner 
system 22 is pulled laterally toward the center of the electroplating 
rack, as occurs, for example, during the mounting of the product substrate 
assembly 20 on the electroplating rack. It is apparent, however, that 
arrangements in which the fingers are the same size or where the outer 
finger 28 is shorter than the inner finger 27 may be used if desired. 
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, at each end of the main runner 23 there is 
a spacer 31 which extends vertically a select distance above and below the 
main runner 23 preferably to positions slightly above and below the top 
and bottom edges of the product substrates 21. The spacer 31 serves as a 
shield to the side rails 13 of the plating rack framework 11, reducing the 
amount of metal which is deposited on the side rails 13. This in turn 
reduces the time and materials required to strip the plating rack between 
plating runs. 
The spacer 31 facilitates mounting of the product substrate assemblies 20 
on the electroplating rack 10. By selecting the proper vertical length of 
the spacer 31, the desired spacing between product substrates of adjacent 
product substrate assemblies mounted on the electroplating rack can be 
achieved easily by mounting adjacent product substrate assemblies on the 
plating rack with the spacer 31 of one product substrate assembly abutting 
the spacer 31 of the adjacent product substrate assemblies 20. This 
prevents mounting of adjacent products substrate assemblies too close or 
too far apart. 
If desired, the outer and/or inner fingers 28 and 27 may also extend 
vertically the full length or any portion of the length of the spacer 31. 
In such an embodiment, the fingers 27 and/or 28 along with the spacer 31 
form a shield which wraps around the side rails 13, further reducing the 
amount of metal which deposits onto the plating rack framework. It is to 
be understood, however, that while such a shield is desirable, it is not 
required for the practice of the invention. 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the runner system 22 comprises a center 
guide 32 having a pair of fingers 33 and 34 which extend rearwardly from 
the main runner 23 at about its midpoint. The fingers 33 and 34 are spaced 
apart a distance about equal to the diameter of the center rail 14 of the 
electroplating rack framework 11 and form a slot 35 for receiving the 
center rail. 
A center spacer 36 extends above and below the main runner 23 preferably to 
positions above and below the top and bottom edges of the product 
substrates 21. Like the spacer 31, the center spacer 36 forms a shield 
which reduces the amount of metal which plates onto the center rail 14 of 
the plating racks framework 11. 
In the embodiment shown, the center guide 32 does not clip onto the center 
rail 14 but rather provides a means for properly aligning the product 
substrate assembly 20 on the electroplating rack 10. It is apparent, 
however, that if desired, a center clip similar to the end clips 26 could 
be provided rather than a center guide. It is further apparent that the 
center clip or guide may be simply omitted. Likewise, the center spacer 36 
need not be present. Alternatively, one or both of the fingers 33 and 34 
may extend vertically along the center spacer 36 to form a larger shield 
which wraps around the center rail 14 to further reduce plating on it. 
During electroplating the framework of the plating rack and the product 
substrate assemblies mounted on the framework are immersed in an 
electroplating bath. Such baths typically have a plurality of anodes 
aligned in a generally straight line adjacent opposite sides of the 
plating tank. Because the center rails 14 of the plating rack are spaced 
apart forwardly and rearwardly from the side rails 13, the product 
substrates 21 adjacent the side rails 13 of the plating rack 10 tend to be 
spaced apart farther from the anodes during electroplating than the 
product substrates 21 adjacent the center rail 14 of the electroplating 
rack 10. Such an arrangement is preferred as it tends to minimize the 
difference in current density at the product substrates 11 near the side 
rails 22 of the electroplating rack and at the product substrates 11 near 
the center rail 14. Before electroplating, the product substrate assembly 
20 is electrolessly plated to establish a thin conductive metal layer over 
the product substrate assembly 20. This thin metal layer then acts as a 
buss to enable a thicker metal coating to be built up during the 
subsequent electroplating process. In the electroless plating process, the 
surface of the clips 26, runner 23, gates 24, and product substrates 21 
must all be electrolessly plated to assure an electrical connection 
between the electroplating rack and the product substrates during 
subsequent electroplating. Because the initial thin metal layer is 
deposited chemically, these surfaces must be free of contact with other 
objects. This means that the clips 26 which are used to mount the product 
substrate assembly 20 on the electroplating rack cannot be used in the 
same manner to mount the product substrate assembly on the electroless 
plating rack. If they were, the surfaces of the clips 26 in contact with 
the electroless plating rack framework would not be electrolessly plated 
with the result that the clips 26 would be unable to make the required 
electrical contact with electroplating rack during electroplating. 
Accordingly, the runner system 22 of the product substrate assembly 10 is 
designed to be mounted on the framework of an electroless plating rack 
without utilizing the contact area of the clips 26, i.e., the portions of 
the clips 26 which engage and contact the framework of the electroplating 
rack. In the embodiment shown, the product substrate assembly comprises a 
rib 38 which extends forwardly along the vertical length of the spacer 31. 
The forwardly extending rib 38, along with the rearwardly extending first 
and second fingers 27 and 28 form an enlarged end unit for mounting the 
product substrate assembly 20 on the framework of an electroless plating 
rack. 
With reference to FIG. 6, a preferred electroless plating rack comprises a 
generally rectangular base frame 41 and a plurality of pairs of generally 
vertical hollow tubes 42, open at their upper ends, extending upwardly 
from opposite sides of the base frame 41. A removable generally 
rectangular top frame 43 covers the open ends of the tubes. The tubes 42 
of a tube pair are spaced apart a distance about equal to the distance 
between the end units of the runner system 22. Each tube 42 comprises a 
generally vertical slot 44 along the length of the tube 42. Each slot 44 
is located so that it faces and is generally parallel with the slot 44 of 
the other tube 42 of the tube pair. The width of the slot 44 is slightly 
larger than the diameter of the main runner 23. 
The ends of the runner system, including the spacers 31, are inserted into 
the tubes at their upper ends with the main runner extending through the 
slots as shown in FIG. 3. In such an arrangement, the tubes 42 capture the 
enlarged end units of the runner system 22 and prevent substantial lateral 
movement of the product substrate assembly 20. 
Vertical movement of the product substrate assembly 20 is restricted by 
stacking one product substrate assembly 20 on top of another until the 
tubes 42 are full and then releasably mounting the top frame 43 over the 
tubes 42. In such an arrangement, the spacer 31 of one product substrate 
assembly 20 rests on the spacer 31 of the product substrate assembly 20 
below it. Because the spacers 31 extend above and below the top and bottom 
edges of the product substrates 21, the product substrates 21 of one 
product substrate assembly 20 do not contact those of the adjacent product 
substrate assemblies 20. 
It is apparent that, for the particular product substrate assembly 20 
described above, electroplating and electroless plating racks having 
various framework designs may be used. For example, rather than an 
electroless plating rack comprising a series of spaced apart tubes 42, as 
described above, the electroless plating rack 50 may simply comprise a 
series of vertical spaced apart rod pairs extending upwardly from a 
rectangular base frame 52, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. With such an 
electroless plating rack, each enlarged end unit of the runner system 22 
is captured by a pair of rods 51 spaced apart a distance slightly greater 
than the diameter of the main runner 23 but less than the diameter of the 
enlarged end unit of the runner system 22. Lateral movement is thus 
prevented by the rods 51 and vertical movement is prevented by stacking 
the product substrate assemblies 20 in the same manner as described above. 
A removable top framing member (not shown) secure the product substrate 
assemblies 20 within the electroless plating rack framework. 
It is equally apparent that the design of the product substrate assembly 
may vary. For example, in the above described embodiment, the runner 
system comprised a single generally horizontal main runner. It is apparent 
that other runner systems comprising for example, a primary runner and 
secondary runner branching off the primary runner may be used. For large 
product substrates, such a runner system may be required. 
The means for releasably engaging the framework of an electroplating rack 
in the above embodiment comprised a clip 26 at each end of the main runner 
23. It is apparent that the design, number, and location of the clips 
required in a particular application will vary according to the design of 
the runner system and the design of the plating rack framework. Moreover, 
means for releasably engaging the electrolytic plating rack framework 
other than clips may be used. 
With reference to FIG. 9, there is shown a number of engaging means which 
may be utilized in the practice of this invention. For example, FIGS. 9a 
and 9b show variations of the clip shown in FIG. 2. The clip 61 of FIG. 9a 
comprises an outer finger 62 which extends rearwardly and inwardly from 
the main runner 63 and an inner finger 64 which is simply a bump on the 
main runner 63. In FIG. 9b, the clip 66, the outer finger 67 and inner 
finger 68 both extend straight back and are the same length. FIG. 9c shows 
a C-shaped clip 69 at the end of a main runner 70 for mounting on the 
vertical side rails of a plating rack. In this design, the clip 69 extends 
downwardly to function as a spacer as well as to hold the product 
substrate on the electroplating rack. FIG. 9d shows a clip 71 similar to 
that shown in FIG. 9c for mounting on a horizontal member of a plating 
rack framework. 
FIG. 9e shows a clip 72 having a foot 73 at the lower end of a spacer 74 
which spaces the lower end of the spacer away from the side rail or other 
vertical member of the plating rack framework. Such a clip design may be 
used, for example, if it is desired to tilt the product substrate. 
FIG. 9f shows a hook 74 at one end of the main runner 75 which may be used 
in conjunction with a clip at some other location on the runner, e.g., at 
the other end of the main runner 75. 
It is equally apparent that the means for releasably engaging the framework 
of an electroless plating rack may vary. For example, rather than 
providing a member such as the enlarged end unit of the runner system as 
described above which is captured by the electroless plating rack 
framework, the runner system may comprise a member which captures the 
electroless plating rack framework. FIG. 10 shows various alternative 
designs which capture the electroless plating rack framework. FIG. 10a 
shows a ring 76 at the end of the main runner 77 which may be mounted in 
surrounding relation to a vertical rod or bar of an electroless plating 
rack framework. FIG. 10b shows a similar arrangement only using a hollow 
cylinder 78 at the end of the main runner 79 instead of a ring. The length 
of the cylinder 78 is preferably chosen so that it acts as a spacer. FIG. 
10c shows a cylinder 81 with a portion of the cylinder 81 extending 
upwardly and downwardly thereby forming a spacer 82. FIG. 10d shows a 
simple Y-structure 83 which may be used at each end of the main runner 84 
or as a guide. 
FIG. 10e shows a partially preferred arrangement comprising a pair of clips 
86 and 87. The first clip 86 is providing for engaging the framework of an 
electroplating rack as previously described, clip 87 is provided for 
engaging the framework of an electroless plating rack. As shown, each clip 
86 and 87 comprise a pair of fingers which extend forwardly and 
rearwardly, respectively, from the main runner 88. Arrangements wherein 
the fingers differ in length may also be used. 
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4, the spacer 31 provided a means for 
maintaining a separation between the product substrates of adjacent 
product substrate assemblies. It is apparent that spacers of other designs 
may be used. For example, FIG. 11 shows a spacer 91 comprising of inverted 
truncated cone 92 which extends downwardly from a main runner 93. At the 
top of the spacer 91, there is a cylindrical recess 94. In this 
arrangement, one product substrate assembly may be stacked on top of 
another with the lower end of the cone portion of the spacer 92 resting on 
the floor of the cylindrical recess of the product substrate assembly 
below it. 
FIG. 12 shows another preferred spacer 96 which comprises a conical lower 
end 97 and a conical recess 98 at its upper end. In such an embodiment, 
one product substrate assembly may be stacked on another with the conical 
lower end of the spacer 96 inserted into the conical recess 98 in the 
spacer of the product substrate assembly below it. 
FIG. 13 shows yet another spacer arrangement. In this embodiment, the 
spacer 101 comprise a ball 102 at its upper end and a socket 103 at its 
lower end for receiving the ball 102 of a similar spacer of a second 
product substrate assembly below it. The socket 103 comprises a 
circumvented rib 104 which captures the ball of the second product 
substrate assembly holding it firmly in place. 
In such an embodiment, numerous product substrate assemblies may be clipped 
together forming a network of product substrate assemblies. Such an 
arrangement may obviate the need for mounting the product substrate 
assemblies on electroless and/or electrolytic plating racks. In other 
words, if desired, such a network may simply be hung from the arm of an 
electroless or electrolytic plating rack machine. If this is done, it may 
be necessary to attach a suitable weight to the network to maintain 
immersion of the network in high density solutions and/or highly agitated 
solutions. 
FIGS. 14-16 show an end unit 105 comprising a spacer and clip at the end of 
a runner 106 which is particularly useful with an electroless plating rack 
as shown in FIG. 6. The end unit 105 comprises a generally flat circular 
plate 107 having a generally rectangular opening 108 in it. Extending 
downwardly from the plate 107 on each side of the opening 108 are 
generally rectangular fingers 109 and 111, each having an inwardly 
protruding tang 112. The fingers 109 and 111 form a clip 113 having a slot 
114 into which a rod or bar of the framework of an electroplating rack may 
be pressed. 
The clip 113 is surrounded and protected by a guard 117 which extends about 
the periphery of the plate 107 above and below the plate 107. Above the 
plate 107 the guard 117 is generally semi-circular or C-shaped, the 
opening of the "C" being at the end of the runner 106. Below the plate 107 
the guard 117 comprises two curved sections facing each other and spaced 
apart to form a pair of gaps 118 which are aligned with the slot 114 of 
the clip 113 so that a rod or bar of the framework of an electroplating 
rack can be inserted into the slot 114. 
Extending downwardly from the plate 107 at a location spaced apart from the 
clip 113 and adjacent the end of the runner 106 is a spacer bar 119. When 
stacked on top of another product substrate assembly, the bottom end of 
the spacer bar 119 sits on the top surface of the plate 107 of the product 
substrate assembly below it. 
The diameter of the plate 107 and hence, the outer diameter of the guard 
117 is selected to be only slightly less than the inner diameter of the 
tubular members 121 of the electroless plating rack as shown in FIG. 15. 
This restricts movement of the end unit 105 within the tubular members 12, 
and thereby keeps the spacer bars 11 properly aligned with the end unit 
105 of the product substrate assembly below it. 
In FIG. 17, there is shown a particularly preferred embodiment of the 
invention wherein the runner systems of various product substrate 
assemblies are clipped together to form a network of product substrate 
assemblies. In this embodiment, each runner system 122 comprises a pair of 
vertical spacers 123, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, and a single 
horizontal spacer 124 adjoined at one end of the main runner 126. The 
horizontal spacer 124 extends rearwardly from the main runner 126 and 
comprises a clip 127 at the end remote from the main runner 126. The clip 
127 has a pair of spaced apart fingers which form a slot for receiving and 
gripping the main runner of another product substrate assembly. 
In clipping two product substrate assemblies together by means of the 
horizontal spacer, the orientation of the second product substrate 
assembly is reversed, as compared to the first, so that the clip 127 of 
one product substrate assembly engages the main runner 126 of the other 
product substrate assembly at the end of that runner opposite its 
horizontal spacer. 
Additional product substrate assemblies may be combined by means of the 
vertical spacers to form a complex network. Such a network may be mounted 
on the framework of an electroless and/or electrolytic plating rack, for 
example, by the inclusion of additional clips or the line in the runner 
system. Alternatively, the network may simply be suspended from the arm of 
an electroless and/or electrolytic plating machine on the line without the 
use of a plating rack. 
The product substrate assemblies of the present invention provides several 
unique advantages. For example, by incorporating clips or other means for 
mounting the product substrate assembly onto electrolytic and electroless 
plating racks, an operator need never touch the actual product substrates. 
This reduces the number of parts which must be rejected after 
electroplating due to defects created by handling. 
Further, the present invention eliminates the need for individual contacts 
on the electroless and/or electrolytic plating racks. This greatly reduces 
the cost of building the plating racks as well as maintaining, e.g., 
repairing, those racks. By utilizing the present invention, plating racks 
may be standardized into a relatively small number of sizes, shapes, or 
designs. 
Depending on the design of the product substrate and runner system, it may 
be possible to utilize a double shot molding technique wherein a high 
grade platable plastic is injected into and fills the product substrate 
cavities and a less expensive lower grade platable plastic is used to fill 
the runner system, thereby reducing the overall cost of the product 
substrate assembly. 
Another advantage is that shields may be incorporated into the runner 
system which reduce the mount of plating which occurs directly in the 
plating rack framework. This reduces the time, effort, and expense in 
stripping the plating racks between plating runs. 
If desired, the runner systems or the product substrate assemblies may be 
designed to clip together rather than, or in addition to, the plating 
racks. This may eliminate the need for and associated expense of, building 
the plating racks in the first place. 
The preceding description has been presented with reference to several 
presently preferred embodiments of the invention which are shown in the 
accompanying drawings. Workers skilled in the art and technology to which 
this invention pertains will appreciate that other alterations or changes 
in the described structures can be practiced without meaningfully 
departing from the principles, spirit and scope of this invention. 
Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be read as pertaining 
only to the precise structures described, but rather should be read 
consistent with and as support for the following claims which are to have 
their fullest fair scope.