Patent ID: 7798805

Claim:
A platen of a molding system, the platen comprising: a mold-support structure having a central portion, the mold-support structure having a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion; a force-receiving structure offset from the mold-support structure; and an intermediate structure connecting the force-receiving structure to the central portion, the intermediate structure does not connect the force-receiving structure to the peripheral portion, the force-receiving structure having respective tie-bar accommodation corners each defining tie-bar channels configured to receive a respective tie bar, responsive to the force-receiving structure receiving a clamping force, the respective tie-bar accommodation corners resist, at least in part, coplanar disorientation relative to the mold-support structure; and wherein the respective tie-bar accommodation corners are coupled to the peripheral portion of the mold-support structure, the respective tie-bar accommodation corners are supported by the peripheral portion of the mold-support structure, the respective tie-bar accommodation corners are supported by connection portions associated with the intermediate structure, and the support provided by the peripheral portion is greater than the support provided by the connection portions.