Patent ID: 8349242

Claim:
A method of molding a flange using a first tool element and a second opposing tool element, the first tool element defining a negative of at least a portion of a first side of a flange, and the second tool element defining a negative of at least a portion of the second side of the flange, the method comprising: a) providing a set of blocks for insertion into a plurality of recesses in the second tool element, the set of blocks insertable in a plurality of configurations, each configuration defining a negative of a set of retention features on the second side of the flange, the plurality of configurations defining differing configurations of retention features on the second side, each retention feature configured to support and contact a reel core; and b) inserting at least some of the set of blocks into the second tool element to form a selected one of the plurality of configurations; and c) performing injection molding using the first tool element and the second tool element.