Patent ID: 7306451

Claim:
A forming tool apparatus for forming an article having a negative draft angle that locks the formed article within the forming tool, comprising: a first forming tool and a second forming tool that are closed relative to one another to define a forming tool cavity in which the formed article is formed and are opened relative to one another for removal of the formed article from the forming tool cavity; the first forming tool having a removable wall segment having a draft angle defining an undercut cavity wall that provides a desired shape to the formed article but locks the formed article against removal from the forming tool cavity; a linkage normally establishing the removable wall segment in a forming position in which the undercut wall is poised for forming of the formed article there against and selectively pivoting the removable wall segment out of the forming position when the forming tools are opened relative one another so that the undercut wall is pivotally lifted into a position that releases the formed article for removal from the cavity, and said removable wall segment and first forming tool carrying interlocking structures that self engage with one another when the removable wall segment is in the forming position so that the removable wall segment is retained in forming position independent of the linkage and to self disengage from one another when the removable wall segment is pivoted out of the forming position.