Patent ID: 6918986

Claim:
A method for trimming flashing from joined first and second plastic members comprising the steps of: (a) providing first and second clamps; (b) clamping the first and second plastic members between first and second clamps; (c) heating surfaces of said first and second plastic members to be joined sufficient to soften said surfaces; (d) moving the first and second clamps in a direction to bring said heated, softened surfaces of said members into engagement causing fusion of the members in the region of the heated softened surfaces, whereby a portion of the heated material is forced out from between the engaging surfaces to form flashing; (e) affixing guides each having one of a pair of cutting blade assemblies mounted therein and slidable independent of said clamps to said clamps; and (f) latching the guides to one another; (g) imparting movement to said pair of cutting blade assemblies guided by said guides to move the cutting assemblies in a direction transverse to the heated surfaces and independently of said clamps to thereby move the blade assemblies from a spaced apart position, whereby the flashing lies in a gap between spaced apart blades of said blade assemblies, toward an engaged position of said blades to thereby trim said flashing.