Patent ID: 7293341

Claim:
A method of assembling a collapsible core device for molding articles around said core device in a mold cavity, comprising: providing a first sleeve having a plurality of first ribs extending from a first base in an axial direction, said first ribs defining a discontinuous first perimeter surrounding a central channel, said first base having an annular shoulder portion defining a portion of said central channel and said annular shoulder portion having a plurality of grooves extending therethrough; providing a second sleeve having a plurality of second ribs extending from a second base in an axial direction, said second ribs defining a discontinuous second perimeter surrounding said central channel; inserting said second sleeve within said first sleeve to the extent that each of said second ribs is arranged between adjacent ones of said first ribs and that at least a portion of at least one of said second ribs extends through at least one of said plurality of grooves of said annular shoulder portion of said first base; and providing an expansion member configured to be forcibly fit within said central channel; forcibly fitting said expansion member within said central channel to displace said first and second ribs outwardly to form an overall perimeter defined by said first and second ribs for molding an article around said overall perimeter.