Patent ID: 7229265

Claim:
A mold lock for maintaining alignment between first and second mold halves, said mold lock comprising: a) T-shaped member including a rectangular head, and a tongue with spaced parallel side walls, extending from said head, b) means for securing said T-shaped member to said first mold half, c) a receptacle comprising a pair of spaced parallel legs, the interior surfaces of said legs defining parallel side walls, and a base extending between said legs to define an outwardly opening U-shaped pocket, d) means for securing said receptacle to said second mold half, in alignment with said T-shaped member, e) said U-shaped pocket being slightly larger in size than said tongue of said T-shaped member, so that said tongue can be seated within said pocket when the mold halves are pressed together, f) groove means for retaining and distributing lubrication in the spaced parallel walls of said mold lock, g) said groove means comprising at least two grooves that intersect in said side walls of said mold lock, h) said grooves being angularly oriented relative to one another to form an X-shaped intersection, and I) means for introducing lubricant into said mold lock and conducting same into said groove means to provide a film of lubricant between said side walls of said tongue and said side walls of said receptacle.