US4340352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hinge exercising mechanism
Assignee: Global Precision Inc
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Filing: 1980-12-31
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Granted: 1982-07-20
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Expires: 2000-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A device for exercising a living hinge of an article and/or closing a lid of a cap while the article or cap is in a mold for forming the article or cap. The device includes a finger which slides between the mold sections, and, in the process, engages a portion of the article or the lid, rotates the portion or lid about the hinge, and in the case of the cap, snaps the lid shut. In an alternate preferred embodiment, when the finger reaches a predetermined point it pivots toward the female mold section to snap the lid tightly shut.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Hayberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:35
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C37/00; B29C37/0003; B29C37/0014; B29C45/00; B29C45/0053; B29C45/006; B29C65/00; B29C65/66; B29C65/665; B29C66/00; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/54; B29C66/549; B29C66/80; B29C66/82; B29C66/822; B29C66/8221; B29C66/8227; B29C66/824; B29C66/8242; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8324; B29C66/836; B29C66/8362; B29C67/00; B29C45/0081; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/56; B29L2031/565; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/003; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/49876
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for closing a lid of a cap while in a mold for forming said cap, said lid being pivotably connected to said cap by a hinge, said device comprising: a finger including a portion adapted for engagement with said cap; means for slidably connecting said finger to said mold, said finger being able to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge, said connecting means being oriented to enable said finger portion to engage said lid and rotate said lid about said hinge as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for closing a lid of a cap while in a mold for forming said cap, said lid being pivotably connected to said cap by a hinge, said device comprising: a finger including a portion adapted for engagement with said cap; means for slidably connecting said finger to said mold, said finger being able to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge, said connecting means being oriented to enable said finger portion to engage said lid and rotate said lid about said hinge as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for closing a lid of a cap while in a mold for forming said cap, said lid being pivotably connected to said cap by a hinge, said device comprising: a finger including a roller adapted for engagement with said lid; means for slidably connecting said finger to said mold, said finger being able to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge, said connecting means being oriented to enable said finger roller to engage said lid and rotate said lid about said hinge as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for closing a lid of a cap while in a mold for forming said cap, said lid being pivotably connected to said cap by a hinge, said device comprising: a finger including a roller adapted for engagement with said lid; means for slidably connecting said finger to said mold, said finger being able to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge, said connecting means being oriented to enable said finger roller to engage said lid and rotate said lid about said hinge as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a mold for forming a cap having a lid, said lid being pivotably connected to said cap by a hinge, a device for closing said lid while said cap is in said mold comprising: a finger including a portion adapted for engagement with said lid; means for slidably connecting said finger to said mold, said finger being able to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge, said connecting means being oriented to enable said finger to engage said lid and rotate said lid about said hinge as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a mold for forming a cap having a lid, said lid being pivotably connected to said cap by a hinge, a device for closing said lid while said cap is in said mold comprising: a finger including a portion adapted for engagement with said lid; means for slidably connecting said finger to said mold, said finger being able to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge, said connecting means being oriented to enable said finger to engage said lid and rotate said lid about said hinge as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for closing a lid of a cap while in a mold section for forming said cap, said lid being pivotably connected to said cap by a hinge, said device comprising: a finger having a roller adapted for engagement with said lid; a slide assembly connected to said finger and slidably connected to said mold section to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge and parallel to a surface of said mold section, said assembly being oriented to enable said roller to engage said lid, rotate said lid about said hinge, and close said lid as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for closing a lid of a cap while in a mold section for forming said cap, said lid being pivotably connected to said cap by a hinge, said device comprising: a finger having a roller adapted for engagement with said lid; a slide assembly connected to said finger and slidably connected to said mold section to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge and parallel to a surface of said mold section, said assembly being oriented to enable said roller to engage said lid, rotate said lid about said hinge, and close said lid as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein said finger includes a plurality of rollers, each of said rollers adapted for engagement with one said lid, respectively.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for exercising a living hinge of an article in a mold for forming said article, said device comprising: a finger including a portion adapted for engagement with said article; means for slidably connecting said finger to said mold, said connecting means enabling said finger to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge, said connecting means being oriented to enable said finger to engage a portion of said article and rotate said article portion about said hinge as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for exercising a living hinge of an article in a mold for forming said article, said device comprising: a finger including a portion adapted for engagement with said article; means for slidably connecting said finger to said mold, said connecting means enabling said finger to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge, said connecting means being oriented to enable said finger to engage a portion of said article and rotate said article portion about said hinge as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as in claim 6 further comprising an air piston disposed within said mold, said air piston having a shaft for engaging said article portion and pushing said article portion out of said mold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 6 wherein said finger has a plurality of portions, each adapted for engagement with one said article, respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 6 or 1 wherein said finger portion has a curved surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as in claim 6 or 1 wherein one of said mold and said connecting means has slots and the other of said mold and said connecting means engages said slots.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said finger includes a plurality of portions, each adapted for engagement with one said lid, respectively.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
108 words
A device for closing a lid of a cap while in a mold section for forming said cap, said lid being pivotably connected to said cap by a hinge, said device comprising: a finger having a portion adapted for engagement with said lid; a slide assembly connected to said finger and slidably connected to said mold section to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge and parallel to a surface of said mold section, said assembly being oriented to enable said finger portion to engage said lid, rotate said lid about said hinge and close said lid as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
108 words
A device for closing a lid of a cap while in a mold section for forming said cap, said lid being pivotably connected to said cap by a hinge, said device comprising: a finger having a portion adapted for engagement with said lid; a slide assembly connected to said finger and slidably connected to said mold section to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge and parallel to a surface of said mold section, said assembly being oriented to enable said finger portion to engage said lid, rotate said lid about said hinge and close said lid as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 12 wherein one of said mold and said slide assembly has slots and the other of said mold and said slide assembly engages said slots.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as in claim 1, 1, or 12 wherein said driving means comprises an air piston.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as in claim 1 or 12 further comprising an air piston disposed within said mold, said air piston having a shaft for engaging said lid and pushing said lid out of said mold.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a mold for forming articles having a living hinge, a device for exercising said hinge comprising: a finger including a portion adapted for engagement with said article; means for slidably connecting said finger to said mold, said connecting means enabling said finger to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge, said connecting means being oriented to enable said finger to engage a portion of said article and rotate said article portion about said hinge as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a mold for forming articles having a living hinge, a device for exercising said hinge comprising: a finger including a portion adapted for engagement with said article; means for slidably connecting said finger to said mold, said connecting means enabling said finger to slide transverse to the axis of said hinge, said connecting means being oriented to enable said finger to engage a portion of said article and rotate said article portion about said hinge as said finger slides; and means for driving said finger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-07-19 | 1986-01-18 | 1986-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-07-19 | 1990-01-18 | 1990-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-07-19 | 1994-01-18 | 1994-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |