IP Library Granted Patent US 8,277,714
Granted Patent B1
US 8,277,714 · App. 12/618,226 · Granted Oct 2, 2012

Braid capture overmolding

Assignees: Mercury Plastics, Inc.; Masco Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,277,714
App. No.
12/618,226
Granted
Oct 2, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

The invention described herein relates to capturing a covering such as a braid on a exterior profile of a plastic tube by overmolding onto a plumbing tube, wherein a circumferentially surrounding covering or braid is modified prior to the overmolding process.

Claims (40)

1. A process for securing a covering about a profile, said profile having a first and a second end, comprising the steps of:

cutting a length of said profile and said covering, said covering heated adjacent said cut holding the covering in position prior to overmolding, said covering co-extending along said length of said profile and positioned about said profile;

removing at least a portion of said heated portion of said covering from said profile so as to expose at least a portion of said profile thereby creating a first bonding region;

overmolding a thermoplastic polymer about a complete peripheral perimeter of said first bonding region of said profile that is chemically compatible with said profile so as to form a material-to-material leak-proof bond between said overmolded polymer and said profile and about at least a portion of a peripheral perimeter of said covering.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said covering and said overmolded thermoplastic polymer are only partially chemically compatible, said process further comprising the steps of:

inserting a supplemental fastening means about an end of said covering;

apply an inward compressive force to said supplemental fastening means; and

said step of overmolding includes overmolding over at least a portion of said supplemental fastening means.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein

said step of overmolding produces a sealing means; and wherein

said overmolded thermoplastic polymer and said profile and said covering are all chemically compatible.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein

said profile is circular; and

said step of overmolding produces a sealing end, said sealing end comprising a sealing surface.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein

said covering is a corrugated tube; and

said step of overmolding produces a sealing end, said sealing end comprising a sealing surface.

6. The process of claim 1 which further comprises the step of crosslinking said overmolded polymer and said profile after said step of overmolding.

7. The process of claim 1 which further comprises the steps of

removing at least a portion of said covering from said second end of said profile so as to expose at least a portion of said profile thereby creating a second bonding region;

overmolding a thermoplastic polymer about a complete peripheral perimeter of said second bonding region of said profile that is chemically compatible with said profile so as to form a material-to-material leak-proof bond between said overmolded polymer and said profile and about at least a portion of a peripheral perimeter of said covering.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein said covering and said overmolded thermoplastic polymer are only partially chemically compatible, said process further comprising the steps of:

inserting a supplemental fastening means about a second end of said covering;

applying an inward compressive force to said supplemental fastening means; and

said step of overmolding includes overmolding at least a portion of said supplemental fastening means.

9. The process of claim 7 wherein

said step of overmolding about the second bonding region produces a sealing means; and wherein

said overmolded thermoplastic polymer about the second bonding region and said profile and said covering are all chemically compatible.

10. The process of claim 7 wherein

said profile is circular; and

said step of overmolding about the second bonding region produces a sealing end, said sealing end comprising a sealing surface.

11. The process of claim 7 which further comprises the step of

crosslinking said overmolded polymer and said profile after said step of overmolding about the second bonding region.

12. A process for securing a covering about a profile, said profile having a first and a second end, comprising the steps of:

cutting a length of said profile;

positioning a covering about said profile, said covering having a first end and a second end;

removing at least a portion of said covering from at least one first end of said profile so as to expose at least a portion of said profile thereby creating a first bonding region having a first bonding region;

applying heat to either the first end or second end of said covering adjacent to the first bonding region holding the covering in position prior to overmolding;

overmolding a first thermoplastic polymer about a complete peripheral perimeter of said first bonding region of said profile that is chemically compatible with said profile so as to form a material-to-material leak-proof bond between said overmolded polymer and said profile; and

overmolding a second thermoplastic polymer about at least a portion of a peripheral perimeter of said covering co-extending partway along said length of said profile.

Assignments (6)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Mar 20, 2018
From: MASCO CORPORATION
To: MASCO CORPORATION OF INDIANA
Reel/Frame 045284/0952 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 4, 2018
From: GOLDEN EAGLE ACQUISITION LLC
To: MERCURY PLASTICS LLC
Reel/Frame 045001/0256 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: MERCURY PLASTICS, INC.; NEO BEAM ALLIANCE, LIMITED; WILLIAM ROWLEY
To: GOLDEN EAGLE ACQUISITION LLC
Reel/Frame 044895/0682 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2015
From: MASCO CORPORATION OF INDIANA
To: DELTA FAUCET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 035168/0845 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2011
From: MERCURY PLASTICS, INC.
To: MERCURY PLASTICS, INC.; MASCO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026571/0904 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2009
From: BLUE, WILLIAM; K'MEYER, THOMAS
To: MERCURY PLASTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023516/0163 →