Floating core for glass insert molding method and apparatuses therefrom

1. A tool, comprising:

a mold defining a cavity, the cavity for receiving a glass layer;

a floating core insert; and

two wedge-shaped backing plates to:

apply a preloading force against the floating core insert to transfer the preloading force to a first major face of the glass layer, the application of the preloading force through lateral movement of the two wedge-shaped backing plates;

preclude an overmolding operation on the first major face; and

allow overmolding only on minor faces of the glass layer when polymeric material is injected into the mold.

2. The tool of claim 1 , the floating core insert comprising one or more compressible pads biased between the floating core insert and the glass layer.

3. The tool of claim 1 , further comprising one or more springs to apply an additional preloading force to the first major face of the glass layer.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein one of the minor faces of the glass layer has a curvilinear shape and the tool allows overmolding on the curvilinear shape.

5. The tool of claim 1 , wherein one of the minor faces of the glass layer has a linear shape tapering inward from a perimeter of a second major face to the first major face of the glass layer and the tool allows overmolding on the linear shape.

6. The tool of claim 1 , wherein one of the minor faces of the glass layer has a stepped shape and the tool allows overmolding on the stepped shape.

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the floating core insert is allowed to translate, within the cavity, longitudinally along an axis perpendicular to the first major face.

8. The tool of claim 7 , wherein the lateral movement of the two wedge-shaped backing plates is perpendicular to the axis along which the floating core insert is allowed to translate.

9. The tool of claim 1 , wherein one of the two wedged-shaped backing plates is coupled to the floating core insert.

10. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the glass layer is reinforced glass.

11. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the glass layer is planar.

12. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the glass layer is convex at the first major face.

13. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the glass layer is circular.

14. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the glass layer further comprises a second major face, the second major face having a larger area than the first major face, and wherein the allowance of the overmolding only on minor faces of the glass layer does not allow overmolding on the first major face or the second major face.

15. A tool, comprising:

a mold defining a cavity, the cavity for receiving a polycarbonate, plastic film, or ceramic layer;

a floating core insert; and

two wedge-shaped backing plates to:

apply a preloading force against the floating core insert to transfer the preloading force to a first major face of the polycarbonate, plastic film, or ceramic layer, the application of the preloading force through lateral movement of the two wedge-shaped backing plates;

preclude an overmolding operation on the first major face; and

allow overmolding only on minor faces of the polycarbonate, plastic film, or ceramic layer when polymeric material is injected into the mold.

16. The tool of claim 15 , the floating core insert comprising one or more compressible pads biased between the floating core insert and the polycarbonate, plastic film, or ceramic layer.

17. The tool of claim 15 , further comprising one or more springs to apply an additional preloading force to the first major face of the polycarbonate, plastic film, or ceramic layer.

18. The tool of claim 15 , wherein the polycarbonate, plastic film, or ceramic layer is polycarbonate.

19. The tool of claim 15 , wherein polycarbonate, plastic film, or ceramic layer is plastic film, the plastic film being transparent.

20. The tool of claim 15 , wherein one of the two wedged-shaped backing plates is coupled to the floating core insert.