Compression mold and molding process
An improved compression molding process uses a separation plate 26 disposed between the upper and lower sections 22, 24 of a compression mold 20 for forming a grip with a distinct separation of multiple elastomeric materials. An optional compound retention plate 25 mounted on at least one of the mold sections forms a distinct color separation in the resulting grip. The optional compound retention plate 25 provides at least one groove formed in the split line of the grip that may be filled in with paint for a distinct overall two color appearance.
1. A method for making a grip having sides with distinct colors, comprising the steps of:
providing a compression mold with an upper section, a lower section, and a separation plate separating the upper and lower sections, said upper and lower sections of said compression mold each having a mold cavity with a form for shaping the grip;
mounting a compound retention plate on one of the sections of the compression mold, said compound retention plate having at least one leading edge extending into the mold cavity for forming at least one groove in a grip split line;
placing a first elastomeric material with a first color in the mold cavity in the lower section of the compression mold;
positioning the separation plate over the mold cavity in the lower section of the compression mold;
placing a second elastomeric material with a different color on a top surface of the separation plate for overfilling the mold cavity in the upper section;
closing the compression mold and heating the compression mold to overfill the first elastomeric material into the lower mold cavity and to overfill the second elastomeric material into the upper mold cavity in a substantially sheet type form;
removing the separation plate from the compression mold and allowing the separation plate to separate from the first and second elastomeric materials still being disposed in their respective mold cavities;
inserting a core bar between the upper and lower mold cavities of the compression mold;
applying additional heat and compression molding the elastomeric materials in the upper and lower mold cavities to vulcanize the elastomeric materials; and
forming a grip having two sides with different colors and a distinct separation of the different colored first and second elastomeric materials at the grip spat line.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second elastomeric materials have a similar composition.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second elastomeric materials have different compositions.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a location guide on the separation plate for facilitating placement of the second elastomeric material thereon.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of providing locating pins in the separation plate with corresponding apertures in the compression mold for facilitating positing the separation plate in the compression mold.
6. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the elastomeric materials comprise rubber materials.
7. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the elastomeric materials comprise thermoplastic materials.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric materials are rubber.