Container having a rim or other feature encapsulated by or formed from injection-molded material

摘要

A tool and method for forming a container from a construct. The tool comprising a cavity for receiving a construct, a core operatively associated with the cavity and being operable to move into the cavity, an injection cavity for receiving injection-molding material and directing injection-molding material around at least a portion of the perimeter of the construct, and a clamping feature. The clamping feature is operatively connected to at least one of the cavity and the core and is for clamping a peripheral portion of the construct as the core moves into the cavity to form the construct into the container.

主权项

1. A method of forming a container from a construct, the method comprising:
obtaining a tool having a cavity, a core, an injection cavity, and a clamping feature operatively connected to at least one of the cavity and the core; placing a construct between the cavity and the core; activating the clamping feature by moving at least one of the cavity and the core so that the clamping feature at least partially grips a peripheral portion of the construct; and moving the core into the cavity to at least partially form the container from the construct, the peripheral portion of the construct remaining gripped by the clamping feature during at least a portion of the moving of the core; and forming an injection molded feature on the construct by injecting injection-molding material into the injection cavity of the tool, the container comprises a sidewall and a flange extending laterally from the sidewall, and the forming of the injection-molded feature comprises at least partially encapsulating the flange, the injecting of the injection-molding material comprises injecting injection-molding material into an advanced-flow section of the injection cavity and thereafter injecting injection-molding material into a delayed-flow section of the injection cavity, and wherein the advanced flow section is located adjacent the at least one sidewall of the container and the advanced-flow section has a greater cross-sectional area than the delayed-flow section.