MOLDED ARTICLE, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN UNDERCUT MOLDING FEATURE IN A MOLD TOOL

摘要

A molded article (700) is disclosed. According to an embodiment, the molded article (700) includes a blow-molded parison of material (530) having an undercut (702) formed in a surface (704) of the parison of material (530). An apparatus (10, 100) for providing an undercut molding feature in a mold tool (500) is also disclosed. According to an embodiment, the apparatus (10, 100) includes one or more undercut forming surfaces (25) and an actuator pin (14, 114) that causes the one or more undercut forming surfaces (25) to move to/from an undercut molding position or an undercut de-molding position. A method for providing an undercut molding feature in a mold tool (500) is also disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method includes the step of moving an actuator (14, 114) to a position of engagement with one or more undercut forming surfaces (25) to cause movement of the one or more undercut forming surfaces (25) to/from an undercut molding position and an undercut de-molding position. A method for molding a molded article (700) is also disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method includes the steps of moving an actuator (14, 114) to a first position of engagement with one or more undercut forming surfaces (25) to cause movement of said one or more undercut forming surfaces (25) to an undercut molding position proximate a surface (536) in a mold tool cavity (532), providing material (530) into the mold tool cavity, molding the material (530) to conform to the one or more undercut forming surfaces (25) and surface (536) of the mold tool cavit (532), and moving said actuator (14, 114) to a second position of engagement with said on or more undercut forming surfaces (25) to cause movement of said one or more undercut forming surfaces (25) to a de-molding position proximate said surface (536) in said mold tool cavity (532).