Overmolded articles of cutlery that include a first molded structure that includes a working end and a longitudinal support core extending away from the working end, the core including top and bottom surfaces and opposed sidewalls located along its length with the sidewalls having a height that exte
Overmolded articles of cutlery that include a first molded structure that includes a working end and a longitudinal support core extending away from the working end, the core including top and bottom surfaces and opposed sidewalls located along its length with the sidewalls having a height that extends above the top surface of the core; and a second molded structure present upon the top surface of the core between the sidewalls forming with the support core a handle for the article. Preferably, the first and second molded structures have different colors and the first molded structure includes islands so as to enhance the appearance of the cutlery. Also, methods of making these articles by overmolding the second molded structure over at least a portion of the first molded structure are disclosed.
대표청구항▼
1. A molded spoon or fork article comprising: a first molded structure that includes a working end and a longitudinal support core extending away from the working end, the core including top and bottom surfaces and opposed sidewalls located at least along the length of the longitudinal support core,
1. A molded spoon or fork article comprising: a first molded structure that includes a working end and a longitudinal support core extending away from the working end, the core including top and bottom surfaces and opposed sidewalls located at least along the length of the longitudinal support core, wherein the top surface of the support core is tapered from a relatively thicker central longitudinal portion to relatively thinner side portions that are connected to the sidewalls; andwherein the sidewalls of the first molded plastic structure have a height that extends above the top surface of the longitudinal support core, and a second molded structure is present upon at least the top surface of the longitudinal support core of the first molded structure between and coincident substantially with the height of the sidewalls forming with the support core a handle for the molded article. 2. The molded article of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal support core of the first molded plastic structure includes the sidewalls and one or more islands having an exposed surface and one or more sides to facilitate molding of a second molded plastic structure upon the first molded plastic structure, with the islands being positioned in a predetermined alignment with respect to the sidewalls, and wherein the second molded plastic structure covers the side(s) of the islands but not the exposed surface(s) of the island(s). 3. The molded article of claim 2, wherein the sidewalls of the longitudinal support core have a height that extends below the bottom surface of the longitudinal support core, wherein the longitudinal support core appears as an I-beam, and wherein the second molded structure is also present upon the bottom surface of the longitudinal support core between the sidewalls. 4. The molded article of claim 3, wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the core comprise the one or more islands, with the islands being positioned in a predetermined alignment with respect to the sidewalls, and wherein the second molded structure covers the side(s) but not the exposed surfaces of the islands. 5. The molded article of claim 4, wherein the bottom surface of the support core also is tapered from a relatively thicker central longitudinal portion to relatively thinner side portions that are connected to the sidewalls, wherein a plurality of islands of the first molded structure are arranged along a longitudinal axis of both the top and bottom surfaces of the core in spaced relation relative to the sidewalls with the islands on the top surface being positioned in vertical alignment with the islands on the bottom surface. 6. The molded article of claim 1, wherein the first molded structure has a tapered end opposite the working end, and the second molded structure extends from the top surface to the bottom surface covering the tapered end, with the sidewalls adjacent the tapered end including angled end portions. 7. The molded article of claim 2, wherein the exposed surface of the islands has a circular, oval, polygonal or diamond perimeter and the side(s) have the same perimeter as the exposed surface or a different perimeter, optionally with the islands collectively forming a pattern or writing. 8. The molded article of claim 2, wherein the islands have one or more angled side(s), the exposed surface of the islands has a circular, oval, polygonal or diamond perimeter, and the first molded structure and the second molded structure are of different colors such that the color of the exposed surfaces of the islands contrast with the color of the second molded structure. 9. A molded article comprising: a first molded structure that includes a working end and a longitudinal support core extending away from the working end, the core including top and bottom surfaces and opposed sidewalls located at least along the length of the longitudinal support core;wherein the sidewalls of the first molded plastic structure have a height that extends above the top surface of the longitudinal support core, and a second molded structure is present upon at least the top surface of the longitudinal support core of the first molded structure between and coincident substantially with the height of the sidewalls forming with the support core a handle for the molded article, andwherein the first molded structure further comprises a transition structure that contrasts with the second molded structure and is located in between and connected to the working end and core with the transition structure including one or more openings therein, and wherein the second molded structure extends into and fills the one or more openings of the transition structure. 10. The molded article of claim 1, wherein the first molded structure includes a hole in the core or between the core and the sidewall to facilitate formation of the second molded structure and optionally includes a transition structure that is located in between and connected to the working end and core, and sidewalls that extend from the transition structure and form the periphery of the handle of the article. 11. The molded article of claim 1, wherein the first and second shot molded structures are of contrasting colors. 12. A molded spoon or fork article comprising: a first molded structure that includes a working end, a longitudinal support core extending away from the working end, the core including top and bottom surfaces, and a plurality of islands located on the core in a predetermined alignment to provide stabilizing support to facilitate molding of a second molded structure upon the first molded structure, wherein the islands are configured on one side of the first molded structure to provide support to the core to resist bending or deflection during introduction of material for forming the second molded structure; anda second molded structure present upon at least one surface of the longitudinal support core and forming with the core a handle for the article,wherein the first molded structure includes one or more sidewalls that form the periphery of the handle of the article on the side of the core that includes the islands, and wherein the support core is tapered from a relatively thicker central longitudinal portion to relatively thinner side portions that are connected to the sidewalls, andwherein the sidewalls of the first molded plastic structure have a height that extends above the surface of the longitudinal support core on the side of the core that includes the islands, with the islands having a height that is greater than that of the sidewalls, and the second molded structure is located between and coincident substantially with the height of the sidewalls so that the islands have exposed surfaces that are not covered by the second molded structure. 13. The molded article of claim 12, wherein both the top and bottom surfaces of the core comprise the sidewall(s) and the one or more islands, with the islands being positioned in a predetermined alignment, and wherein one or more holes are provided in the core or between the core and the sidewall(s) to facilitate formation of the second molded structure on both the top and bottom surfaces of the core. 14. The molded article of claim 12, wherein a plurality of islands of the first molded structure are arranged along a longitudinal axis of both the top and bottom surfaces of the core with the islands on the top surface being positioned in vertical alignment with the islands on the bottom surface, with each island having an exposed surface and one or more sides, wherein the second molded structure covers the side(s) but not the exposed surfaces of the islands. 15. The molded article of claim 12, wherein the islands have an exposed surface, a circular, oval, polygonal or diamond perimeter and side(s) having the same perimeter as the exposed surface or a different perimeter, optionally with the islands collectively forming a pattern or writing. 16. The molded article of claim 12, wherein the islands have one or more angled side(s), the exposed surface of the islands has a circular, oval, polygonal or diamond perimeter, and the first molded structure and the second molded structure are of different colors such that the color of the exposed surfaces of the islands contrast with the color of the second molded structure. 17. The molded article of claim 12, wherein the first molded structure further comprises a transition structure that is located in between and connected to the working end and core with the transition structure including one or more openings therein, and wherein the second molded structure extends into and fills the one or more openings. 18. The molded article of claim 13, wherein the one or more sidewalls extend at least along the length of the handle from the working end and have a height that extends both above and below the surfaces of the core but not above the upper surfaces of the islands. 19. The molded article of claim 12, wherein the working end includes a tool selected from the group consisting of a spoon, fork, knife, toothbrush, paint brush and razor and the first and second shot molded structures are of contrasting colors. 20. The molded article of claim 12, wherein the sidewalls form the periphery of the handle and extend below the lower surface of core, the islands have one or more sides and are located on the lower surface of the core, wherein the side(s) of the islands and of the sidewalls that face the islands each have a zero degree draft. 21. The molded article of claim 3 wherein the sides of the islands on the lower surface of the core, and the sides of the sidewall on the lower surface of the core that face the islands each have a zero degree draft.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (43)
Jung, Ludwig; Gruber, Marco; Reitberger, Andreas, Apparatus and method for manufacturing multi component plastic molded parts.
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