Method for anchoring an elastomer into a thermoplastic during injection molding

Abstract

A molded plastic garment hanger constituted from first and second plastic materials which are fused and mechanically bonded to form a composite garment hanger. A coinjected plastic member formed of the second plastic material is molded into the plastic body member formed of the first plastic material, and is secured thereto by a plume of the second plastic material of the coinjected plastic member which is formed as the second plastic material is coinjected and breaches the surface of the first plastic material of the molded plastic body member which is not completely set and hardened, such that the plume of the second plastic material extends into and is secured and anchored into the first plastic material. A method and apparatus for co-injection molding of plastic materials for the formation of the plastic garment hanger construction are also disclosed.

1 - 9 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         10 . A method of coinjection molding a composite plastic garment hanger formed of first and second plastic materials, comprising: 
 positioning a retractable mold curve in a first position in a garment hanger mold cavity of a garment hanger mold to define a first mold cavity, the surface of the retractable mold core defining a pattern to create a pattern within the first mold cavity;    injecting a first plastic material into the first mold cavity to form a molded plastic body member of the composite plastic garment hanger;    cooling and partially setting the first plastic material;    retracting the retractable mold core to a second position in the mold cavity to define, in combination with the first plastic material, a second mold cavity;    injecting a second plastic material into the second mold cavity to form a second portion of the composite plastic garment hanger, wherein when the second plastic material is injected into the second mold cavity, the pressurized second plastic material breaches the surface of the partially set and hardened first plastic material of the plastic body member and forms a plume of the second plastic material which extends into and displaces the relatively unset and not hardened first plastic material to anchor and secure the plume of the second plastic material into the first plastic material.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mold cavity defines an enlarged volume portion of the plastic garment hanger in a position adjacent to the retractable core, and following cooling and partially setting of the first plastic material, the surfaces of the first plastic material are partial set and hardened, but the first plastic material in the enlarged volume portion remains relatively unset and not hardened, and when the second plastic material is injected into the second mold cavity, the pressurized second plastic material breaches the surface of the partially set and hardened first plastic material and forms a plume of the second plastic material which extends into and displaces the relatively unset and not hardened first plastic material in the enlarged volume portion, to anchor and secure the plume of the second plastic material into the first plastic material in the enlarged volume portion.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the retractable mold core defines a pattern of transversely extending ribs which mold transversely extending bottom ribs defined in the bottom of the recess when it is in the first position, and mold transversely extending top ribs of the non-slip strip when it is in the second position.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pattern of transversely extending ribs does not include any undercuts in the pattern.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first plastic material is injected through one or more primary injection inlets into the garment hanger mold, during which a projection on the retractable mold core covers and seals off a second injection inlet, through which the second plastic material forming the non-slip strip is subsequently injected.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the projection on the retractable mold core is positioned on one side of the rectangular recess near the center of the length thereof, and extends downwardly into one side upper edge to form a generally rectangularly shaped access aperture on one side of and near the center of the length of the rectangular recess, to allow the second plastic material to be injected through the second injection inlet and through the access aperture to form the non-slip strip after the retractable mold core is retracted to the second position.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the garment hanger mold includes first and second symmetrical mold members, each of which form one half of the garment hanger mold cavity.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the retractable mold core is translatable between the first and second positions by a linear actuator.