Mould

Abstract

According to the invention, there is provided a mould 10 which includes a separator base 12 and walls 14 extending from opposing sides 16.1 and 16.2 of the base 12 which, together with the base 12 , are arranged to define a plurality of moulding zones 18 for receiving liquid (not shown) to be moulded therein.

1 . A mould comprising:
 a separator base; and   walls extending from opposing sides of the separator base which, together with the separator base, are arranged to define a plurality of moulding zones for receiving liquid to be moulded therein; and   slits defined in the walls of the moulding zones for facilitating bending of the separator base and walls during demoulding of moulded articles from the moulding zones.   
     
     
         2 . The mould of  claim 1  wherein the walls taper in thickness from the separator base towards their respective free edge regions. 
     
     
         3 . The mould of  claim 1  wherein the walls are arranged at an angle relative to the separator base so as to define moulding zones which taper from the free edge regions of the walls towards the separator base. 
     
     
         4 . The mould of  claim 1  wherein the separator base and walls are manufactured from any suitable synthetic plastics material having non-stick and temperature resistant properties. 
     
     
         5 . The mould of  claim 1  wherein the separator base and walls are manufactured from any suitable combination of synthetic plastics and metallic materials. 
     
     
         6 . The mould of  claim 1  wherein communication zones are defined in the walls for allowing fluid communication between adjacent moulding zones. 
     
     
         7 . The mould of  claim 1  wherein communication zones are defined in the separator base for allowing fluid communication between moulding zones on either side of the separator base. 
     
     
         8 . The mould of  claim 7  wherein the communication zones are in the form of any one of the group including an aperture, notch, hole, slit and, channel, for allowing fluid to pass therethrough and between moulding zones during filling thereof with liquid to be moulded. 
     
     
         9 . The mould of  claim 1  wherein a peripheral region of the walls is profiled to facilitate receipt by and removal from any suitable conventional container. 
     
     
         10 . The mould of  claim 9  wherein the peripheral region has a generally tapered profile for facilitating removal thereof from the container after completion of the moulding process. 
     
     
         11 . The mould of  claim 1  which includes a folding zone for allowing the separator base to be folded in a concertina fashion to allow free edge regions of the walls to be arranged in register with each other so as to form enlarged moulding zones therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The mould of  claim 1  wherein free edge regions of the walls are sized, shaped and configured to facilitate in-register stacking of a plurality of moulds so as to form enlarged moulding zones therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A moulding assembly that comprises a plurality of moulds of  claim 1  that are capable of being arranged in a stacked configuration to allow free edge regions of the walls of opposing moulding zones to be arranged in register with each other. 
     
     
         15 . The moulding assembly of  claim 22  wherein a connecting member is provided for allowing interconnection between adjacent moulds. 
     
     
         16 . The moulding assembly of  claim 15  wherein the connecting member is configured to allow relative displacement of the moulds between a moulding condition and a de-moulding condition. 
     
     
         17 . The moulding assembly of  claim 16  wherein the connecting member is in the form of a flexible web that extends between and interconnects opposing edge regions of the moulds to allow displacement of the moulds in a concertina fashion. 
     
     
         18 . The moulding assembly of  claim 17  wherein communication zones are defined in the web to facilitate fluid flow therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The moulding assembly  claim 15  wherein the connecting member is in the form of complemental male and female engaging formations that extend from and are defined in respective opposing sides of the moulds for facilitating stacked interconnection of the moulds. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The mould of  claim 6  wherein the communication zones are in the form of any one of the group comprising an aperture, notch, hole, slit and channel for allowing fluid to pass therethrough and between moulding zones during filling thereof with liquid to be moulded. 
     
     
         22 . A moulding assembly that comprises a plurality of moulds of  claim 1  that are capable of being arranged in a side-by-side configuration to allow free edge regions of the walls of opposing moulding zones to be arranged in register with each other.