Method of manufacturing a plastic edged glass shelf

US6120720A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• GEMTRON CORPORATION · US
• Mecalit GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Max Meier · Lichtenau, DE
• Karl Meier · Bornheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 8, 1997
• Grant date: Sep 19, 2000
• Expiry date: May 8, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F25D2325/022
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

This method involves the injection molding of a polymeric/copolymeric frame about a peripheral edge of glass panel in association with a pair of brackets to form a refrigerator shelf. The glass panel is placed in a cavity of a mold with a peripheral edge of the cavity corresponding to a peripheral edge of the glass panel. The cavity has side cavity portions each housing one of the shelf brackets. Polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plastic material is injected into the cavity preferably adjacent corners thereof such that the forces of the injected material are essentially self-balancing about the peripheral edge of the glass panel, thereby maintaining the glass panel in substantially mating conformity with the cavity to produce a relatively consistently contoured and cross-sectioned frame which, upon the solidification of the plastic material, also unites the shelf brackets to the glass panel.