JAMES OTTO YOUNG
Pilots at Ellicott Crk Rd, Amherst, NY

6554944, Apr 29, 2003

Mar 8, 2000

09/520540

Chris R. Peters - Chico CA 95973
James E. Young - Getzville NY 14068

B29C 5100

156245, 156250, 156297, 264154, 264162, 264322, 264325

Processes for producing durable three-dimensional bowls such as water basins comprising plastics preferably acrylics heavily filled with alumina trihydrate, some embodiments including visible particles such as those sometimes used for simulating nature stone. A preferred process for manufacturing the bowls of such material includes defining a flat rigid blank such as from a larger rectangular bulk sheet in the approximate top outline shape of bowl to be formed, e. g. , the blank being oval for an oval bowl and circular for a circular bowl. The blank is provided a smooth side which will be the concave finished and exposed side in use. The blank is heated to a point of softening and of uniform temperature throughout, located within a molding die such as a matched molding die having a female cavity of the desired bowl shape, indexed to the die, but left generally unrestrained so that the heated blank and un-clamped edges thereof are allowed to draw inward to reduce tension loads during forming. Force is applied relatively slowly to the blank, such as from a male portion of the die, to compress the blank into the female cavity and desired bowl shape. The bowl is cooled somewhat, removed from the die, the top edge trimmed to suitable evenness, a drain hole with surrounding bevel is cut in the bowl, an overflow hole is cut near the top edge for bathroom sinks, and sanding and polishing is applied on the exposed side(s).

6083339, Jul 4, 2000

Dec 5, 1997

8/985616

Chris R. Peters - Chico CA
James E. Young - Getzville NY

Transfer Flow International, Inc. - Chico CA

C08K 322

156245

Processes for producing durable three-dimensional bowls such as water basins comprising acrylic plastics heavily filled with alumina trihydrate, some embodiments including colorants and visible particles such as those used for simulating stone such as granite. A preferred process for manufacturing the bowls of such material includes defining a flat rigid blank in the approximate top outline shape of bowl to be formed, e. g. , the blank being a flat oval for an oval bowl and circular for a circular bowl. The flat blank is provided a smooth side or sides which will be the concave finished side in use. The blank is heated to a point of softening and of uniform temperature throughout, and located within a molding die such as a matched molding die having a female cavity of the desired bowl shape. The heated blank is indexed to the die, but left generally unrestrained so that the heated blank and edges thereof are un-clamped, thereby allowing the edges to be moved inward to help minimize tension loads during forming. Force is applied to the blank, such as from a male portion of the die, to compress the blank into the female cavity and desired bowl shape.