Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is a machine and process for manufacturing an article such as a body board having a pre-shaped core member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a top skin having a top and bottom surfaces, a perimeter portion, and a perimeter edge, and a bottom skin having a perimeter portion. In one embodiment, the machine of the present invention comprises a first mold halve having a lower surface and a second mold halve having a lower surface and a plurality of side walls extending upward from the bottom surface. The second mold further comprising at least one seam member engaged with each side surface. The machine further comprises a control unit for opening and closing the first and second mold halves. In operation, when the first and second molds are closed, the top surface of the pre-defined core member is bonded to the top skin, the perimeter portion of the top skin is caused to compress and bond with the side rails of the pre-defined core member, and the perimeter edge of the top skin is caused to compress and bond to the perimeter portion of the bottom skin to form a seam. In a first embodiment, the process of the present invention comprises the steps of: (1) providing a first mold halve having a lower surface; (2) providing a second mold halve; (3) opening the first and second mold halves; (4) positioning in the first mold halve a pre-shaped core member having a top surface, a bottom surface having a bottom skin bonded thereto, and side rails; (5) positioning a top skin having an inner and outer surface in spaced relationship to the lower surface of the first mold halve; (6) heating, at substantially the same time, the top surface of the pre-shaped core member and the inner surface of the top skin; (7) closing the first and second mold halves; (8) compressing the top skin to the top surface and side rails of the pre-shaped core member; and (9) opening the upper and lower mold halves to remove the article.

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First Claim