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US 10,207,460 B2Granted
Method of making hinged fasteners by three-dimensional printing
AssigneeA. Raymond Et Cie
InventorJason F. Reznar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener is provided. In another aspect, a fastener is made of layers of material, a light curable material and/or multiple built-up materials. Another aspect uses a three-dimensional printing machine to emit material from an ink jet printing head to build up a fastener.
Claims70
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) creating a first layer of material to define a first section of the fastener;
- (b) emitting light onto the first layer after the prior step to cure, harden or bond the layer;
- (c) creating a second layer of the material upon the first layer to define a second section of the fastener after the prior step;
- (d) emitting light onto the second layer after the prior step to cure, harden or bond the second layer;
- (e) creating at least a third layer of the material upon the second layer to define at least a third section of the fastener after the prior step;
- (f) emitting light onto the third layer after the prior step to cure, harden or bond the third layer;
- (g) creating a flexible rotatable hinge section from the material which is a printable polymeric material;
- (h) depositing a second and different polymeric material integrally connected to the printable polymeric material during the same machine head pass above the fastener being created;
- (i) removing the finished fastener from a machine which performs the creating and emitting steps, with the layers all being integrally connected to their adjacent layers;
- and
- (j) the finished fastener being functional and made by the machine in less than ninety minutes.
8 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) depositing a layer of material onto a support surface, the layer defining an outer surface of the fastener;
- (b) depositing subsequent layers of the material upon each prior layer until the fastener is completely created;
- (c) creating the fastener to comprise a body and a rotatable hinge coupled to the body made of the material, as part of the depositing steps;
- (d) surrounding at least a majority of the fastener with a gas during the depositing and creating steps;
- (e) curing the fastener so that the layers of the material bond together;
- (f) removing the completed fastener from the support surface;
- and
- (g) wherein the body includes a substantially circular receptacle adapted to retain an elongated workpiece.
5 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) depositing a layer of material onto a support surface, the layer defining an outer surface of the fastener;
- (b) depositing subsequent layers of the material upon each prior layer until the fastener is completely created;
- (c) creating the fastener to comprise a body and a rotatable hinge coupled to the body made of the material, as part of the depositing steps;
- (d) surrounding at least a majority of the fastener with a gas during the depositing and creating steps;
- (e) curing the fastener so that the layers of the material bond together;
- (f) removing the completed fastener from the support surface;
- and
- (g) wherein the body includes an elongated shaft and workpiece-engaging barbs, the shaft extends from the body and the barbs are flexible to allow easier workpiece-insertion by the fastener as compared to more difficult extraction.
5 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) depositing a layer of material onto a support surface, the layer defining an outer surface of the fastener;
- (b) depositing subsequent layers of the material upon each prior layer until the fastener is completely created;
- (c) creating the fastener to comprise a body and a rotatable hinge coupled to the body made of the material, as part of the depositing steps;
- (d) surrounding at least a majority of the fastener with a gas during the depositing and creating steps;
- (e) curing the fastener so that the layers of the material bond together;
- and
- (f) removing the completed fastener from the support surface;
- (g) wherein the gas is air, and the fastener is a single piece.
5 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) depositing a layer of material onto a support surface, the layer defining an outer surface of the fastener;
- (b) depositing subsequent layers of the material upon each prior layer until the fastener is completely created;
- (C) creating the fastener to comprise a body and a rotatable hinge coupled to the body made of the material, as part of the depositing steps;
- (d) surrounding at least a majority of the fastener with a gas during the depositing and creating steps;
- (e) curing the fastener so that the layers of the material bond together;
- and
- (f) removing the completed fastener from the support surface;
- (g) wherein the depositing is part of direct metal laser sintering, and the curing includes laser fusing of the layers.
5 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) depositing a layer of material onto a support surface, the layer defining an outer surface of the fastener;
- (b) depositing subsequent layers of the material upon each prior layer until the fastener is completely created;
- (c) creating the fastener to comprise a body and a rotatable hinge coupled to the body made of the material, as part of the depositing steps;
- (d) simultaneously creating a resilient segment integral with the body of the fastener by depositing a layer of a second and more flexible material adjacent the more rigid material defining the body, within the same machine cycle;
- (e) surrounding at least a majority of the fastener with a gas during the depositing and creating steps;
- (f) curing the fastener so that the layers of the material bond together;
- and
- (g) removing the completed fastener from the support surface.
5 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) depositing a layer of material onto a support surface, the layer defining an outer surface of the fastener;
- (b) depositing subsequent layers of the material upon each prior layer until the fastener is completely created;
- (c) creating the fastener to comprise a body and a rotatable hinge coupled to the body made of the material, as part of the depositing steps;
- (d) creating the hinge to have a curved shape when in a closed position;
- (e) surrounding at least a majority of the fastener with a gas during the depositing and creating steps;
- (f) curing the fastener so that the layers of the material bond together;
- and
- (g) removing the completed fastener from the support surface.
5 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) creating a first layer of material to define a first section of the fastener;
- (b) emitting light onto the first layer after the prior step to cure, harden or bond the layer;
- (c) creating a second layer of the material upon the first layer to define a second section of the fastener after the prior step;
- (d) emitting light onto the second layer after the prior step to cure, harden or bond the second layer;
- (e) creating at least a third layer of the material upon the second layer to define at least a third section of the fastener after the prior step;
- (f) emitting light onto the third layer after the prior step to cure, harden or bond the third layer;
- (g) creating a flexible rotatable hinge section from the material which is a printable polymeric material;
- (h) creating the fastener in an additive manner as a hose or wire clamp including an internal and hollow hose or wire receptacle;
- (i) removing the finished fastener from a machine which performs the creating and emitting steps, with the layers all being integrally connected to their adjacent layers;
- and
- (j) the finished fastener being functional and made by the machine in less than ninety minutes.
8 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) three dimensionally printing layers of at least one material to create a base of the fastener;
- (b) three dimensionally printing layers of the at least one material to create a lid of the fastener;
- (c) three dimensionally printing layers of the at least one material to create a hinge of the fastener which rotatably couples the lid to the base;
- and
- (d) three dimensionally printing a barbed snap fit to secure together the base and the lid.
2 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) three dimensionally printing layers of at least one material to create a base of the fastener;
- (b) three dimensionally printing layers of the at least one material to create a lid of the fastener;
- (c) three dimensionally printing layers of the at least one material to create a hinge of the fastener which rotatably couples the lid to the base;
- and
- (d) making an elongated shaft extending from the base, a flexible workpiece-securing leg projecting from the shaft, and a hose or wire clamping receptacle.
2 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) three dimensionally printing layers of at least one material to create a base of the fastener;
- (b) three dimensionally printing layers of the at least one material to create a lid of the fastener;
- (c) three dimensionally printing layers of the at least one material to create a hinge of the fastener which rotatably couples the lid to the base;
- and
- (d) three dimensionally printing a resilient seal integral with the base.
2 more elements
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) additively depositing base layers to create a rigid base including a side wall and a bottom wall;
- (b) additively depositing lid layers to create a lid including a side wall and a top wall;
- (c) creating a barbed snap fit extending from at least one of the base and the lid layers;
- (d) additively depositing receptacle layers to create a curved hose or wire clamping receptacle within a cavity between the base and the lid layers;
- and
- (e) creating a hinge coupling the side wall of the base to the side wall of the lid.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.