Method of making nut fasteners
AssigneeA. Raymond Et Cie
InventorJason F. Reznar
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims35
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) making flexible side walls from at least some of the creating steps that are moveable away from each other if an elongated shaft is inserted therebetween, and making a base wall with an internal bore from at least some of the creating steps, the side walls extending from the base wall;
- (h) 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
- (i) the finished fastener being functional and made by the machine in less than ninety minutes.
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) depositing a layer of a first material within a machine, the layer defining an outer surface of the fastener;
- (b) depositing subsequent layers of a second material upon each prior layer until the fastener is completely created, the first material being of a resilient and anti-rattling polymer, and the second material being more rigid than the first material;
- (c) creating the fastener to comprise an internally threaded nut made of the second 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 layers bond together;
- and
- (f) removing the completed anti-rattle covered nut fastener from the machine.
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising three dimensionally printing a nut including a base wall and upstanding side walls adapted to flex relative to the base wall, with the base wall including a hole adapted to receive a threaded shaft therein, and workpiece-engaging surfaces being created to outwardly project from the side walls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.