US 12,285,845 B2 · Protective leaching mask assemblies and related methods

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to protective leaching masks, and methods of manufacturing and using the same for leaching superabrasive elements such as polycrystalline diamond elements. In an embodiment, a protective leaching mask assembly includes a superabrasive element including a central axis and a superabrasive table, and a protective mask formed to protect at least a portion of the superabrasive element. The protective mask includes a base portion and at least one sidewall extending from the base portion and defining an opening generally opposite the base portion. The at least one sidewall includes an inner surface configured to abut with a selected portion of the superabrasive element being chemically resistant to a leaching agent and an outer surface sloping at an oblique angle relative to the central axis.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of processing a superabrasive element, the method comprising:

forming a protective mask to protect a selected portion of a superabrasive element, the superabrasive element comprising a superabrasive table;
exposing at least a portion of the superabrasive element to a leaching agent such that the leaching agent contacts an exposed surface region of the superabrasive table and at least a portion of the protective mask;
and
interference fitting a binding member with an outer side surface of the protective mask near the superabrasive table.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/073,141Filed 1 Dec 2022 · division

Priority

28 Jan 2013

Published

US 2023/0089898 A123 Mar 2023

Granted

29 Apr 2025

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

B24D 18/009
Manufacture of grinding tools or other grinding devices, e.g. wheels, not otherwise provided for: tools not otherwise provided for
B24D 3/00
Physical features of abrasive bodies, or sheets
B24D 18/0009
Manufacture of grinding tools or other grinding devices, e.g. wheels, not otherwise provided for: using moulds or presses
B24D 99/005
Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass: segments of abrasive wheels

Family

Application13/751,405Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Jan 2013

Application14/956,089Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Dec 2015

US 9,227,302 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 5 Jan 2016

Application16/513,005Parent of this division · filed 16 Jul 2019

US 10,391,613 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Aug 2019

US 2023/0089898 A1Pre-grant publication · published 23 Mar 2023

US 11,541,509 B1Parent of this division

Application16/513,005Parent of this continuation

US 12,285,845 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Protective leaching mask assemblies and related methods

Life of this patent

Protective leaching mask assemblies and related methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22