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US 12,715,182 B2Granted
Matching pieces and kits for repairing broken structures and related methods
OwnerMaurice Paperiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Matching pieces for broken structures, kits comprising matching pieces for broken structures, methods for generating 3-D models for matching pieces, methods for fabricating matching pieces, systems for generating 3-D models for matching pieces, and systems for fabricating matching pieces are disclosed.
Claims16
A method for generating a 3-D model for a matching piece, the method comprising:
- providing a portion of a structure that has broken;
- wherein, prior to breaking, the structure comprised a hole through its thickness at a predetermined location;
- obtaining scan data from a three-dimensional (3-D) scan of the portion;
- comparing the scan data against known 3-D model data for the structure to create a 3-D model for a matching piece;
- and
- fabricating the matching piece according to the 3-D model for the matching piece;
- wherein the 3-D model for the matching piece comprises a main body configured to abut the portion of the structure that is broken and at least one extension from the main body configured to traverse an exterior surface of the structure and connect the main body to an undamaged area of the structure;
- wherein, when the matching piece abuts the portion of the structure that is broken, a hole of the matching piece occupies the predetermined location.
5 more elements
A method for generating a 3-D model for a matching piece for a broken mounting tab of a vehicle component, the method comprising:
- providing a portion of a broken mounting tab where a piece of an original mounting tab has broken off;
- wherein, prior to breaking, the original mounting tab comprised a hole through its thickness at a predetermined location;
- obtaining data from a three-dimensional (3-D) scan of the portion of the broken mounting tab;
- comparing the data against known 3-D model data for the original mounting tab to create a 3-D model for the matching piece;
- and
- fabricating the matching piece according to the 3-D model;
- wherein the 3-D model for the matching piece comprises a main body configured to abut the portion of the broken mounting tab and at least one extension from the main body configured to traverse an exterior surface of the vehicle component and connect the main body to an undamaged area of the vehicle component;
- wherein, when the matching piece abuts the portion of the broken mounting tab, a hole of the matching piece occupies the predetermined location.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.