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AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsAleksey Mikhailovich Pinyayev, Shaffiq Amin Jaffer, Theodore Jay Verbrugge
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An integral three-dimensional article having interstitials therethrough, the three-dimensional article comprises an unconstrained number of axially successive stages. An apparatus and process for molding such a three-dimensional article are also disclosed. The apparatus has members extending into a mold cavity, each member having access to the periphery of the mold cavity. Each stage may nest within an adjacent stage. The nesting may be accomplished by having the end of one stage be convex, while the mating end of an adjacent stage is complementary and concave. The article may be useful as a static mixer, heat exchanger, etc.
An integral three-dimensional article having interstitials therein, said article comprising an axial direction and having lateral dimensions perpendicular thereto, said lateral dimensions of said article defining a periphery of said article, said article comprising alternatingly disposed elongate members and interstitials therebetween, said elongate members being arranged in two planes, a first plane of at least one elongate member and a second plane of at least one elongate member, each said plane of at least one elongate member intersecting at an included angle to define a stage, said article comprising a plurality of stages, each stage being axially joined to an adjacent stage.
A process for producing an integral multi-stage three-dimensional article having an axial direction and an unconstrained length in said axial direction and having interstitials therein, said process comprising the steps of providing at least two complementary mold segments, said mold segments being juxtaposable to circumscribe an enclosed cavity, said cavity having an axial direction and a lateral direction perpendicular thereto, each said mold segment comprising a wall and having a plurality of members extending from a proximal end juxtaposed with said wall into said cavity, said members defining an angle relative to said axial direction;
An apparatus for molding a multi-stage integral three-dimensional articles having interstitials therein, said apparatus comprising at least two complementary mold segments, said mold segments being juxtaposable to enclose a cavity therebetween, said cavity having a longitudinal axis, said mold segments further comprising at least one member extending into said cavity at an angle relative to said axis and a transport for juxtaposing each said mold segment with the other in closed relationship to form said cavity, wherein said extending members extend in a direction from a proximal end juxtaposed with a wall of its said respective mold segment to a distal end, said distal end contacting either a wall of a diametrically opposed mold segment or another member when said mold segments are in the closed position, said transport further being capable of separating each mold segment away from said cavity in a separation direction, said separation direction being parallel to said members of said respective mold segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.