Milanese mesh rolling
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorJustin T. Sawyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible Milanese mesh material is disclosed herein. Particularly, the Milanese mesh material may have a structure that is conducive to a more flexible mesh material. The Milanese mesh may be formed from rows of wire spirals having a flexibility improving cross-section. The flexibility of the Milanese mesh may be improved by applying a secondary finishing process to the Milanese mesh. The finishing process may include continuously rolling the Milanese mesh around and/or against a mandrel such that the Milanese mesh product forms a smaller loop around the mandrel as the flexibility of the Milanese mesh product improves.
Claims27
A mesh carpet comprising
- a first wire coil having a cross-section defined by a first surface and a second surface which oppose one another, with the first surface and the second surface connected by a transition surface;
- and
- a second wire coil threaded into the first wire coil such that the first surface contacts a second wire coil surface;
- wherein
- the first wire coil and the second wire coil form two rows of the mesh carpet.
A method of forming a mesh carpet comprising:
- obtaining a first coiled wire having a cross-section defined by a first surface and a second surface which oppose one another, with the first surface and the second surface connected by a transition surface;
- obtaining a second coiled wire;
- intertwining the second wire into the first wire to form a mesh carpet;
- and
- contacting the first surface with the second coiled wire.
A method of improving the flexibility of a mesh carpet comprising:
- constraining a first end of the mesh carpet in a restraint;
- constraining a second end of the mesh carpet in a movable restraint;
- wrapping the mesh carpet around a first mandrel having a circumference smaller than natural mesh flexibility circumference;
- and
- continuously moving the mesh carpet around the first mandrel, thereby forming a smaller mesh flexibility circumference without the mesh carpet being impacted by the first mandrel or additional mandrels.
An apparatus for improving the flexibility of a mesh carpet, comprising:
- a first mandrel having a circumference smaller than natural mesh flexibility circumference;
- a first restraint attached to the first end of the mesh carpet;
- a second restraint attached to the second end of the mesh carpet and the second restraint is located relative to the first restraint such that the mesh carpet wraps around the first mandrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.