Method for mass production assembly of fluidic devices
OwnerPeter Bauerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is disclosed for assembling fluidic spray devices wherein a fluidic element formed on the surface of a body member is expeditiously sealed to form the device. The essence of the invention is the injection molding of plastic around or through the body and a cover plate, or into a prefabricated housing into which the body member is inserted, to preload the parts and force them into a permanent sealed assembly. In one embodiment the preloading is achieved by shrinkage tension of injected plastic material surrounding or penetrating the parts. In a second embodiment the preloading is achieved by injecting plastic material into a gap or gaps in a product housing containing the body member so as to force the element surface against a sealing surface.
Claims13
The method of assembling a fluidic device comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a fluidic element in a first surface of a body member;
- (b) placing said first surface in abutting relationship with a sealing surface of a second member;
- and
- (c) injection molding molten plastic material into direct contact with at least one of said body member and second member to preloadingly compress said first and sealing surfaces against one another such that the injected plastic, upon cooling and solidifying, forms part of said device and compressively forces said first and sealing surfaces against one another to seal said fluidic element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.