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US 9,511,544 B2Granted
Method of making fasteners by three-dimensional printing
AssigneeA. Raymond et Cie
InventorsTodd L. Hemingway, Walter B. Pipp, Jr., Todd Murray, Nicholas Jackson, Jason F. Reznar, Jimmy Voniez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener is provided. In another aspect, a fastener is made of layers of material, a light curable material and/or multiple built-up materials. Another aspect uses a three-dimensional printing machine to emit material from an ink jet printing head to build up a fastener.
Claims32
A method of making a fastener, the method comprising:
- (a) creating a first layer of material to define a first section of a fastener;
- (b) emitting light onto the first layer after the prior step to cure, harden or bond the layer;
- (c) creating a second layer of the material upon the first layer to define a second section of the fastener after the prior step;
- (d) emitting light onto the second layer after the prior step to cure, harden or bond the second layer;
- (e) creating at least a third layer of the material upon the second layer to define at least a third section of the fastener after the prior step;
- (f) emitting light onto the third layer after the prior step to cure, harden or bond the third layer;
- (g) creating a flexible member from the material which is a printed polymeric material, the member being at least one of:
- (i) an umbrella or (ii) a work-piece engaging leg;
- and
- (h) removing the finished fastener from a machine which performs the creating and emitting steps, with the layers all being integrally connected to their adjacent layers;
- the finished fastener being functional and made by the machine in less than ninety minutes.
8 more elements
A method of using a three-dimensional printing machine, the method comprising:
- emitting material from an ink jet printing head of the three-dimensional printing machine, and building up a fastener by placing the material to create workpiece-retention legs laterally extending from a stem;
- and
- creating an enlarged fastener head with the building up step;
- wherein the workpiece-retention legs include at least one of:
- (a) moveable legs adapted to expand on the opposite end of the fastener from the fastener head, or (b) moveable barbs which are tapered toward a longitudinal centerline opposite the fastener head.
2 more elements
A method of using a three-dimensional printing machine, the method comprising:
- emitting material from an ink jet printing head of the three-dimensional printing machine, and building up a fastener by placing the material to create at least one of:
- (i) a threaded receptacle, (ii) a resilient segment, or (iii) workpiece-retention legs laterally extending from a stem;
- and
- creating a preassembled shaft located partially within a bore of the fastener during the building up step, the bore being located within a body, the body including workpiece-engaging surfaces, and the shaft being further insertable into the bore after the fastener is manufactured.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.