Circular interconnect

Details Circular interconnect Circular interconnect

1999-03-12

2001-02-20

Pyon, Harold (Department: 1722)

Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes

Mechanical shaping or molding to form or reform shaped article

Shaping against forming surface

C264S334000, C425S438000, C425S441000, C425S468000, C425S556000, C425S577000, C425SDIG005

Reexamination Certificate

active

06190600

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus to form a polymeric structure having male and female interlocking joints on one side of the structure, and process to manufacture the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Walter, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,911,539, Doernemann, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,111, Troester, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,0133,508, and Tokunaga, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,043, all disclose a three-dimensional polymeric structure having a male and a female interlocking component. Not one of these disclosures has both interlocking components on a single side of the structure. Moreover, these references disclose both interlocking components contacting the edges of the sides, which allows easier forces to separate the components. As such, none of these references discloses an apparatus that forms at least a male and a female interlocking component on a single side, and preferably not contacting an edge of the side, of the structure. The present invention solves this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus that forms a polymeric structure. The apparatus has a mold plate, a circular trench, a male and female interconnect, a vertical gap filler, and a cylinder. The mold plate has a predetermined geometric design. The circular trench is in the mold plate and the difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the circular trench is a distance D. The male interconnect and the female interconnect are interspaced between each other. Each interconnect rotates within the circular trench and has a base and an interconnection portion. Each base has a minimum width D and slidably mates to the mold plate. The male interconnect portion protrudes downwards relatively from its base to a distance P. In contrast, the female interconnect portion protrudes upwards relatively from its base to a distance P. The vertical gap filler aligns with the circular trench and has a foundation and an extension. The extension has a width greater than W, a height greater than
2
P, and protrudes upwards and downwards from its foundation. The cylinder rotates each interconnect to a predetermined position and raises the vertical gap filler so the foundation connects to the mold plate before any polymeric material is applied to the apparatus to form the polymeric structure. Once the polymeric structure is formed, the cylinder lowers the vertical gap filler until the extension is below the mold plate a distance greater than P and rotates each interconnect so the polymeric structure can be removed from the apparatus.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1911539 (1933-05-01), Walter
patent: 3759043 (1973-09-01), Tokunaga
patent: 5013508 (1991-05-01), Troester
patent: 5024796 (1991-06-01), Iwasa
patent: 5251560 (1993-10-01), Ban et al.
patent: 5536111 (1996-07-01), Doernemann
patent: 5788911 (1998-08-01), Nomura et al.

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