Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus – Means applying electrical or wave energy directly to work – Radiated energy
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-16
2001-01-09
Mackey, James P. (Department: 1722)
Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus
Means applying electrical or wave energy directly to work
Radiated energy
C249S139000, C249S160000, C264SDIG005, C425S175000, C425SDIG004
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171093
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improved and less costly techniques for molding jewelry during mass production. More specifically, the present invention relates to the manufacture and use of low cost silicone molding compounds within a hard aluminum injection mold frame. Use of such apparatus streamlines the molding and injecting of multiple jewelry patterns as compared to the lost wax method of casting jewelry components.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Today there exists a variety of techniques for manufacturing jewelry such as rings, pendants or the like. The lost wax manufacturing process starts with an original model. The model is typical of a one-of-a-kind item made from a variety of materials. This model has a mold made around it and is removed from the mold to create a hollow cavity. An air, hydraulic wax or plastic injector is then utilized to force wax or plastic into the mold cavity. Multiple injected wax patterns from this mold allow many of the same item to be reproduced. Each model requires its own mold for production.
The construction of molds used in the lost wax or other manufacturing processes is time-consuming and expensive. Several molding materials are utilized for a variety of manufacturing processes. Silicone rubber, gum rubber and a lead-type metal are industry standards for mold-making materials. Each model requires an individual mold for production. As the designs grow more detailed, the tooling required to make the mold becomes more intricate and the cost of the mold increases. A single mold may cost several hundred dollars and can be made in many multiple pieces.
Over time and as a result of use, these molds do wear out. Lead-type molds oxidize. Because the molds wear out, all master models must be retained so that replacement molds can periodically be created. Making molds of metal have other serious draw backs. For example, such molds are very rigid and typically are made to split in two along a single rigid parting line. This limits the sophistication, intricacy and dimension of the design that can be created. It also limits the nature of true dimensional design (models with severe undercuts, for example). In addition, metal molds have a shrinkage factor when used as a molding material. This creates the need for an additional factor to be incorporated into the model-making process to compensate for wax pattern consistency. Fitting stones into the model and taking the model through the mold-making process makes additional tolerances for stone sizing necessary. Finally, metal molds made of a lead-type material pose significant health concerns.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Today, there exist a real need to overcome the draw backs of the traditional jewelry making precesses. The present invention addresses and solves each of the problems outlined above. The present invention solves these problems by replacing the metal molds with low cost silicone molds used in conjunction with a multipurpose mold frame made of aluminum.
Silicone molds of the type contemplated by the present invention are easily made. They can be made in the multipurpose mold frame directly from the model. Thus, machining and tooling of the mold is eliminated substantially reducing labor costs. One master aluminum mold frame can be used to make many different molds.
Silicone sleeve molds of the present invention have other significant advantages over metal molds. First, they are flexible. This flexibility allows for the reproduction of more intricate and sophisticated designs than cannot realistically be reproduced in metal molds. Second, silicone does not oxidize like metal eliminating the expenses associated with repair, maintenance and replacement of metal molds. Third, the durability of such silicone molds eliminates the need to maintain the original model. If a model is ever needed in the future to create additional molds, it can be easily recreated from the mold. Alternatively, the additional molds can be accurately and efficiently created from either a wax or finished piece. Finally, there is no shrinkage with silicone molds, eliminating many factors of shrinkage and reduction.
Another significant advantage of the present invention is the ease with which photoetched, milled or machined inserts can be coupled to the mold to alter the basic design. As a result, one can incorporate graphics, text, signatures, symbols and the like at very low cost. All this can be done without creating a new model or a new mold.
A better understanding of the advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a reading of the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification. Of course, this description is not intended to be limiting and the scope of the invention is defined only by the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2448640 (1948-09-01), Weston
patent: 2658237 (1953-11-01), Cuppett et al.
patent: 3813201 (1974-05-01), Frederick et al.
patent: 4946637 (1990-08-01), Masciarelli, Jr.
patent: 5066213 (1991-11-01), Ferincz
patent: 5798129 (1998-08-01), Megleo
patent: 2369072 (1978-06-01), None
Mackey James P.
Nikolai Mersereau & Dietz, P.A.
T. R. Hawkinson Ltd.
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