The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 20, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 09, 1998
John F. Hunt, Madison, WI (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A method of making a three-dimensional object from fibers includes attaching a mold made at least in part of elastomeric material to a porous support. The mold comprises a first mold member defining at least one channel in fluid communication with the porous support. Each channel has within it at least one second mold member. A mixture of fibers and fluid carrier is poured onto the mold. Thereafter, a pressure differential is created across the mold to create a flow of the mixture toward the porous support via the second mold members. This flow causes the fluid carrier to pass through the porous support, thus depositing the fibers within the recessed parts of the second mold members in the mold. Thereafter, the mold is compressed sufficiently to deform the mold and to provide uniform, normal pressure to the fibers which have been deposited in the second mold members.