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:
Apr. 15, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 17, 2000
Jeffrey G. Marx, Downingtown, PA (US);
Bradley R. Heckendorf, Menomonie, WI (US);
Brian L. Norberg, Durand, WI (US);
Wright Medical Technology, Inc., Arlington, TN (US);
Abstract
Sacrificial inserts and molds for use in injection molding are disclosed. In one embodiment a sacrificial insert includes a water-insoluble insert which has a melting temperature greater than the injection molding melt temperature of the base material being molded. In another embodiment, a mold includes one or more of: a sacrificial insert configured to form interior features of the object; a sacrificial insert configured to form interior and exterior features of the object; and a combination of a sacrificial insert configured to form exterior features of the object and a tool configured to form interior features of the object. In another embodiment, a multi-shot injection molding process includes: providing a support base containing a tool; injecting a first material into the support base to form an integral tool and sacrificial insert; separating the tool from the sacrificial insert; retaining the sacrificial insert in the support base, or inserting the sacrificial insert into another support base optionally having a further sacrificial insert or tool; injecting a second material into the support base containing the sacrificial insert to form an integral sacrificial insert and molded object; and destructively disengaging the sacrificial insert from the molded object without substantially damaging the molded object. In another embodiment, a sacrificial insert is used to injection mold a metal or ceramic object.