This application relates to a simplified process for mass producing products using bendable mold shells.
Various methods of mass production of different types of products using molds exist. Such methods include a dipping stage whereby a 3-Dimensional (ā3Dā) mold is dipped in liquid latex so that the mold is coated with latex and a closed shape product is created over the curved conventional mold surface. Alternatively, the closed product is created by a method whereby a product material is sprayed onto a surface of a 3D mold, which is described in U.S. Ser. No. 11/268,684 filed on Nov. 7, 2005, and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
However, prior techniques for making products using a conventional 3D mold have a number of disadvantages. For instance, it is relatively time consuming and expensive to produce the 3D molds because they must be sculptured, cast, or milled. Full 3D shaped molds are also relatively heavy. The molds are large and take up a lot of space in the work environment, affecting size and cost (e.g. oven, leaching bath, conveyer belts chains etc.). The molds require a large amount of energy to warm up, and a large amount of time to change temperature. When a spraying technology is used, 3D molds also require an elaborate spraying process with a sprayer that is capable of spraying material in all directions around the mold.
Furthermore, a product is created on the mold surface only, sometimes using just a part of the surface. For instance, when a garment is created over an anatomical shaped mold, it is necessary to cut out openings for body parts such as arms or legs. The need to cut out such openings is another disadvantage of conventional molds, because of both the additional process as well as the loss of product material.
Due to these disadvantages, it is desirable to convert the large and heavy 3D mold into a thin, substantially flat, lightweight mold, while maintaining the effective surface area and some other features of the full 3D mold surface.
A flexible and bendable mold shell that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages, and results in molds that can provide a more economical and efficient production process is described herein. The method of producing a product comprises providing a substantially flat mold shell converted from a 3-dimensional mold, the substantially flat mold shell having a surface and open ends. The substantially flat mold shell also has the effective surface area of the 3-dimensional mold surface. The method further comprises applying a product material on the surface of the substantially flat mold shell to create a product.
Further, a flattened mold created from a 3D mold is provided. An apparatus for producing products comprises a substantially flat mold shell converted from a 3-dimensional mold, the substantially flat mold shell has open ends. When the open ends are brought proximate to each other, the substantially flat mold shell has the shape of the 3-dimensional mold.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to the drawings, in which:
a is a perspective view of an original full volume mold shell of the present application;
b is a perspective view of the original full volume mold dipped and the cutting lines marked to get the desired final product shape;
c is a perspective view of the flattened mold shell created out of the original mold of
a is an exploded view of the male portion of the mold shell of
b is an exploded view of the female portion of the mold shell of
A substantially flat mold shell and method of use are described herein. Referring to
First, the 3D mold 100, which is in the shape of a desired product, is dipped in a product material, such as elastomer. Alternatively, the product material may be sprayed onto the mold. A relatively thick product 50, preferably of few millimeters thick, is created over the mold 100. The product created over the surface of the mold is then cured and removed from the mold. The product is cut as desired for the creation of its final shape, which may include two ends 12 and 14, and openings 15, as shown in
Marking cutting lines for the edges of the product, such as lines 51 shown in
The converted, substantially flat mold shell 10 is shown in a flattened first position in
The mold shell 10 may be employed with a folding mechanism (not shown) that is capable of forcing the mold shell to curve. The folding mechanism causes the ends of the mold shell 10 to be proximate to each other at point 30, as the ends of the converted mold shell 10 are proximate to each other as shown in
As an alternative, the product can removed from the substantially flat mold shell 10 without folding the mold shell 10. The product material is stripped from the substantially flat mold shell 10, and then the 3D shape can be constructed by bringing the ends 12, 14 of the product proximate to each other.
Referring to
Turning to
In operation, a product material 50, such as a liquid polymer, is applied onto the surface of the substantially flat mold shell 10 when the mold shell is in the flat first position, as shown in
Once the product material is dry, the mold shell 10, that may include more then one piece, may be folded or bent into a closed position, and the open ends 12, 14 may be fastened together. The dried product material may then be peeled off to form a final product, and the mold shell 10 may be unfolded and reused to form another product.
In one embodiment, an anatomical final product 40 is formed, as shown in
While certain features and embodiments of the present application have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the application encompasses all modifications and enhancements.
This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/866,481, which was filed on Nov. 20, 2006, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60866481 | Nov 2006 | US |