US4159686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for smoothing the eye of a needle and needle made thereby
Assignee: Manufacture Belge d'Aiguilles SA
•
Filing: 1976-11-23
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Granted: 1979-07-03
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Expires: 1996-11-23
Abstract
Abstract Process for smoothing the eye of a needle during maufacture using high power density radiation from a laser to melt the surfaces of the eye area and subsequently permitting the melted surfaces to solidify giving smoother surfacing.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmut Heim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:18
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/0006; B23K26/352; B23K26/354; B23K26/3568; B23K26/3576; B23K2101/00; B23K2101/34; B23K2101/35; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/02; B23K2103/04; B23K2103/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A process for smoothing the eye of a needle including the step of subjecting an area of the needle eye to one or more pulses of high power density radiation to melt the surface of said area, and subsequently permitting said surface to solidify thereby to smooth said surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for smoothing the eye of a needle including the step of subjecting an area of the needle eye to one or more pulses of high power density radiation to melt the surface of said area, and subsequently permitting said surface to solidify thereby to smooth said surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said radiation is produced by a pulsed laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 2 wherein the laser is a ruby-laser or a neodymium doped YAG-laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 2 wherein a single pulse is employed to provide said melting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein the irradiation power density lies between 10 5 and 10 6 watt per square centimeter, and the energy per pulse of the laser beam lies in the range of 1 to 25 Joule per square millimeter of surface of incidence of the beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the beam diameter on the point of impact is between 0.2 and 1 millimeter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 2 in which the eye of the needle is elongate in the direction of the length of the needle, wherein areas of the needle at both extremities of said eye are subjected to said radiation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to claim 7 wherein to smooth the surface at one extremity of the eye at least two laser beams are directed simultaneously from each side of the hole constituting the eye of the needle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein the beam diameter on the point of impact is between 50 to 100% of the breadth of the eye of the needle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein the axis of each beam is disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction of the needle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
7 words
A needle manufactured according to claim 1.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 1 in which the eye of the needle is elongate in the direction of the length of the needle, wherein areas of the needle at both extremities of said eye are subjected to said radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 12 wherein said radiation is produced by a pulsed laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 13 wherein a single pulse is employed to provide said melting.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 13 wherein the laser is a ruby-laser or a neodymium doped YAG-laser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 15 wherein a single pulse is employed to provide said melting.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein the irradiation power density lies between 10 5 and 10 6 watt per square centimeter, and the energy per pulse of the laser beam lies in the range of 1 to 25 Joule per square millimeter of surface of incidence of the beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 17 wherein the beam diameter on the point of impact is between 0.2 and 1 millimeter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein a single pulse is employed to provide said melting.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein the irradiation power density lies between 10 5 and 10 6 watt per square centimeter, and the energy per pulse of the laser beam lies, in the range of 1 to 25 Joule per square millimeter of surface of incidence of the beam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 20 wherein the beam diameter on the point of impact is between 0.2 and 1 millimeter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to claim 12 wherein to smooth the surface at one extremity of the eye at least two laser beams are directed simultaneously from each side of the hole constituting the eye of the needle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 22 wherein the beam diameter on the point of impact is between 50 to 100 percent of the breadth of the eye of the needle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 22 wherein the axis of each beam is disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction of the needle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process according to claim 16 wherein the irradiation power density lies between 10 5 and 10 6 watt per square centimeter, and the energy per pulse of the laser beam lies in the range of 1 to 25 Joule per square millimeter of surface of incidence of the beam.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 25 wherein the beam diameter on the point of impact is between 0.2 and 1 millimeter.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A steel needle having an eye elongate in the direction of the length of the needle, wherein the surface of the steel at one or both of the extremities of the eye has a dendritic structure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
A steel needle having an eye elongate in the direction of the length of the needle, wherein the surface of the steel at one or both of the extremities of the eye has a dendritic structure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
A needle according to claim 27 wherein at one or both extremities of the eye the needle has a bulbous shape in cross-section.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
A needle having an eye smoothed by a process which includes the step of subjecting an area of the needle eye to one or more pulses of high power density radiation to melt the surface of said area and subsequently permitting said surface to solidify thereby to smooth said surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
A needle having an eye smoothed by a process which includes the step of subjecting an area of the needle eye to one or more pulses of high power density radiation to melt the surface of said area and subsequently permitting said surface to solidify thereby to smooth said surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A needle according to claim 29 wherein said radiation is produced by a pulsed laser.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
A needle according to claim 30 wherein a single pulse is employed to provide said melting.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
A needle according to claim 31 wherein the irradiation power density lies between 10 5 and 10 6 watt per centimeter, and the energy per pulse of the laser beam lies in the range of 1 to 25 Joule per square millimeter of surface of incidence of the beam.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
A needle according to claim 32 wherein the beam diameter on the point of impact is between 0.2 and 1 millimeter.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
A needle according to claim 29 wherein the eye of the needle is elongate in the direction of the length of the needle and wherein areas of the needle at both extremities of said eye are subjected to said radiation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
37 words
A needle according to claim 34 wherein to smooth the surface at one extremity of the eye at least two laser beams are directed simultaneously from each side of the hole constituting the eye of the needle.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
A needle according to claim 35 wherein the beam diameter on the point of impact is between 50 to 100 percent of the breadth of the eye of the needle.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
A needle according to claim 35 wherein the axis of each beam is disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction of the needle.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
A needle according to claim 29 having an eye elongate in the direction of the length of the needle, wherein at one or both of the extremities of the eye the needle has a bulbous shape in cross-section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-07-02 | 1983-01-01 | 1983-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-07-02 | 1987-01-01 | 1987-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-07-02 | 1991-01-01 | 1991-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |