US4879084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of forming a net-like structure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-09-19
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Granted: 1989-11-07
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Expires: 2003-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for forming a net-like structure from a suitable material, such as metal or a synthetic polymer. The structure avoids the problems of low tear strength at the joints in the mesh and enables novel shapes and designs to be formed that are not possible to make by other methods. The method comprises the steps of forming a planar web from a suitable material in a plastic state, the forming providing for the planar web to have a substantially flat parting plane, the planar web having an expandable pattern of strands and strand joints with apertures therebetween, and expanding the planar web by forcing the exterior and interior of the web apart in a direction generally perpendicular to the planar web, to form a three-dimensional net-like structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudolf Parnigoni
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:07
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/02; B29C51/00; B29D; B29D28/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/81; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of forming a three-dimensional structure comprising the steps of casting a substantially planar web from a suitable material in the plastic state, the planar web being initially cast with an expandable pattern of a plurality of non-bendable, rigid strands merging at strand joints and defining openings therebetween, the planar web including a central portion and exterior portion surrounding the pattern of strands and the central portion, selecting points on the strands near or on the strand joints, a bending axis passing through each of said points, weakening the strands in the intermediate area of the selected points to form hinges in order to permit the strands to bend about the bending axes, and expanding the structure by forcing the central portion and the exterior portions in opposite directions perpendicular to the plane of the planar web, the bending of the strands occurring about their respective bending axes at the hinges, the expansion of the structure occurring without changing the dimensions of the strands and strand joints from the dimensions thereof in the planar web, whereby a rigid, three dimensional structure with structural integrity is formed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of forming a three-dimensional structure comprising the steps of casting a substantially planar web from a suitable material in the plastic state, the planar web being initially cast with an expandable pattern of a plurality of non-bendable, rigid strands merging at strand joints and defining openings therebetween, the planar web including a central portion and exterior portion surrounding the pattern of strands and the central portion, selecting points on the strands near or on the strand joints, a bending axis passing through each of said points, weakening the strands in the intermediate area of the selected points to form hinges in order to permit the strands to bend about the bending axes, and expanding the structure by forcing the central portion and the exterior portions in opposite directions perpendicular to the plane of the planar web, the bending of the strands occurring about their respective bending axes at the hinges, the expansion of the structure occurring without changing the dimensions of the strands and strand joints from the dimensions thereof in the planar web, whereby a rigid, three dimensional structure with structural integrity is formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the planar web is at least partially solidified before the planar web is formed into a three-dimensional structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the material is a metal provided in a molten state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the metal for forming the planar web is selected from the group consisting of steel, copper, lead, aluminum, zinc, gold, silver and their alloys.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of weakening the strand is formed by providing a relatively smaller cross-section of strand in said area such that the dimension of reduced cross-section is at right angles to the bending axis of the strand.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of weakening the strand or strand joint includes applying heat to said areas in order to render said areas partially plastic and then expanding the structure while the weakened areas are in a partially plastic state by bending the strands about the bending axis respectively and allowing the weakened areas to set in the expanded state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the material is a synthetic polymer and is heated to a temperature which destroys plastic memory recovery while expanded so that the once expanded structure retains its shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the synthetic polymer for forming the planar web is selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes, polycarbonates, silicone rubbers, acrylics, polyvinylchloride, nylon, polypropylene, urethanes, fluoroplastics and polyesters or copolyesters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 8, wherein casting the planar web occurs under heat and pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the material is a synthetic polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the planar web is cast using a process of molding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a planar web having a central portion and an exterior portion surrounding the central portion and a pattern of strands forming a plurality of concentric circles interrupted by apertures in the web, is formed from the steps of injection molding, a material in plastic state, allowing the planar web to at least partially solidify, and a central portion of the planar web being devoid of openings to form a bottom, an external periphery of the planar web being devoid of apertures to form a rim such that when the planar web is expanded, an open-top receptacle is formed, and the further step of setting by way of cooling the expanded structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the three dimensional structure is rendered self-supporting and load bearing by providing, when the shape, continuous tying means between peripherally aligned joints.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the continuous tying means are in the form of a separate circular stave adapted to fit peripherally about the expanded structure coincident with peripherally aligned joints.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of forming a three-dimensional structure comprising the steps of casting a substantially planar web from a suitable material in the plastic state, the planar web being initially cast with an expandable pattern of a plurality of non-bendable, rigid strands merging at strand joints in the for of nodes and defining openings therebetween, the nodes having a section greater than the combined cross-section of a pair of joining strands, the planar web including a central portion and an exterior portion surrounding the pattern of strands and the central portion, during the casting step, cooling the so-formed planar web to a point in time wherein the strands are in a solidified rigid state but the greater cross-section nodes are still partially in a plastic state and expanding the structure by forcing the central portion and the exterior portions in opposite directions perpendicular to the plane of the planar web at said point in time by bending the strands at the nodes and cooling the nodes completely in the expanded shape.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of forming a three-dimensional structure comprising the steps of casting a substantially planar web from a suitable material in the plastic state, the planar web being initially cast with an expandable pattern of a plurality of non-bendable, rigid strands merging at strand joints in the for of nodes and defining openings therebetween, the nodes having a section greater than the combined cross-section of a pair of joining strands, the planar web including a central portion and an exterior portion surrounding the pattern of strands and the central portion, during the casting step, cooling the so-formed planar web to a point in time wherein the strands are in a solidified rigid state but the greater cross-section nodes are still partially in a plastic state and expanding the structure by forcing the central portion and the exterior portions in opposite directions perpendicular to the plane of the planar web at said point in time by bending the strands at the nodes and cooling the nodes completely in the expanded shape.
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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) | 1992-11-06 | 1993-05-08 | 1993-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-06 | 1997-05-08 | 1997-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-06 | 2001-05-08 | 2001-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |