Interlocking joints for injection molded part

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10281108-B2
Application number	US-201715463710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2017
Priority date	Mar 20, 2017
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus, a lighting apparatus, and a vehicle with an interlocking joint are described. The interlocking joint includes a first part made of a first material including a plurality of grooves, and a second part molded over the plurality of the grooves of the first part creating a mechanical bond and a chemical bond between the first part and the second part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus with an interlocking joint, comprising:
a first part made of a first material including a plurality of grooves; and
a second part injection molded to the plurality of the grooves of the first part creating a mechanical bond and a chemical bond between the first part and the second part,
wherein at least one of the plurality of grooves includes a continuously curved wave shape that prevents a fluid from passing through the interlocking joint from the first part to the second part or vice versa.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves is formed on a first side of the interlocking joint forming a single-sided interlocking joint.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of grooves includes a plurality of grooves that is formed on a second side of the interlocking joint, forming a dual-sided interlocking joint, wherein the dual-sided interlocking joint comprises a protrusion of the first part to the second part, the protrusion including the first and second sides.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of grooves that is formed on at least one of the first and second sides includes grooves that are equidistant from each other.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of grooves on the first side is offset from the plurality of grooves on the second side of the dual-sided interlocking joint.

6. A lighting apparatus with an interlocking joint, comprising:
a lens made of a first material including a plurality of grooves; and
a base injection molded to the plurality of the grooves of the lens in an integral manner creating a mechanical bond and a chemical bond between the lens and the base,
wherein at least one of the plurality of grooves includes a continuously curved wave shape that prevents a fluid from passing through the interlocking joint from the lens to the base or vice versa.

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of grooves is formed on a first side of the interlocking joint forming a single-sided interlocking joint.

8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of grooves includes a plurality of grooves that is formed on a second side of the interlocking joint, forming a dual-sided interlocking joint, wherein the dual-sided interlocking joint comprises a protrusion of the lens into the base, the protrusion including the first and second sides.

9. The lighting apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of grooves that is formed on at least one of the first and second sides includes grooves that are equidistant from each other.

10. The lighting apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of grooves on the first side is offset from the plurality of grooves on the second side of the dual-sided interlocking joint.

11. A lighting device comprising:
a first part made of a first material including at least one groove; and
a second part injection molded to the at least one groove of the first part,
wherein a junction between the first part and the second part includes an interlocking joint to create a mechanical bond and a chemical bond between the first part and the second part,
wherein at least one of the at least one groove includes a continuously curved wave shape that prevents a fluid from passing through the interlocking joint from the first part to the second part or vice versa.

12. The lighting device according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one groove includes a plurality of grooves formed on a first side of the junction forming a single-sided interlocking joint.

13. The lighting device according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one groove includes a plurality of grooves formed on a second side of the junction, forming a dual-sided interlocking joint, wherein the junction comprises a protrusion of the first part into the second part, the protrusion including the first and second sides.

14. The lighting device according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of grooves that is formed on the first and second sides includes grooves that are equidistant from each other.

15. The lighting device according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of grooves on the first side is offset from the plurality of grooves on the second side of the dual-sided interlocking joint.

Assignees

• Valeo North America Inc

Inventors

• Guinn Brian
• Maire Thomas
• Haillant Pascal

Classifications

• F21V31/00

  Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements · CPC title

• F21S45/50 Primary

  Waterproofing · CPC title

• B29C65/02

  by heating, with or without pressure · CPC title

• B29C45/006

  Joining parts moulded in separate cavities · CPC title

• F21V17/104

  using feather joints, e.g. tongues and grooves, with or without friction · CPC title