Molded loose grain inspection tools and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10550444-B2
Application number	US-201715810593-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2017
Priority date	Nov 13, 2017
Publication date	Feb 4, 2020
Grant date	Feb 4, 2020

Abstract

A method for molding or replicating leather samples for inspection, selecting and later using those samples in applications such as automobile interiors with leather surfaces that are laminated or have a loose grain appearance. In one process variant, the main steps include choosing original samples for replication, the original samples including a characteristic to be replicated; making a replication tool from the approved samples; and producing replicated molded samples with the replication tool that emulate the original samples, thereby enabling the replicated molded samples to be compared with the original sample.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for replicating leather comprising the steps of:
(A) choosing original samples of leather for replication, the original samples including a characteristic to be replicated and preparing strips of the original samples, the strips containing side-by-side arrangements of specimens having characteristics desired for replication;
(B) optionally reviewing the original samples with a customer for approval to confirm approved samples;
(C) making a replication tool from the original samples;
(D) optionally delivering the replication tool to a sample manufacturer;
(E) producing replicated molded samples with the replication tool that emulate the original samples, thereby enabling the replicated molded samples to be compared with the original samples, the replicated molded samples not changing their appearance upon manipulation;
(F) optionally presenting the replicated molded samples to the customer for inspection and approval to confirm finished replicated molded samples; and
(G) optionally reproducing the finished replicated molded samples.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (C) includes the steps of:
(C 1 ) applying a material to a surface of the original samples so that a 3-D image of surface characteristics of the original samples is formed;
(C 2 ) depositing a fluid metallic layer on the 3-D image so that surface characteristics of the original samples appear laterally inverted in a metallic form, the metallic form after cooling comprising a solidified mold.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the material of step (C 1 ) includes silicone.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein step (C 2 ) further includes the step of making a holder that includes metallic strips of the metallic form.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic to be replicated includes a feature selected from the group consisting of a scar, an insect bite, a natural marking, a good appearance, a bad appearance, another surface feature and a tear.

6. A method for replicating leather comprising the steps of:
(H) choosing original samples for replication, the original samples including a characteristic to be replicated and preparing strips of the original samples, the strips containing side-by-side arrangements of specimens having characteristics desired for replication;
(I) making a replication tool from the samples;
(J) producing replicated molded samples with the replication tool that emulate the original samples, thereby enabling the replicated molded samples to be compared with the original samples, the replicated molded samples not changing their appearance under manipulation.

7. The method of claim 6 , further including this step between steps (H) and (I):
reviewing the original samples with a customer for approval to confirm approved samples.

8. The method of claim 6 , further including this step between steps (I) and (J):
delivering the replication tool to a sample manufacturer.

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Thiessen Suzette
• Pascoe Kipp

Classifications

• C14B5/02

  Stamps or dies for leather articles · CPC title

• B29C33/3878 Primary

  used as masters for making successive impressions · CPC title

• B29C33/44

  with means for, or specially constructed to facilitate, the removal of articles, e.g. of undercut articles · CPC title

• C14B2700/18

  Machines for producing designs on leather · CPC title

• G01N1/2806

  Means for preparing replicas of specimens, e.g. for microscopal analysis · CPC title