Movable joint through insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9587296-B2
Application number	US-201213541360-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2012
Priority date	Jul 3, 2012
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

Provided in one embodiment is a method of forming a movable joint or connection between parts that move with respect to one another, wherein at least one part is at least partially enclosed by at least one second part. The method includes positioning an etchable material over an at least one first part, molding or forming an at least one second part over at least the etchable material, and removing the etchable material.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of making a connection or joint between parts that move with respect to one another, wherein at least one first part is at least partially enclosed by at least one second part, comprising:
forming at least one first part comprising a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy having at least one contact surface, said forming including a technique selected from one of extrusion molding, die casting, or injection molding;
depositing an etchable material on at least the at least one contact surface of the at least one first part;
injection molding at least one second part comprising a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy at least on the etchable material, wherein the at least one second part at least partially encloses the at least one first part; and
removing the etchable material to form a space between the at least one first part and the at least one second part such that the at least one first part and the at least one second part move with respect to one another.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one second part is formed on at least the etchable material using a mold apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the etchable material is removed by a dry or wet etching process.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a compressible material into the space formed between the at least one first part and the at least one second part.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the alloy is described by the following molecular formula: (Zr, Ti) a (Ni, Cu, Fe) b (Be, Al, Si, B) c , wherein “a” is in the range of from 30 to 75, “b” is in the range of from 5 to 60, and “c” is in the range of from 0 to 50 in atomic percentages.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the alloy is described by the following molecular formula: (Zr, Ti) a (Ni, Cu) b (Be) c , wherein “a” is in the range of from 40 to 75, “b” is in the range of from 5 to 50, and “c” is in the range of from 5 to 50 in atomic percentages.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bulk solidifying amorphous alloy can sustain strains up to 1.5% or more without any permanent deformation or breakage.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one first part comprises threaded bore or a connection mechanism selected from the group consisting of a friction fit connection, a threaded connector, a bolt with extending threads, a self-threading connector, and a combination thereof.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein depositing includes a technique selected from one of spray coating, spraying, plasma coating, chemical vapor deposition, or overmolding.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the etchable material consists of at least one material selected from among: aluminum (Al); Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) In 2 O 3 ; SnO 2 ; Chromium (Cr);Copper(Cu);Gold (Au); Molybdenum (Mo); Organic residues and photoresist; Platinum(Pt); Silicon (Si); Silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ); Silicon Nitride (Si3N4);Tantalum (Ta); Titanium (Ti); titanium Nitride (TiN); and Tungsten (W).

11. A method of forming a connection or joint between parts that move with respect to one another, wherein at least one part is at least partially enclosed by at least one second part, comprising:
forming at least one first part comprising a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy having at least one contact surface;
the operation of forming including a technique selected from one of extrusion molding, die casting or injection molding;
treating the at least one contact surface to facilitate a metal to etchable material bond;
depositing an etchable material on at least the at least one contact surface of the at least one first part;
injection molding at least one second part comprising a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy at least on the etchable material;
wherein the at least one second part at least partially encloses the at least one first part; and
removing the etchable material to form a space between the at least one first part and the at least one second part such that the at least one first part and the at least one second part move with respect to one another.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one second part is formed on at least the etchable material using a mold apparatus.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the etchable material is removed by a dry or wet etching process.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising inserting a compressible material into the space formed between the at least one first part and the at least one second part.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one first part rotates within the at least one second part.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one first part moves in at least one direction with respect to the at least one second part.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one second part surrounds at least 75% of the portion of the at least one first part that moves relative to the at least one second part.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the connection or joint permits the relative movement of the at least one first part with respect to the at least one second part, without the respective parts becoming separated during normal operation.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one second part moves relative to the at least one first part.

20. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the alloy is described by the following molecular formula: (Zr, Ti) a (Ni, Cu, Fe) b (Be, Al, Si, B) c , wherein “a” is in the range of from 30 to 75, “b” is in the range of from 5 to 60, and “c” is in the range of from 0 to 50 in atomic percentages.

21. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the bulk solidifying amorphous alloy can sustain strains up to 1.5% or more without any permanent deformation or breakage.

22. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the at least one first part comprises threaded bore or a connection mechanism selected from the group consisting of a friction fit connection, a threaded connector, a bolt with extending threads, a self-threading connector, and a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Prest Christopher D
• Poole Joseph C
• Scott Matthew S
• Stratton Dermot J
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Prest Christopher D
• Poole Joseph C
• Scott Matthew S
• Stratton Dermot J

Classifications

• B22F3/225

  by injection molding · CPC title

• C22C2200/00

  Crystalline structure · CPC title

• B22F2005/103

  Cavity made by removal of insert · CPC title

• B22F5/10

  of articles with cavities or holes, not otherwise provided for in the preceding subgroups · CPC title

• C22C33/02 Primary

  by powder metallurgy · CPC title