US 12,390,960 B2
Mold with receiving element and separable features
Rohit Tanugula, San Jose, CA (US); Dennis Te, San Jose, CA (US); Peter Webber, Lafayette, CA (US); Shiva P. Sambu, Milpitas, CA (US); and Crystal Tjhia, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/915,914.
Application 15/914,640 is a division of application No. 14/716,607, filed on May 19, 2015, granted, now 9,943,991, issued on Apr. 17, 2018.
Application 16/915,914 is a continuation of application No. 15/914,640, filed on Mar. 7, 2018, granted, now 10,695,956.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/001,489, filed on May 21, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2020/0331171 A1, Oct. 22, 2020
Int. Cl. B29C 33/44 (2006.01); A61C 7/08 (2006.01); B29C 33/38 (2006.01); B29C 33/50 (2006.01); B29C 51/34 (2006.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); G05B 19/4093 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 33/448 (2013.01) [A61C 7/08 (2013.01); B29C 33/3835 (2013.01); B29C 33/50 (2013.01); B29C 51/34 (2013.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); G05B 19/4093 (2013.01); B29L 2031/753 (2013.01); B29L 2031/757 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing, the method comprising:
determining, by a processing device coupled to memory, a first shape of a main body of a mold associated with a dental arch for a patient, the main body corresponding to a plurality of teeth of the dental arch;
determining, by the processing device, a second shape of a separable feature of the mold;
determining, by the processing device, a third shape and configuration of a receiving element that comprises one or more holes formed in at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of teeth of the main body to receive the separable feature;
causing, by the processing device, fabrication of the separable feature that comprises one or more protrusions configured to insert into the one or more holes;
causing, by the processing device, fabrication of the main body that includes the receiving element that comprises the one or more holes for receiving the one or more protrusions of the separable feature, wherein the one or more protrusions of the separable feature insert into the main body via the one or more holes of the receiving element to cause the separable feature to extend above top surfaces of the plurality of teeth of the main body; and
causing, by the processing device, fabrication of a shell over the main body and the separable feature, wherein the shell is configured to be worn in a mouth of the patient.