US 12,402,755 B2
Injection-moldable aerator mixing rod and method of manufacturing thereof
Shawn Campbell, Burlington (CA); Ralf Reiser, Orchard Park, NY (US); Rakshitha Doddanaari Shamakumar, Newark, DE (US); and Alexander Kaiser, Lancaster, NY (US)
Assigned to Rich Products Corporation, Buffalo, NY (US)
Filed by Rich Products Corporation, Buffalo, NY (US)
Filed on Apr. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/240,773.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/025,283, filed on May 15, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0353105 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. A47J 43/12 (2006.01); B01F 23/232 (2022.01); B01F 23/235 (2022.01); B01F 23/237 (2022.01); B29C 45/00 (2006.01); B29C 45/26 (2006.01); B29K 59/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 43/122 (2013.01) [B01F 23/2323 (2022.01); B01F 23/235 (2022.01); B01F 23/2351 (2022.01); B29C 45/0001 (2013.01); B29C 45/0025 (2013.01); B29C 45/2624 (2013.01); B01F 23/237611 (2022.01); B29C 2045/0034 (2013.01); B29K 2059/00 (2013.01); B29L 2031/775 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing an aerator mixing rod using injection molding, the method comprising:
arranging a plurality of mold parts into a mold assembly structure, the mold assembly structure defining a mold cavity shaped to form the aerator mixing rod, such that the aerator mixing rod includes
a body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an outer surface extending between the first and second ends, the body defining a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second ends, and
a plurality of teeth extending radially outward from the outer surface of the body. the plurality of teeth including a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth spaced from the first row of teeth along the longitudinal axis, wherein a first passageway is formed between adjacent teeth of the first row of teeth, and a second passageway is formed between adjacent teeth of the second row of teeth, wherein the first passageway is at least partially misaligned with the second passageway in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the first passageway and the second passageway are configured to at least partially form a tortuous path for fluid flowing along the outer surface of the body;
heating an injection moldable material;
injecting the injection moldable material into the mold assembly structure to form the aerator mixing rod; and
after a cooling period, removing the aerator mixing rod from the mold assembly structure by separating the plurality of mold parts from the aerator mixing rod,
wherein arranging the plurality of mold parts into the mold assembly structure includes selecting between a plurality of different mold release configurations in order to prevent an undercut,
wherein at least one of the mold release configurations is a symmetrical configuration including a plurality of part lines intersecting at a center of the mold cavity, and
wherein separating the plurality of mold parts includes separating the mold parts along the part lines.