US 12,472,720 B2
Materials and additively manufactured objects with mechanically interlocking elements
Umesh Upendra Choudhary, Santa Cruz, CA (US); Michael Christopher Cole, San Jose, 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 Oct. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/494,216.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/381,097, filed on Oct. 26, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0140065 A1, May 2, 2024
Int. Cl. B32B 3/06 (2006.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); A61C 7/08 (2006.01)
CPC B32B 3/06 (2013.01) [B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); A61C 7/08 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dental appliance comprising:
an appliance body made at least partially out of a composite material, wherein the composite material comprises:
an interlocking structure comprising a plurality of interlocking elements, wherein the interlocking structure has a first mechanical property; and
a matrix surrounding at least a portion of the interlocking structure, wherein the matrix has a second mechanical property different from the first mechanical property.