WO1997031788A1

WO1997031788A1 - Process of manufacturing objects simulating those found in nature

Info

Publication number: WO1997031788A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/002965
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward O. Leclere, Iii
Original assignee: Leclere Edward O Iii
Priority date: 1996-02-27
Filing date: 1997-02-26
Publication date: 1997-09-04

Abstract

This invention relates to the formation of a mold which is formed about an object of nature and the subsequent use of the formed mold to manufacture a reproduction of the object of nature (60). The simulated product of nature (60) produced by the process includes various color swirls (62, 64, 66) which are formed in the simulated product of nature (60).

Description

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING OBJECTS SIMULATING THOSE FOUND IN NATURE

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to a process of manufactur¬ ing articles simulating those found in nature such as natu^¬ ral rock, pieces of wood, roots and the like.

Description of the Prior Art

To date, objects found in nature are used to form interesting displays of art which usually cannot be dupli¬ cated to form articles of trade. Each display is an origi¬ nal article and duplicating it for sales purposes is a costly matter. Accordingly, a need exists for a manufactur¬ ing process that can readily duplicate on a production line basis the intricate surfaces which comprise articles of nature.

As of this date, duplication of objects using a mold are common in the trade but the mold used is man made not an exact reproduction of an object found in nature.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the invention claimed, a new and improved process is provided of manufacturing repeatedly an object of nature having an intricate surface configura¬ tion.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to manufacture a mold duplicating an article found in nature. Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved process for manufacturing a mold duplicat¬ ing the surface of an intricate article of nature.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved manufacturing process which duplicates the surfaces of an article found in nature.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new article of commerce.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Brief Description of the Drawing

The present invention may be more readily de¬ scribed by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the manufacture of a mold for use in simulating articles of nature;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the process using the mold resulting from the process of Fig. 1 to form simulated articles of nature;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a simulated arti¬ cle of nature; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another simulated article of nature. Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, Fig. 1 discloses a process for reproducing objects found in nature for mold purposes.

After the selection of an object found in nature, i. e. a piece of rock formation, wood specimens or other multi-surface items, the following steps are followed for creating a mold for use in reproducing the items on a pro¬ duction line basis.

As set forth in Fig. 1, the selected item for use in creating a mold therefrom is covered in step 20 with a release solution comprising a soapy liquid formed from a dish washing liquid mixed with a suitable amount of water.

After painting the object with the soapy solution, it is air dried as shown by step 22 of Fig. 1.

The item is then painted with silicone, step 24 of Fig. 1, making sure that air is not trapped in or under the surface of the item. General Electric, Shell Oil and Mobile Oil manufacture and sell a suitable silicone product.

The silicone covered object is then placed in a box or housing, step 26, that fits closely around the item and the housing is then filled with silicone, step 28. The housing filled with silicone, step 30, is then cured for a suitable time, for example 24 hours.

The object or item is then removed from the hous¬ ing, step 32 to serve as a mold for reproducing objects simulating the article of nature. If the mold is a two part mold, the object is turned over and the procedure or process is repeated for the other half of the object. It should be noted that the second side or surface of the mold where the two parts engage should be painted with the soapy solution on top of the silicone covering thereon.

A strong wood or fiberglass housing should be used to hold the mold to its shape when the mold is used in a manufacture process.

Fig. 2 discloses the process or method steps of using the mold of Fig. 1 to manufacture the items in ques¬ tion.

As set forth in step 40 of Fig. 2, a given quanti¬ ty of one part of resin to one and a half parts of dry sand and one and a half parts of glass spears is mixed with a predetermined amount of color powder. The amount of color powder needed depends on the color to be achieved.

The mixture is then mixed as set forth in step 42 of Fig. 2 until it is completely wet, i. e. no dry spots exist .

The wet mixture of step 42 is then mixed with a suitable amount of a catalyst as set forth in step 44 the exact amount depending on the atmosphere, i. e. temperature of surrounding air.

Block 46 sets forth the step of highlighting the base color of the mixture by adding a swirl of color to the item the color of which depends on the base color of the object. One quick swirl is provided to keep it from blend¬ ing with the base color of the object.

This mixture is then poured into the mold of Fig. 1, step 48 and cured for approximately 5 to 9 minutes, step 50 after which the item is removed from the mold, step 52.

The item if used in an aquarium, is then checked for its weight by placing in water and weighted if it floats .

The finished product is then further cured in the atmosphere as set forth in step 54 after which it is sent to sales for marketing purposes.

If the finished item is intended to simulate a piece or object of wood, a mixture of a black oil base paint is mixed with paint thinner and the object is then brushed with a solution of 1 to 10 parts of paint to thinner. The excess of the mixture is then lightly wiped leaving heavier amounts of the paint mixture in the cracks and crevices of the item.

Holes may be drilled into the object for receiving the stems of simulated plants.

If desired, the roots or stems of the object may be secured in place by use of a hot inert glue.

Figs. 3 and 4 disclose two different embodiments of the invention as applied to a shallow dish for holding a liquid and a simulated wood configuration.

In Fig. 3, a dish like object 60 is shown having a given base color and including color swirls 62, 64 and 66. Fig. 4 discloses a wood configuration 70 having embedded decorative articles 72, namely artificial plants the items of which are glued into suitably spaced holes.

Although but a few embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifica¬ tions may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of producing a mold simulating an object of nature comprising the steps of: selecting an object of nature, painting the object with a releasable solu¬ tion, air drying the object, painting said object with a silicone coating, placing said object in a closely surrounding container leaving a predetermined space between the object and the inside surface of said container, filling said predetermined space with sili¬ cone, curing the silicone in said container, and removing the object from the container, there¬ by creating a hollow mold inside the hollow of said contain¬ er.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: said releasable solution comprises a soapy liquid.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: said mold formed of silicone is placed in a retainer which holds the mold to its intended shape when used to manufacture simulated objects.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 in further combination with the steps of: turning object over and repeating the steps of claim 1 for a two part mold.

5. A method of producing an object from the mold as set forth in claim 1 comprising the steps of: mixing a quantity of approximately one part of a resin with approximately one and one half parts of a dry sand with approximately one and one half parts of glass spears mixed with a given quantity of a color powder to form a given coloration of the ingredients, mixing said ingredients until the mixture is uniformly wet , mixing the wet ingredients with a catalyst, adding a swirl of highlight color to said ingredients, pouring said mixture into the mold of claim 1, curing said mixture for a predetermined time, removing the object formed by said mold from said mold, and finish curing said object in the atmosphere to obtain the finished product for sales.

6. The method set forth in claim 5 wherein: the mixture is cured from approximately five to nine minutes.

7. The method set forth in claim 5 in further combination with the steps of: drilling one or more holes in the molded object, and gluing in place in said hole or holes the roots or stems of one or more simulated plants.