Patent ID: 8137604
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: B29C,B29L,B33Y,G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of forming hoses, the method comprising: generating a virtual design for at least one of a solid durable core and a hollow sacrificial core; forming at least one of the solid durable core and the hollow sacrificial core using rapid prototyping; forming a mold cavity using the solid durable core; and forming the hose about the hollow sacrificial core with the hollow sacrificial core in the mold cavity; wherein the step of generating the virtual design includes forming virtual designs for both the solid durable core and the hollow sacrificial core, the virtual design for the solid durable core including providing locking feature portions for the solid durable core and a hose forming portion located between the locking feature portions, the locking feature portions having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the hose forming portion.