Patent ID: 7875228

Claim:
A method for maintaining orientation of a manufactured part during a manufacturing process, the method comprising: uncoiling a carrier from at least one supply reel, the carrier comprising a plurality of prongs protruding from the carrier, the carrier and the plurality of prongs configured to support a plurality of manufactured parts, the carrier and the plurality of prongs formed independent of the manufactured parts; feeding the carrier and at least one prong of the plurality of prongs into a manufacturing machine used by a manufacturing process to form at least a portion of a manufactured part from the plurality of manufactured parts, the carrier and the at least one prong being free from any portion of the manufactured part prior to being fed into the manufacturing machine; and forming the at least a portion of the manufactured part onto the at least one prong protruding from the carrier such that raw material used to form the manufactured part is molded around the at least one prong when the manufacturing machine forms the at least a portion of the manufactured part, wherein a portion of the raw material attaches to the at least one prong, the at least one prong and the carrier maintaining orientation of the manufactured part with respect to a portion of the carrier from which the at least one prong protrudes.