Abstract: A seat rail for a bicycle seat and a method of fabricating same are disclosed. The seat rail comprises a rod having one or more flutes formed along the length of the rod. The seat rail provides support for a bicycle seat and provides means for securing the seat to the frame of a bicycle. The flutes in the rod reduce the effective cross-sectional area of the rod which results in a significant decrease in the weight of the seat rail, but without a significant loss of rigidity and strength. The fabrication method comprises providing an elongated rod-shaped feedstock, forming at least one flute along the length of the rod-shaped feedstock, and then bending the fluted feedstock to form the seat rail.

Abstract: A seat rail for a bicycle seat and a method of fabricating same are disclosed. The seat rail comprises a rod having one or more flutes formed along the length of the rod. The seat rail provides support for a bicycle seat and provides means for securing the seat to the frame of a bicycle. The flutes in the rod reduce the effective cross-sectional area of the rod which results in a significant decrease in the weight of the seat rail, but without a significant loss of rigidity and strength. The fabrication method comprises providing an elongated rod-shaped feedstock, forming at least one flute along the length of the rod-shaped feedstock, and then bending the fluted feedstock to form the seat rail.

Abstract: A method for making dies or molds from powdered metals is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a pattern of a desired shape to define the mold or die cavity configuration; providing a canister; placing the pattern in the canister and filling the canister with a selected powdered metal; hot isostatic pressing the canister and powdered metal to produce a consolidated and densified compact; and sectioning the compact along a plane to enable removal of the pattern and thus providing the desired die or mold cavity in the fully densified powdered metal die or mold set so formed.

Abstract: A porous surface is selectively formed on a workpiece such as a medical implant by pulsing a laser device in a controlled manner to produce a plurality of small, spaced-apart cavities of uniform or variable depth. The porous surface provides a mechanical grip with bone cement as well as a medium for bone and tissue ingrowth.

Abstract: A porous metal coated implant is produced by diffusion bonding metal powder particles, preferably spherical or flattened spherical metal powder particles of commercially pure titanium grade, in the form of an insert or pad to a substrate, preferably commercially pure titanium or Ti 6Al-4V ELI, a prosthesis, below the beta-transus of the substrate material, under pressure and temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere, such as vacuum. The use of pressure permits bonding temperatures to be reduced to approximately 50% of the melting point of the substrate material. A clamping mechanism for applying pressure to the components is also disclosed.

Abstract: A porous metal coated implant is produced by diffusion bonding metal powder particles, preferably spherical or flattened spherical metal powder particles of commercially pure titanium grade, in the form of an insert or pad to a substrate, preferably commercially pure titanium or Ti 6Al-4V ELI, a prosthesis below the beta-transus of the substrate material, under pressure and temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere, such as vacuum. The use of pressure permits bonding temperatures to be reduced to approximately 50% of the melting point of the substrate material. A clamping mechanism for applying pressure to the components is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process and mold for applying a porous metal coating to a metal substrate or a portion thereof, especially for forming a medical prosthesis. The substrate to be coated is cleaned, then positioned in a rigid mold of ceramic or metal material having a defined mold cavity. The space between the mold cavity surface and the substrate is filled with a metal powder and the mold, powder and substrate assembly is pre-sintered. The pre-sinter conditions are selected such that the powder lightly sinters together and adheres to the substrate, but not to the mold cavity surface. After removal of the mold, the coated substrate is further sintered to obtain the proper desired bond strength and pore volume. Sintering is carried out in a protective atmosphere.