公开(公告)号：US06640605B2

公开(公告)日：2003-11-04

申请号：US10116708

申请日：2002-04-04

Applicant: Bruce Gitlin ,  Alexander Kveton ,  Haresh Lalvani

Inventor： Bruce Gitlin ,  Alexander Kveton ,  Haresh Lalvani

IPC: B21D500

CPC classification number: B21D11/08 ,  B21D5/00 ,  B21D11/20

Abstract: A method for bending sheet metal includes introducing to the sheet metal thinned regions which are positioned either along or immediately adjacent to a bending line. These thinned regions allow the metal to be easily bent along the bending line using conventional hand tools or non-specialized machines. The thinned regions may be shaped as slots having a specific width, length, end shape, spacing from each adjacent slot, and depth into the metal sheet. According to one embodiment of the invention, each slot is cut through the entire thickness of the metal sheet. Other related embodiments require that the slots be only partially cut or etched thereby having a depth that is less than the thickness of the metal sheet. The thinned regions may be any appropriate shape as controlled by the shape of the bend, the type of metal, the thickness of the metal, the ductility of the metal, the angle of the bend, and the application of the metal (e.g., load bearing, etc). According to a second embodiment, two generally parallel sets of thinned regions are formed adjacent and generally parallel to the bending line. In a preferred application, the two sets of thinned regions are slots (cutting through the metal) and are staggered or offset with respect to each other.

Abstract translation: 用于弯曲金属板的方法包括向沿着或紧邻弯曲线定位的金属薄板区域引入。 这些变薄的区域允许金属沿着弯曲线容易地弯曲，使用常规的手动工具或非专业的机器。 变薄的区域可以形成为具有特定宽度，长度，端部形状，与每个相邻狭槽的间隔以及深度进入金属片的狭槽。根据本发明的一个实施例，每个槽切割金属的整个厚度 片。 其它相关的实施例要求，狭槽仅被部分地切割或蚀刻，从而具有小于金属片的厚度的深度。 变薄的区域可以是由弯曲形状，金属类型，金属的厚度，金属的延展性，弯曲角度和金属的应用（例如，负载 轴承等）。根据第二实施例，两个大致平行的变薄区域组形成为与弯曲线相邻并且大致平行。 在优选的应用中，两组变薄的区域是槽（切穿金属）并且相对于彼此交错或偏移。