Metal deforming – By use of roller or roller-like tool-element – Mounted on manually maneuverable carrier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-03
2001-05-22
Butler, Rodney A. (Department: 3725)
Metal deforming
By use of roller or roller-like tool-element
Mounted on manually maneuverable carrier
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233995
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a forming tool for creating profiles in a workpiece held in a bending brake.
BACKGROUND ART
Portable bending brakes are constructed of an array of support castings that are held together by an appropriate frame. The castings are provided with a clamp and a bending structure that clamps and bends sheet material at the open ends of the castings. Such portable bending brakes are designed to be lightweight for use at job sites for bending relatively thin gauge sheet material, such as metal or plastic sheets, used to sheath portions of homes or other buildings. For example, portable bending brakes are used to bend aluminum and vinyl sheets into custom-formed siding and trim pieces to cover existing wood trim during new construction or remodeling.
Portable bending brakes, however, do have limitations that present problems for an operator attempting to make certain trim shapes. In particular, portable bending brakes are limited in how small, how close together, and how close to the edge of a workpiece that bends can be made. Consequently, various commonly needed trim shapes cannot be made easily on portable bending brakes, and must therefore be formed by difficult and time-consuming processes on the brake and may not always fit properly when installed on the house or building.
For example, one type of wood trim found on most houses is termed “brick mold” which consists of a double bend in the sheet material that is used to surround window and door frames. Portable bending brakes are not generally capable of making the small bends necessary to form brick mold, and consequently the operator is forced to make a loose fitting trim shape in a difficult and time-consuming manner that lacks the brick mold detail.
Another problem facing operators of portable bending brakes during installation of siding is how to keep long, flat sections of trim commonly used on fascia (the face of a roof overhang), from waving and rippling, or “oil canning” as it is termed in the art. One solution is to create a small rib along the center of the trim section to provide stiffening. Again, a portable bending brake is not capable of making such a small bend, and usually the rib must be fabricated in a factory.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a forming tool that will quickly form commonly needed trim shapes not otherwise possible with a bending brake alone.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a forming tool capable of creating profiles in a workpiece while the workpiece is clamped in the brake.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a forming tool for creating a profile in a workpiece held within a bending brake, wherein the forming tool can be readily added to an existing bending brake and is removably mounted on the brake.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a forming tool that is guided along the bending brake for creating straight, accurate, and consistent profiles.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a forming tool capable of creating a variety of different profiles in a workpiece through the use of interchangeable forming dies.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a forming tool capable of creating profiles in wide workpieces that are either flat or pre-bent.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a forming tool that is not limited to creating profiles near the edge of the workpiece.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a forming tool that is light and portable for job site use.
Accordingly, a forming tool for creating a profile in a workpiece held within a bending brake is provided. The forming tool includes a body and a carriage attached to the body and operable to move longitudinally along a guide provided on the bending brake. A pair of opposed forming dies are rotatably and removably mounted on the body and are operable to create a profile, such as brick mold or a fascia rib, in the workpiece as the workpiece passes between the forming dies. The forming dies are interchangeable with another pair of forming dies for creating a different profile in the workpiece.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body includes a generally C-shaped throat sized to accommodate pre-bent and wide workpieces. In addition, the forming dies are preferably constructed from a plastic material and are removably mounted along shafts affixed to the body. A handle is preferably provided on one of the body and the carriage, and the forming tool is manually movable along the guide. Still further, the carriage preferably includes at least one pair of longitudinally spaced rollers operable to engage the guide, while still allowing the forming tool to be easily removable from the bending brake.
The forming tool of the present invention is intended for use with any type of bending brake or other material-working apparatus. As described herein, a preferred bending brake includes a base and at least two longitudinally spaced C-shaped support castings secured in assembly to the base. Each support casting includes a lower arm terminating in a horizontal support surface for supporting a workpiece and an upper arm spaced from and generally overlying the lower arm. The bending brake further includes a clamping arm for each casting. Each clamping arm has a first end pivotally secured to the support casting and a second end projecting toward the horizontal support surface. A clamping member is affixed to the second end of each clamping arm. The clamping member overlies the horizontal support surface and cooperates with the support surface for clamping a workpiece. A bending leaf is hinged to the horizontal support surface for bending the workpiece. A guide is provided that extends longitudinally along either the clamping member or the bending leaf. The forming tool engages the guide and moves longitudinally along the bending brake, allowing the forming dies to create a profile in the workpiece as the workpiece passes through the forming dies.
The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood after reviewing the attached drawings and specification.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4660399 (1987-04-01), Suter et al.
patent: 4787233 (1988-11-01), Beymer
patent: 4989429 (1991-02-01), Del Fabro et al.
patent: 5425259 (1995-06-01), Coben et al.
patent: 5632174 (1997-05-01), Hunter
patent: 5706693 (1998-01-01), Chubb et al.
patent: 6003357 (1999-12-01), Brown
patent: 42 35 629 A1 (1994-04-01), None
Knoll-Profilierkopf Knoll-Schneidkopf advertisment, Jan. 1993.
Brake Buddy Advertisement, Oct. 25, 1998.
Cleave Jeffrey Van
Eichhorn Eugene G.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Butler Rodney A.
Van Mark Products Corporation
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