U.S. patent application number 11/262631 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-06 for sheet metal brake and hinge mechanism therefor.
Invention is credited to Clyde G. Allen, Douglas Break, Todd M. Lajewski.
Application Number | 20070277577 11/262631 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38788556 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070277577 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Allen; Clyde G. ; et
al. |
December 6, 2007 |
Sheet metal brake and hinge mechanism therefor
Abstract
A bending brake assembly for manually bending pieces of sheet
metal material including a base (20) supporting a plurality of
c-shaped members (22). Each c-shaped member (22) presents opposing
clamping surfaces (24) for receiving a sheet metal material between
the clamping surfaces (24). The assembly also includes a bending
member (26) and a socket connection (28) rotatably supporting the
bending member (26) on the base (20) for bending a piece of sheet
metal material disposed between the clamping surfaces (24). The
socket connection (28) includes a male portion (30) and a female
portion (32) in sliding engagement with one another. A bearing
strip (34) is sandwiched between the male portion (30) and the
female portion (32) for facilitating relative movement between the
male portion (30) and the female portion (32).
Inventors: |
Allen; Clyde G.; (Lapeer,
MI) ; Lajewski; Todd M.; (Lapeer, MI) ; Break;
Douglas; (Livonia, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS, P.C.
THE PINEHURST OFFICE CENTER, SUITE #101
39400 WOODWARD AVENUE
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48304-5151
US
|
Family ID: |
38788556 |
Appl. No.: |
11/262631 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60623468 |
Oct 29, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
72/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D 5/042 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
072/319 |
International
Class: |
B21D 5/04 20060101
B21D005/04 |
Claims
1. A bending brake assembly for manually bending pieces of sheet
metal material comprising: a base (20), a plurality of generally
c-shaped members (22) supported by said base (20) and each
presenting opposing clamping surfaces (24) for receiving a sheet of
material between said clamping surfaces (24), a bending member
(26), a socket connection (28) rotatably supporting said bending
member (26) on said base (20) for bending a piece of sheet metal
material disposed between said clamping surfaces (24), said socket
connection (28) including a male portion (30) and a female portion
(32) in sliding engagement with one another, and characterized by a
bearing strip (34) being sandwiched between said male portion (30)
and said female portion (32) for facilitating relative movement
between said male portion (30) and said female portion (32).
2. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a
first mechanical connection (36) connecting said bearing strip (34)
to one of said male portion (30) and said female portion (32).
3. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
first mechanical connection (36) includes a projection (38) and a
recess (40) for securing said bearing strip (34) to one of said
portions (30, 32).
4. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
female portion (30) and said male portion (30) are arcuate and said
bearing strip (34) is arcuate and complementary to said portions
(30, 32).
5. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
male portion (30) presents an arcuate upper surface (42) and said
base (20) includes a pocket (44) defining a fulcrum engaging said
upper surface (42) of said male portion (30) for guiding arcuate
movement of said bending member (26) as said arcuate male portion
(30) slides along said bearing strip (34).
6. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said
male portion (30) presents a slanted corner (46) for bending the
sheet metal material.
7. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 6 including a
rubber strip (48) secured to said slanted corner (46) for
preventing damage to the sheet metal material.
8. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 7 including a
finger (56) extending from a distal end (58) of said male portion
(30) for engaging said pocket (44) to limit movement of said male
portion (30) into said pocket (44) in a pre-bending position of
said bending member (26).
9. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 8 including a
second mechanical connection (50) connecting said rubber strip (48)
to said male portion (30)
10. A bending brake assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said
second mechanical connection (50) includes a protrusion (52) and a
nook (54) for securing said rubber strip (48) to said male portion
(30).
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/623,468, filed Oct. 29, 2004, all of its
contents incorporated herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The subject invention relates to a bending brake assembly
for manually bending pieces of sheet metal material.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] A bending brake assembly generally includes a base and a
plurality of generally c-shaped members supported by the base and
each presenting opposing clamping surfaces for receiving a sheet of
metal material between the clamping surfaces. Furthermore, the
assembly generally includes a bending member and a socket
connection rotatably supporting the bending member on the base for
bending a piece of sheet metal material disposed between the
clamping surfaces. The socket connection generally includes a male
portion and a female portion in sliding engagement with one another
or connected by a pin hinge connection to one another. Examples of
bending brake assemblies and socket connections as specified are
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,735, issued to Douglas G. Break and in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,864, issued to Arthur B. Chubb.
[0006] Constant and continuous usage of the bending brake assembly
causes the male portion to erode due to the frictional force
generated by the surface of the male portion sliding against the
surface of the female portion during the process of bending a piece
of sheet metal material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
[0007] The present invention provides such a bending brake assembly
distinguished by a bearing strip being sandwiched between the male
portion and the female portion for facilitating relative movement
between the male portion and the female portion.
[0008] The bearing strip minimizes the erosion of the male portion
due to the frictional force generated by the surface of the male
portion sliding against the surface of the female portion during
the process of bending a piece of sheet metal material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet bending brake
assembly embodying the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an alternative perspective view of the base shown
in FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the sheet bending
brake assembly;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an alternative vertical sectional view of the
sheet bending brake assembly;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a front view of the sheet bending brake
assembly;
[0016] FIG. 7 is an alternative perspective view of the sheet
bending brake assembly;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the sheet bending brake
assembly;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a socket connection of the
present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 10 is an operational perspective view of the socket
connection shown in FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate
corresponding parts throughout the several views, a bending brake
assembly for manually bending pieces of sheet metal material is
shown including a base (20). A plurality of generally c-shaped
members (22) are supported by the base (20) and each c-shaped
member (22) presents opposing clamping surfaces (24) for receiving
a sheet metal material between the clamping surfaces (24).
[0021] The bending brake assembly also includes a bending member
(26). A socket connection (28) rotatably supports the bending
member (26) on the base (20) for bending a piece of sheet metal
material disposed between the clamping surfaces (24). The socket
connection (28) includes a male portion (30) and a female portion
(32) in sliding engagement with one another.
[0022] The bending brake assembly is distinguished by a bearing
strip (34) being sandwiched between the male portion (30) and the
female portion (32) for facilitating relative movement between the
male portion (30) and the female portion (32). The bearing strip
(34) minimizes the erosion of the male portion (30) which occurs
due to the frictional force exerted on the male portion (30) when
the male portion (30) slides against the female portion (32) due to
the bending member (26) being used to bend sheet metal
material.
[0023] The bending brake assembly also includes a first mechanical
connection (36) that connects the bearing strip (34) to one of the
male portion (30) and the female portion (32). The first mechanical
connection (36) includes a projection (38) and a recess (40) for
securing the bearing strip (34) to one of the portions (30,
32).
[0024] The female portion (32) and the male portion (30) are
arcuate and the bearing strip (34) is arcuate and complementary to
the portions (30, 32). The male portion (30) presents an arcuate
upper surface (42) and the base (20) includes a pocket (44)
defining a fulcrum engaging the upper surface (42) of the male
portion (30) for guiding arcuate movement of the bending member
(26) as the arcuate male portion (30) slides along the bearing
strip (34).
[0025] The male portion (30) is configured for applying force to a
sheet metal material so that the sheet metal material can be bent
with precision and accuracy. The configuration entails the male
portion (30) presenting a slanted corner (46) for bending the sheet
metal material. The slanted corner (46) permits direct force to be
applied to the sheet metal material at a particular location.
[0026] A rubber strip (48) is secured to the slanted corner (46)
for preventing damage to the sheet metal material. In operation the
bending member (26) is raised which causes the rubber strip (48)
secured to the slanted corner (46) to directly contact the sheet
metal material. The rubber strip (48) prevents the possibility of
slippage by the bending member (26) once it contacts the sheet
metal material. The rubber strip (48) also prevents the sheet metal
material from being marred by scratches and dents which could occur
if the bending member (26) directly contacted the sheet metal
material during the bending process. Both the bending member (26)
and the sheet metal material are formed of metal properties which
make it likely that the sheet metal material could be damaged by
impact of the two metals contacting each other directly during the
bending process.
[0027] A second mechanical connection (50) secures the rubber strip
(48) to the male portion (30). The second mechanical connection
(50) includes a protrusion (52) and a nook (54) for securing the
rubber strip (48) to the male portion (30).
[0028] A finger (56) extends from a distal end (58) of the male
portion (30) for engaging the pocket (44) to limit movement of the
male portion (30) into the pocket (44) in a pre-bending position of
the bending member (26). The finger (56) also behaves as a stop for
the male portion (30) by ensuring that the male portion (30) does
not disengage from the female portion (32) during the bending
process wherein the bending member (26) is elevated.
[0029] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The
invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described
within the scope of the appended claims, wherein that which is
prior art is antecedent to the novelty set forth in the
"characterized by" clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly
and distinctly recited in the "characterized by" clause whereas the
antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known
combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent
recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which
the incentive novelty exercises its utility. In addition, the
reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are
not to be read in any way as limiting.
ELEMENT LIST
[0030] TABLE-US-00001 Element Symbol Element Name 20 base 22
c-shaped members 24 clamping surfaces 26 bending member 28 socket
connection 30 male portion 32 female portion 34 bearing strip 36
first mechanical connection 38 projection 40 recess 42 arcuate
upper surface 44 pocket 46 slanted corner 48 rubber strip 50 second
mechanical connection 52 protrusion 54 nook 56 finger 58 distal
end
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