Patent ID: 9545738
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: B21D,B29C,B32B,B62D,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method of painting a complex or compound curved three-dimensional surface of a portion of an article, said method comprising: providing a paint film; providing sheet metal having opposite major surfaces; laminating the paint film onto a major surface of the sheet metal to form a painted sheet metal laminate comprising a first portion and a second portion on the periphery of the first portion; permanently deforming the first portion of the painted sheet metal laminate into a formed portion of the article having a complex or compound curved three-dimensional shape; applying an initial force for securing the second portion of the painted sheet metal laminate during an initial stage of said permanently deforming step; and applying a later force for securing the second portion of the painted sheet metal laminate during a later stage of said permanently deforming step, wherein the later applied force is greater than the initially applied force.