Patent ID: 9604394
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: B29C

Claim:
1. A method of shaping a material, the method comprising: placing the material between an inelastic inflatable bladder and a convex protrusion, the inelastic inflatable bladder having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal end of the inelastic inflatable bladder being connected to a support structure, the distal end of the inelastic inflatable bladder being unsupported, the inelastic inflatable bladder having a thickness such that the inelastic inflatable bladder is configured to conform to contours of the convex protrusion, the convex protrusion comprising a top surface, two flange surfaces, and two side surfaces extending between the top surface and the two flange surfaces; pumping air, liquid, or gas into the inelastic inflatable bladder; and after pumping air, liquid, or gas into the inelastic inflatable bladder is inflated, actuating the inflated inelastic inflatable bladder and the support structure in a direction toward the convex protrusion such that the inelastic inflatable bladder conforms to the contours of the convex protrusion by first pressing the material against the top surface of the convex protrusion, then progressively pressing the material against the two side surfaces of the convex protrusion, and finally pressing the material against the two flange surfaces of the convex protrusion as the inelastic inflatable bladder and the support structure move closer to the convex protrusion.