Patent ID: 8556618
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
1. A material forming apparatus comprising: an inflatable bladder; a support structure having peripheral edges, wherein the inflatable bladder is sealed to the support structure, cooperatively forming a hollow space between the bladder and the support structure; a pressure regulator configured for inflating and deflating the bladder toward and away from the support structure; an actuator operable to move the support structure and bladder toward and away from a material to be formed; and a forming tool having at least one protrusion and configured such that when the bladder is inflated and the support structure is actuated toward the material, the bladder presses the material in contact with the protrusion first, before the bladder presses the material against other portions of the forming tool surrounding the protrusion, wherein the protrusion has a width approximately equal to a width of the support structure and a height approximately equal to or less than a height of the support structure.