Patent ID: 8833129
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: B21D,B60T,G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing an article from a metallic rigid member having a first shape, the metallic rigid member having an external wall surface and a hollow interior with an internal wall surface, the method comprising: introducing into the hollow interior of the metallic rigid member a flexible yet substantially incompressible retainer member, the retainer member having an external wall surface that is adapted to the internal wall surface of the metallic rigid member; and applying one or more forces to the external wall surface of the metallic rigid member to form the article by changing the first shape to a second shape that is different from the first shape, the substantial incompressibility of the retainer member inhibiting deformations in the internal wall surface of the metallic rigid member as the one or more forces are applied to the external wall surface of the metallic rigid member so that the internal wall surface is substantially free of deformations upon the metallic rigid member assuming the second shape, the flexibility of the retainer member allowing it to bend in the direction of the applied one or more forces to accommodate a change in shape of the metallic rigid member from the first shape to the second shape, wherein the retainer member is permanently fixed within the hollow interior upon the first shape being changed to the second shape.