Patent ID: 6481259
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: B21D,E02D,E04C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for precision bending of a sheet of material along a bend line comprising the steps of:selecting a solid sheet of elastically and plastically deformable material; forming a plurality of longitudinally extending closed-ended slits through said sheet of material in axially spaced relation in a direction extending along and proximate said bend line to define at least one bending web between adjacent ends of at least one pair of said slits; forming a stress reducing structure at each end of said pair of slits, said structure being formed on said, bend line and connected to said slits; bending of said sheet of material substantially along said bend line and across said bending web between said openings; and during said bending step, elastically and then plastically deforming said sheet at said web by interengagement of solid edges of said sheet of material on opposite sides of said slits.