Patent Publication Number: US-6901783-B2

Title: Device having pivotable wheel mechanism

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to provisional patent applications having Ser. Nos. 60/267,777 and 60/268,191 filed Feb. 9, 2001 and Feb. 12, 2001, respectively. 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/068,408, filed Feb. 6, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,619. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The subject invention relates to sheet bending brakes. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Sheet bending brakes are used for bending and cutting metal or plastic sheets such as those used for siding on homes and buildings. A typical sheet bending brake functions by clamping a work piece between clamping members and using a hinged bending arm to bend the work piece about the clamping member. These sheet bending brakes allow for the clamping member to move between an open position and a clamped position. 
     In the use of such brakes, the work piece is often forced out of position as the clamping member is moved from the open position to the clamped position. This results from the vibrating and shaking of the bending brake while being moved into the clamped position. Repositioning of the work piece requires that the clamping members be moved back to the open position to release the work piece. After repositioning, the work piece may again be forced out of position as the clamping members are returned to the clamped position. An operator may choose to control the sheet bending brake in an intermediate position by supporting the clamping members with one hand. However, this leaves only one hand free to reposition the work piece and does not allow for precise alignment of the work piece. 
     Most typical sheet bending brakes used for heavy duty applications are designed to be carried by one person when in a transport position. However, it can be cumbersome and difficult to transport due to its weight. Additionally, sheet bending brakes can be adjusted to varying lengths by adding additional clamping members which makes it more difficult to transport. Therefore, these sheet bending brakes require two people to transport because of an inability for one to lift and move the brake. 
     The related art sheet bending brakes, as described above, are characterized by one or more inadequacies. Specifically, the sheet bending brakes are limited to only the open position and the clamped position without allowing for precise alignment of the work piece. Additionally, the sheet bending brakes are cumbersome and do not provide for quick and easy transportation of the sheet bending brakes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES 
     The subject invention provides a sheet bending brake assembly for securing a work piece. The sheet bending brake assembly includes a clamping member having a lower leg extending therefrom, a pivoting arm pivotally supported by and extending from the clamping member to define a clamping area with the lower leg, and a guide mechanism reacting between the clamping member and the pivoting arm for moving the pivoting arm between an open position and a closed position. The guide mechanism has a detent between the open and the clamped positions for providing an intermediate clamping position for adjusting the position of and precisely aligning the work piece. 
     The subject invention further provides the sheet bending brake assembly including a plurality of clamping members and a base supporting the clamping members with the base being collapsible between a transport position and a support position. The base has a front rail and a rear rail defining a table such that the clamping members are supported by the front rail and the rear rail, and the table has a first table end and a second table end. A wheel mechanism is pivotably connected to one of the table ends and is pivotable between a rolling position and a working position for allowing quick and easy transportation of the assembly. 
     Accordingly, the subject invention overcomes the inadequacies that characterize the related art sheet bending brakes. The subject invention provides the sheet bending brake assembly with the intermediate clamping position that allows for the work piece to be precisely aligned when in the clamped position. Also, the subject invention allows for quick and easy transportation of the sheet bending brake assembly without requiring disassembly or additional assistance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sheet bending brake assembly according to the subject invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a guide mechanism for operating the sheeting bending brake assembly of  FIG. 1  from a different angle; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the guide mechanism showing a guide slot receiving a pin; 
         FIG. 4  is yet another perspective view of the guide mechanism; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a single clamping member in an open position; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the single clamping member of  FIG. 5  in an intermediate position; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the single clamping member of  FIG. 6  in a clamped position; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view the sheet bending brake assembly of  FIG. 1  having a bend indicator attached; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a sheet bending brake assembly having a wheel mechanism attached to one end for transporting the assembly; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the sheet bending brake of  FIG. 9  in a rolling position; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the wheel mechanism; and 
         FIG. 12  is another perspective view of the wheel mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a sheet bending brake assembly for securing a work piece  28  is generally shown at  20  in FIG.  1 . 
     The sheet bending brake assembly  20  includes a clamping member  22  having a lower leg  24  extending therefrom. The clamping member  22  is generally a C-shaped frame member and has an upper leg  26  extending therefrom. As seen in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of longitudinally spaced clamping members  22  form the assembly  20  and allow for engaging differently sized work pieces  28 , as will be described below. However it is to be understood that any number of clamping members  22  may be utilized with the subject invention.  FIGS. 5 through 7  illustrate a single clamping member  22  that forms the sheet bending brake assembly  20 . It should be appreciated that each of the frame members is substantially identical. Preferably, the clamping members  22  are made of lightweight aluminum to facilitate transportation of the sheet bending brake assembly  20 . However, different materials may be utilized for providing additional support to the assembly  20  as is known in the art of sheet bending brakes. 
     A pivoting arm  30  is pivotally supported by and extends from the clamping member  22 . The pivoting arm  30  defines a clamping area  32  with the lower leg  24 . The clamping area  32  has a throat depth  25  and forms a working pocket  27 . Designing the C-shaped frame member differently can alter both the throat depth  25  and working pocket  27 . The pivoting arm  30  has a secured end  34  and a free end  36 , such that a bolt  38  extends through the secured end  34  and into the clamping member  22 . The pivoting arm  30  is moveable between an open position and a clamped position by pivoting about the bolt  38  while moving between the open position and the clamped position. 
     An upper clamping surface  40  is connected to the free end  36  of the pivoting arm  30  and a lower clamping surface  42  is connected to the lower leg  24 . The upper clamping surface  40  and the lower clamping surface  42  engage one another in the clamped position to secure the work piece  28  therebetween. The opening between the upper clamping surface  40  and the lower clamping surface  42  is commonly referred to as a mouth opening. After the work piece  28  is secured, the upper and lower clamping surfaces  40 ,  42  create a bending surface  44  that the work piece  28  is bent about. Additionally, the sheet bending brake assembly  20  may be used with a tool cutter (not shown) for cutting the work piece  28  while in the clamped position. It is to be understood that many different tools known in the art of sheet bending brakes may be utilized with the subject invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a base  46  supports the clamping members  22  and provides support to the assembly  20  while moving the pivoting arm  30  between the open position and the clamped position. The base  46  includes a front rail  48  and a rear rail  50  defining a table  52  such that the clamping members  22  are supported by the front rail  48  and the rear rail  50 . The table  52  has a first table end  54  and a second table end  56 . 
     The assembly  20  further includes a guide mechanism  58  reacting between the clamping member  22  and the pivoting arm  30  for moving the pivoting arm  30  between the open position and the clamped position. The guide mechanism  58  has a detent  60  between the open and the clamped positions for providing an intermediate clamping position for adjusting the position of and precisely aligning the work piece  28 . When the sheet bending brake assembly  20  is in the intermediate clamping position, the upper clamping surface  40  is in close proximity to, but not in contact with, the lower clamping surface  42  of the lower leg  24 . In order to secure the sheet bending brake assembly  20  in the intermediate position, a stop  62  is positioned adjacent the detent  60  for sustaining the intermediate position. 
     The guide mechanism  58  has an aperture  64  for receiving a handle  66 . The handle  66  extends from the guide mechanism  58  for facilitating movement of the pivoting arm  30  between the open and the clamped positions. The handle  66  functions to move the pivoting arm  30 , thereby rotating the guide mechanism  58 . The handle  66  may be a single lever for a single clamping member  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 through 8 , or a long bar engaging the plurality of clamping members  22  as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The guide mechanism  58  also includes a guide slot  68  having a first end  70  and a second end  72  such that the first end  70  corresponds to the open position and the second end  72  corresponds to the clamped position. The detent  60 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , is positioned within the guide slot  68  between the first and the second ends  70 ,  72 . In one embodiment, the guide slot  68  is arcuate and includes a long portion  74  and a short portion  76 , the long portion  74  being substantially horizontal and the short portion  76  being substantially vertical. The guide slot  68  may be designed differently to accommodate differently sized clamping members  22  without deviating from the subject invention. The guide mechanism  58  may be further defined as a pivot bracket. The pivot bracket has an upper region and a lower region such that the guide slot  68  is disposed between the upper region and the lower region. 
     In yet another embodiment, referring to  FIG. 3 , the guide mechanism  58  includes a plurality of detents  60  positioned between the first and the second ends  70 ,  72 . The plurality of detents  60  provides for a plurality of intermediate clamping positions for receiving work pieces  28  of varying thickness. Corresponding to each of the detents  60  is a plurality of stops  62  within the guide slot  68  and adjacent the plurality of detents  60  to secure the sheet bending brake assembly  20  in each of the intermediate positions. 
     The sheet bending brake assembly  20  has a pin  78  supported by the clamping member  22  and disposed in the guide slot  68  such that the guide mechanism  58  rotates about the pin  78  between the first end  70  and the second end  72 . In operation, the handle  66  rotates the guide mechanism  58  about the pin  78 , which causes the pivoting arm  30  to move between the open position and the clamped position. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the single clamping member  22  is shown with the pivoting arm  30  in the open position and with the pin  78  at the first end  70  of the guide slot  68 . In  FIG. 6 , the handle  66  is operated and the pivoting arm  30  is now in the intermediate position and the pin  78  is in the detent  60  of the guide slot  68 . The movement into the intermediate position reduces the opening between the upper clamping surface  40  and the lower clamping surface  42  to a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is determined by the location of the detent  60  within the guide slot  68 . As shown, the predetermined distance at the intermediate position is about one inch. Finally,  FIG. 7  shows the pivoting arm  30  in the clamped position and in contact with the lower clamping surface  42 . In the clamped position, the pin  78  is now in the second end  72  of the guide slot  68 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a bending arm  80  is supported by the clamping member for engaging the work piece  28  and bending the work piece  28  to a desired angle. The bending arm  80  extends the length of the sheet bending brake assembly  20  and contacts the work piece  28  when rotated. The bending arm  80  is preferably hingedly connected with the lower clamping surface  42 . The bending arm  80  also has extensions  81  extending from the bending arm  80  for allowing easy rotation of the bending arm  80 . 
     The assembly  20  further includes a bend indicator  82  connected to the bending arm  80  for indicating a degree of rotation of the bending arm  80  during the bending of the work piece  28 . The bend indicator  82  includes a displacement sensor  84  for measuring the degree of rotation of the bending arm  80  and a display device  86  for displaying the degree of rotation of the bending arm  80 . The bend indicator  82  may be any type of electrical or mechanical device capable of measuring a degree of rotation. In one embodiment, the displacement sensor  84  is a housing  88  supported by the lower leg  24  and a cable  90  extending from the housing  88  and attaching to the bending arm  80 . The cable  90  extends through the lower clamping surface  42  and is fixedly connected to the bending arm  80  such that as the bending arm  80  is moved, the cable  90  is pulled through the lower clamping surface  42 . However, it is to be understood that the cable  90  may also extend through the front rail  48  of the base  46 . The housing  88  is preferably detached from the table  52 , except for the cable  90 , to allow for easy viewing of the display device  86  in different positions. 
     The display device  86  is further defined as a viewing window  92  within the housing  88  and a disc  94  housed within the housing  88  and connected to the cable  90  for moving within the housing  88  to indicate the degree of rotation through the viewing window  92 . Indicia  96  may be positioned adjacent the viewing window  92  corresponding to the degree of rotation of the bending arm  80 . Further, the bend indicator  82  may include a calibration device  98 . The calibration device  98  may be connected to the cable  90  and the bend indicator  82  for calibrating the bend indicator  82 . As the assembly  20  is utilized, the cable  90  will stretch and therefore calibrating the bend indicator  82  is required. The calibration device  98  tightens the cable  90  to a desired tautness when the bending arm  80  is a non-bending position. After the cable  90  is tightened, the bend indicator  82  is calibrated for successive uses. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 through 12 , a wheel mechanism  100  is pivotably connected to one of the table ends  54 ,  56  and being pivotable  52  between a rolling position and a working position. The wheel mechanism  100  is shown connected to the first table end  54 , however, it is to be appreciated that the wheel mechanism  100  may be attached to either the first table end  54  or the second table end  56  or both. The subject invention includes a pivot  102  engaging the wheel mechanism  100  and the table  52  for allowing the wheel mechanism  100  to rotate between the rolling position and the working position. A locking device  104  between the wheel mechanism  100  and the table  52  locks the wheel mechanism  100  in the rolling position and unlocks the wheel mechanism  100  to allow the wheel mechanism  100  to rotate into the working position. The sheet bending brake in  FIG. 9  shows the wheel mechanism  100  in the working position.  FIGS. 10 through 12  show the wheel mechanism  100  in the rolling position. 
     The wheel mechanism  100  further includes a wheel brace  106  extending between the front rail  48  and the rear rail  50  and engaging the locking device  104 . In one embodiment, the wheel brace  106  is an upwardly facing U-shaped bar. Additionally, the wheel brace  106  has a plate  108  attached to the U-shaped bar. The plate  108  has holes that are aligned with holes in the rails for receiving the locking device  104  and the pivot  102 . The locking device  104  and the pivot  102  both engage the plate  108  and the rails  48 ,  50  to secure the wheel mechanism  100  and to allow the wheel mechanism  100  to pivot. It is to be understood that the wheel brace  106  may be any other shape of material while still accomplishing the subject invention. The wheel brace  106  also has a notch  110  aligned with the front rail  48  and the rear rail  50 . The notch  110  receives the front rail  48  and the rear rail  50  in the rolling position. The notch  110  has an indentation  112  that allows the wheel mechanism  100  to pivot  102  without contacting either of the front or rear rails  48 ,  50 . The indentation  112  receives the front rail  48  and the rear rail  50  when in the working position. 
     The wheel mechanism  100  also includes a pair of wheels  114  having a wheel support  116  extending therebetween and being connected to the wheel brace  106 . The wheels are used for transporting the assembly  20 . The pair of wheels  114  may be replaced with any other device, such as a roller, as is known in the art. A wheel extension  118  interconnects the wheel support  116  and the wheel brace  106  such that as the wheel extension  118  pivots, the wheel mechanism  100  extends a predetermined amount below the table  52  to allow for insertion of the work piece  28  within the clamping area  32 , as shown in FIG.  9 . In one embodiment, the front and rear rails  48 ,  50  do not extend beyond the wheel mechanism  100  any further than the radius of each wheel to prevent the front and rear rails  48 ,  50  from contacting the ground during transport. After the base  46  has been collapsed into the transport position, the wheel mechanism  100  presently described can be used by one person to transport the sheet bending brake assembly  20 . 
     To secure the sheet bending brake to the table  52 , the wheel mechanism  100  is pivoted such that the rails are seated in the notch  110 . Then, the locking device  104  is inserted through the hole in the plate  108  in the front and rear rails  48 ,  50 . As illustrated, the locking device  104  is a locking pin having a ring for easy removal. The locking pin is the pin closest to the pair of wheels  114 . After transport, the sheet bending brake may be lifted to rest upon the base  46  for use as shown in FIG.  9 . Removal of the locking pin from the front rail  48  and the rear rail  50  allows the wheel assembly  20  to rotate about the pivot  102 . The pivot  102  is preferably a pivot pin having a ring and extending through the plate  108  and the front rail  48  and rear rail  50 . However, it is to be understood that the pivot  102  may also be a rod extending the width of the table  52  and engaging the plate  108  on the opposite side. In the preferred embodiment, the pivot pin is farthest away from the pair of wheels  114 . As described above, the indentation  112  in the notch  110  is aligned with the center of the pivot pin. The indention is aligned with the center of the pivot  102  to allow the front and rear rails  48 ,  50  to be received by the notch  110  when the locking pin is removed. It is to be understood that the indention may be aligned differently by modifying other features of the wheel mechanism  100 . 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, wherein reference numerals are merely for convenience and are not to be in any way limiting, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.