Patent ID: 7047779

Claim:
A method of forming an article from a blank of sheet metal, said method being performed using opposing tools, said opposing tools comprising a finish-form tool having a finish-form surface defining a finish-form configuration for said article and a pre-form tool having a pre-form surface defining a pre-form configuration for said article, said method comprising: placing said blank between said opposing tools, said blank having a first side surface facing said pre-form tool and a second side surface facing said finish-form tool; moving said pre-form tool to a first stage closed position for pre-forming said blank into said pre-form configuration; curvilinearly moving said finish-form tool to a second stage closed position for at least one of mechanically pre-forming said blank against said pre-form tool and hot-gas finish-forming said blank into said finish-form configuration; and curvilinearly retracting said finish-form tool.