Patent ID: 7090485

Claim:
A press mechanism, comprising: a clamping frame profiled to receive and retain a sheet of material to be formed, the clamping frame having articulation joints along opposite sides allowing the frame to articulate about at least one axis, wherein the frame includes a central articulation axis and at least one additional articulation axis laterally located outward from the central articulation axis; a die for forming an article, wherein the clamping frame is pivoted about the central articulation axis and the additional articulation axis by movement of the die relative to the clamping frame and the engaging members; and engaging members fixed with respect to each other and shaped to receive and retain the clamping frame while allowing the clamping frame to articulate, wherein at least one of the die and the engaging members are capable of movement with respect to each other, and wherein a sheet of material to be formed is held by the clamping frame when engaged with the die.