Patent ID: 7210323

Claim:
A method of forming a component from a sheet material blank, said method comprising: placing said sheet material blank between a first binder and a second binder apparatus, said second binder apparatus having stationary binder segments and further having movable binder segments that are movable with respect to said stationary binder segments, said second binder apparatus circumscribing a form die having a forming surface for the forming of said sheet material; moving said first binder toward said second binder apparatus to initially bend said sheet material blank into substantial conformity with said movable binder segments of said second binder apparatus; and further moving said first binder so as to displace said movable binder segments, thereby subsequently bending said sheet material blank into substantial conformity with said stationary binder segments of said second binder apparatus, and thereby bending said sheet material blank over said forming surface of said a form die.