Patent ID: 7089899

Claim:
A rocker arm for use in a valve control system of an internal combustion engine, including an engine poppet valve adapted to be moved between open and closed positions in response to rotation of a camshaft having first and second cam profiles, each cam profile including a base circle portion and a lift portion; said rocker arm comprising first and second sidewall portions, substantially parallel to an axis and a connecting portion interconnecting said first and second sidewall portions; said rocker arm being formed from a flat sheet metal bank having a nominal thickness; characterized by: (a) each of said first and second sidewall portions including an enlarged portion defining a fold region whereby, after each of said enlarged portions is folded over on itself along said fold region, and said blank is formed to comprise said rocker arm, said fold regions are parallel to, and equally and oppositely disposed about, said rocker arm axis; and (b) said first and second enlarged portions, after being folded, comprise first and second cam contact surfaces, respectively, for engagement with said first and second cam profiles, respectively, each of said cam contact surfaces having a width, in a direction perpendicular to said rocker arm axis, wherein said width is substantially greater than said nominal thickness of said sheet metal blank.