Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The invention relates generally to an apparatus configured for bending metal and, more particularly, to an apparatus configured for bending sheet metal. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Conventional, when stone setters desire to bend sheet metal for use in securing stone panels to buildings, they manually position the sheet metal over an edge, such as an I-beam, secure it in place, such as with a C-clamp, and bend the metal as desired, typically to an angle of 90°. However, this method of bending metal tends to be laborious and inadequate to bend metal within the tolerances needed for securing stone panels to buildings. As a result, many such connectors are disposed of and costs escalate. 
   Accordingly, a there is a need for a portable apparatus effective for consistently bending sheet metal within acceptable tolerances. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention, accordingly, provides a metal bending apparatus which has a base member and a cross member connected together by two posts extending therebetween. A spring and sleeve are slidably positioned on each post, and a wedge is secured between the sleeves, the wedge including a pointed end directed toward the base member. A stop is secured on the base member substantially directly under the pointed end of the wedge, and two blocks are positioned on the base member substantially parallel to each other and equidistant from the stop. A jack is positioned between the wedge and the cross member for urging the wedge toward the base member, and for bending a sheet of metal interposed between the wedge and the two blocks. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of an apparatus embodying features of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  depicts a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIGS. 3A–3C  schematically depict a method for bending sheet metal by utilizing the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the discussion of the FIGURES the same reference numerals will be used throughout to refer to the same or similar components. In the interest of conciseness, various other components known to the art, such as hydraulic jacks, and the like, preferred or necessary for the operation of the invention, have not been discussed in detail. It is noted that references herein to “metal” refer to metallic material, such as, by way of example, conventional carbon steel, but may include any of a number of different materials effective for implementing the invention described herein. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the reference numeral  10  generally designates an apparatus embodying features of the present invention for bending metal. The apparatus  10  preferably includes a base member  12  comprising a metal plate supported by two angle irons  14  positioned on a flat surface  15 , such as ground or a floor. As viewed in  FIG. 1 , two posts  16  are secured (e.g., by welding) at their lower ends to the base member  12 , and at their upper ends to a horizontal cross member  18  that spans across the upper ends of the posts  16 . As viewed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a vertical cross member  19  is secured (e.g., by welding) across the horizontal cross member  18 , and a handle  20  is secured (e.g., by welding) to the top of the vertical cross member  19  to facilitate portably carrying the apparatus  10 . It is noted that the cross members  18  and  19  form a T-bar, and alternatively a T-bar may be substituted therefor. A cylindrical receiver  21  is centrally secured (e.g., by welding) on a bottom side of the horizontal cross member  18 , for purposes discussed below. 
   Sleeves  22  are slidably positioned on the posts  16 , and springs  17  are positioned on the posts  16  between the sleeves  22  and the base member  12 . A wedge  26  is secured (e.g., by welding) between the sleeves  22 , such that, as most clearly viewed in  FIG. 2 , a pointed or angled end  26   a  is directed downwardly toward the base member  12 . A wedge plate  27  is preferably positioned (e.g., by welding) on top of the wedge  26 . A jack  28 , such as a hydraulic jack (shown in  FIG. 1 ) or the like, is positioned on the wedge plate  27 . Jacks are considered to be well-known in the industry and, therefore, will not be discussed in further detail herein, except insofar as necessary to describe the present invention. The jack  28  includes a jack body  30  positioned on the wedge plate  27 , and a piston extension portion  32  extending into the receiver portion  21 . The jack  28  also includes a conventional operational mechanism  34  for receiving a lever  36  (shown in dashed outline) configured for applying activating force to the jack  28 . 
   Two blocks  40  and  41  are positioned and secured (e.g., by welding) on the base member  12 , and a stop  44 , such as a bolt, or the like, is secured to the base member  12 . The stop  44  is preferably centrally positioned between the two blocks  40  and  41 , substantially directly beneath the pointed end  26   a  of the wedge  26 . The blocks  40  and  41  are sized, configured, and positioned on the base member  12  to facilitate bending sheet metal at a predetermined angle, as discussed in further detail below. 
   In the operation of the metal bending apparatus  10 , as most clearly depicted in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C, a sheet of metal  60  is inserted into the apparatus between the blocks  40  and  41  and the wedge  26 , the wedge being maintained in an elevated position by the springs  22  which urge the sleeves  22 , and hence the wedge  26 , upwardly. The lever  36  is then inserted in the operational mechanism  34  and a user applies force through the lever  36  to the jack  28  in a conventional manner to cause the piston extension portion  32  to extend outwardly from the jack body  30 , causing the wedge  26  to move downwardly and compress the springs  17 , as shown in  FIG. 3B . As the wedge  26  moves downwardly, the pointed end  26   a  of the wedge  26  engages the sheet metal  60 . As the wedge  26  continues to move downwardly, the sheet metal  60  deforms, bending at the point of contact with the pointed end  26   a  of the wedge  26 , as shown in  FIG. 3C . The wedge  26  may continue to be moved downwardly in such manner until further deformation of the sheet metal  60  is resisted by the stop  44 , at which point the operation of bending the sheet metal  60  is complete, and the sheet metal may be removed therefrom. 
   It may be appreciated that the angle of the bend (typically about 90°) in the sheet metal  60 , deformed as described above, may be controlled by the size, configuration, and position of the blocks  40  and  41 , stop  44 , and the angle of the pointed end  26   a  of the wedge  26 , all of which are design decisions, the determination of which are considered to be apparent to a skilled artisan upon a review of the present description of the invention and, therefore, will not be discussed in further detail herein. 
   By use of the present invention, sheet metal may be consistently bent at a precise predetermined angle. The precise position of the sheet metal  60  in the apparatus  10  may also be controlled, for example, by measuring and controlling the distance of an edge of the sheet metal  60  from a block  40  or  41 . Additionally, the apparatus may be readily transported to a work site where needed. 
   It is understood that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. For example, the stop  44  may comprise a bolt that is threaded into the base member  12  and may be adjusted by being screwed in or out, and thereby control the amount of downward movement of the wedge  26  and, hence, of the angle of bend in the sheet metal  60 . The stop may be replaced with blocks that rest on the base member  12  and may be readily replaced with blocks of differing sizes (preferably smaller than the blocks  40  and  41 ), including combinations of blocks and bolts, to thereby control the angle of bend induced in the sheet metal  60 . Depending on the stop utilized, the angle irons  14  may not be needed. Depending on the size of the blocks  40  and  41  and the angle of bend desired in the sheet metal  60 , the wedge  26  may move downwardly until it is stopped by the base member  12 , and the stop  44  may therefore not be needed. The jack  28  may be hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, mechanical, a screw mechanism, or the like, effective for urging the wedge toward the base member  12 . Depending on the type of jack utilized, the springs  17  may not be needed. While various components of the metal bending apparatus  10  are welded together, they may be secured together via screws, or like fasteners. 
   The invention may also be used in a number of applications other than bending sheet metal. For example, the apparatus  10  may be utilized in the cutting or breaking of tile. 
   Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 4