GB2129339A

GB2129339A - A method of forming a sheet

Info

Publication number: GB2129339A
Application number: GB08231067A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Carter; Geoffrey Paul Carter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-10-29
Filing date: 1982-10-29
Publication date: 1984-05-16

Abstract

A method of forming a sheet of e.g. metal (10) includes the step of providing a plurality of elongate slots (13) longitudinally of fold lines (14) so that, when portions (17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22) are bent out of the plane of the lamina (11) stamped from the sheet (10), the force necessary to bend bridge portions (15) separating adjacent slots (13) is less than would be required to bend the material of the lamina (11) if the slots (13) were not present. The apertures may be stamped out simultaneously with stamping the sheet from stock. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of forming a sheet This invention relates to a method of forming a sheet of, for example, metal.

The process of forming a component from a metal sheet generally comprises stamping a lamina of a predetermined shape from the sheet and subsequently bending a portion of the lamina so that the portion extends at an angle to the plane of the lamina.

Generally, working of sheet metal is carried out by semi-skilled people employed by manufacturers of metal components using tools and equipment provided by the manufacturers.

In some industries, such as in the furniture industry, articles are specially designed so that each article comprises a plurality of components which can be despatched collectively but disconnected one from another so that, on receipt by a customer, the article can be assembled by connecting the components one to another. The provision of such so called 'knock down' articles substantially reduces manufacturing and distribution costs because assembly of the components is carried out by customers and not by employed labour and the proportions of packages containing components is substantially reduced compared with proportions of articles comprising the components when connected one to another. However, the provision of such 'knock down' articles is possible in industries where sheet metal working is not required.

It is desirable, therefore, to provide a method of forming a sheet of metal such that a person with no particular skill in sheet metal working can subsequently form the sheet into a component of predetermined configuration.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of forming a sheet including the steps of providing a plurality of apertures in the sheet, the apertures being spaced one from another in a predetermined pattern of an intended fold of the sheet segregating a first portion of the sheet from a second portion thereof so that, when a force is applied to the first portion relative to the second portion to form the first portion at an angle to the second portion, the portions of the sheet between adjacent apertures are bent through the said angle.

In this manner, the sheet may comprise one of a plurality of components of a 'knock down' article and is such that, on receipt of the components, a person may easily bend the sheet to form a predetermined configuration for connection with one or more of the other components during assembly of the article.

The apertures may comprise elongate slots.

The method may comprising stamping a shape from the sheet simultaneously with stamping said apertures.

Also according to the present invention, there is provided a sheet made in accordance with the method specified above.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a sheet showing, an outline of a lamina to be stamped thererom and fold lines along which the lamina is to be bent to form a completed component, FIGURE 2 is the plan view of a lamina after having been stamped from the sheet shown in Figure 1, the lamina being provided with slots extending along the fold lines, and FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a component formed from the lamina by bending the lamina longitudinally of the fold lines.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a rectangular sheet of metal 10 which has stamped therefrom a lamina 11 (see Figure 2) the shape of which is indicated on the sheet 10 by dashes 12.

The tool which stamps out the lamina 11 from the sheet 10 simultaneously punches a plurality of elongate slots 13 (see Figure 2), the longitudinal axis of which extend longitudinally of fold lines 1 4 indicated by dots and dashes in Figure 1. The portions of the lamina 1 1 between adjacent slots 13 comprise bridge portions 15.

The completed lamina of predetermined configuration and having slots 13 arranged longitudinally of fold lines of the lamina 1 1 is shown in Figure 2.

Formation of a component 16 (see Figure 3) from the lamina 11 is effected by bending the bridge portions 15 so that portions 17, 18, 19 and 20 are bent out of the plane of the lamina 11 and portions 21 and 22 are bent out of the plane of the portion 1 7.

It will be appreciated that, since the bridge portions 15 are of substantially reduced dimension compared with the length of the corresponding fold lines in which they are located, the force required to bend the portions 17 to 22 inclusive so as to form the component 16 from the lamina 11 is less than would be required if the lamina 11 had not been provided with the slots 13. In consequence, the component 16 can be formed from the lamina 1 1 without the application of special tools and equipment and without particular skills which would be required in working the lamina 1 1 to form a component 16 had the slots 13 not been present.

1. A method of forming a sheet including the step of providing a plurality of apertures in the sheet, the apertures being spaced one from another in a predetermined pattern of an intended fold of the sheet segregating a first portion of the sheet from a second portion thereof so that, when a force is applied to the first portion relative to the second portion to form the first portion at an angle to the second portion, portions of the sheet between adjacent apertures are bent through the said angle.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the apertures comprise elongate slots.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A method of forming a sheet This invention relates to a method of forming a sheet of, for example, metal. The process of forming a component from a metal sheet generally comprises stamping a lamina of a predetermined shape from the sheet and subsequently bending a portion of the lamina so that the portion extends at an angle to the plane of the lamina. Generally, working of sheet metal is carried out by semi-skilled people employed by manufacturers of metal components using tools and equipment provided by the manufacturers. In some industries, such as in the furniture industry, articles are specially designed so that each article comprises a plurality of components which can be despatched collectively but disconnected one from another so that, on receipt by a customer, the article can be assembled by connecting the components one to another. The provision of such so called 'knock down' articles substantially reduces manufacturing and distribution costs because assembly of the components is carried out by customers and not by employed labour and the proportions of packages containing components is substantially reduced compared with proportions of articles comprising the components when connected one to another. However, the provision of such 'knock down' articles is possible in industries where sheet metal working is not required. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a method of forming a sheet of metal such that a person with no particular skill in sheet metal working can subsequently form the sheet into a component of predetermined configuration. According to the present invention there is provided a method of forming a sheet including the steps of providing a plurality of apertures in the sheet, the apertures being spaced one from another in a predetermined pattern of an intended fold of the sheet segregating a first portion of the sheet from a second portion thereof so that, when a force is applied to the first portion relative to the second portion to form the first portion at an angle to the second portion, the portions of the sheet between adjacent apertures are bent through the said angle. In this manner, the sheet may comprise one of a plurality of components of a 'knock down' article and is such that, on receipt of the components, a person may easily bend the sheet to form a predetermined configuration for connection with one or more of the other components during assembly of the article. The apertures may comprise elongate slots. The method may comprising stamping a shape from the sheet simultaneously with stamping said apertures. Also according to the present invention, there is provided a sheet made in accordance with the method specified above. Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect. In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a sheet showing, an outline of a lamina to be stamped thererom and fold lines along which the lamina is to be bent to form a completed component, FIGURE 2 is the plan view of a lamina after having been stamped from the sheet shown in Figure 1, the lamina being provided with slots extending along the fold lines, and FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a component formed from the lamina by bending the lamina longitudinally of the fold lines. Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a rectangular sheet of metal 10 which has stamped therefrom a lamina 11 (see Figure 2) the shape of which is indicated on the sheet 10 by dashes 12. The tool which stamps out the lamina 11 from the sheet 10 simultaneously punches a plurality of elongate slots 13 (see Figure 2), the longitudinal axis of which extend longitudinally of fold lines 1 4 indicated by dots and dashes in Figure 1. The portions of the lamina 1 1 between adjacent slots 13 comprise bridge portions 15. The completed lamina of predetermined configuration and having slots 13 arranged longitudinally of fold lines of the lamina 1 1 is shown in Figure 2. Formation of a component 16 (see Figure 3) from the lamina 11 is effected by bending the bridge portions 15 so that portions 17, 18, 19 and 20 are bent out of the plane of the lamina 11 and portions 21 and 22 are bent out of the plane of the portion 1 7. It will be appreciated that, since the bridge portions 15 are of substantially reduced dimension compared with the length of the corresponding fold lines in which they are located, the force required to bend the portions 17 to 22 inclusive so as to form the component 16 from the lamina 11 is less than would be required if the lamina 11 had not been provided with the slots 13. In consequence, the component 16 can be formed from the lamina 1 1 without the application of special tools and equipment and without particular skills which would be required in working the lamina 1 1 to form a component 16 had the slots 13 not been present. CLAIMS

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a lamina is stamped from the sheet simultaneously with the sheet being provided with the apertures.

4. A sheet formed in accordance with the method claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

5. A method of forming a sheet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A sheet substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.