The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 09, 1996
Filed:
Jul. 29, 1993
Ralph E Roper, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Gary A Webb, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Douglas W Tyger, West Chester, OH (US);
Donald F Lowen, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Other;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for forming a one-piece, complex-shaped tubular member from a tubular blank is provided. The tubular blank is placed in a die cavity defining a tube having at least two expanded portions and a bend therein. As the die cavity is closed around the tubular blank to form the bend, the interior of the tubular blank is pressurized to expand the tubular blank into the at least two expanded portions defined by the die cavity. When the bent and expanded tubular blank is removed from the die cavity, the ends of the tubular blank are cropped to form the finished tubular member.