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:
Feb. 25, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1995
Scott E Kent, Albion, NY (US);
Michael A Gavlak, Buffalo, NY (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An elliptical cross section tube of novel construction that is capable of being expanded by a conventional conical tool of the type used to expand round cross section tubes. The tube is also reinforced by integral internal webs. The unexpanded tube cross section has concave lengthwise channels and concave internal webs that are all internally tangent to a circle representing a cross section of the expansion tool's conical head. As the head of the tool is pushed through the tube, it pushes the channels out into the fin hole while flattening the webs. The tube is thus mechanically bonded to the tube, and is left with a pair of internal reinforcing webs.