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:
Aug. 10, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 09, 1998
Paul F Semien, LaMarque, TX (US);
Enron Corp., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides tools and methods for bending angle stock, a tool including first and second parallel facing plates and a third plate holding the first and second plates in a fixed position. The third plate is fixed to upper edges of the first and second plates, and the first and second plates are separated by a gap sized to receive a side of the angle stock. The first plate has a back surface to which is attached an end of a rod-shaped handle. A bend in the angle stock is made by first cutting one side of the angle stock at a desired bend point on the other side and then placing two of the tools on the uncut side, one on each side of the desired bend point. The handles of the tools are pushed together to form a 90.degree. bend in the angle stock, which is formed because the edges of the first plates that are adjacent to the desired bending point have a 45.degree. angle. With this edge, a right-hand tool contributes a 45.degree. bend and a left-hand tool contributes a 45.degree. bend for a total of 90.degree.. The third plate has a surface co-planar with the angled edge of the first plate, and contact between the right-hand and left-hand tools at this surface stops further bending, thus forming a 90.degree. bend. The third plate thus serves as a stop for determining that a 90.degree. bend has been completed, and the first and second plates grip one side of the angle stock.