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:
Apr. 17, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 25, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
Steven R. Lotspaih, Cedarburg, WI (US);
Wallace R. Birtch, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
Assignee:
R.J. Tower Corporation, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B21D 2/602 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B21D 2/602 ;
Abstract
Tubular members for use in vehicle frames are easily and economically produced using a hydroforming process in which a high pressure fluid is presented to the interior of a tubular member, thus causing the tube to expand to meet the interior walls of a forming die. Tubular members can be formed having significant variations in their circumference, diameter along their lengths, or gage along their lengths by using a stamped blank having a predetermined shape which is formed into a preformed tube which roughly mirrors the shape of the desired finished tubular member.