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. 11, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 10, 2003
George D. Pfaffmann, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
William C. Dykstra, Rockford, MI (US);
Marc R. Matsen, Seattle, WA (US);
George D. Pfaffmann, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
William C. Dykstra, Rockford, MI (US);
Marc R. Matsen, Seattle, WA (US);
Hot Metal Gas Forming Intellectual Property, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of forming an elongated metal blank into a structural component having a predetermined outer configuration. The method includes providing a shape imparting cavity or shell section formed from a rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, placing the metal blank into the cavity or shell section, and forming the metal blank into the component by heating axial portions of the metal blank and forcing a fluid at a high pressure into the metal blank until the metal blank at least partially conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the cavity or shell section to form the structural component.