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. 07, 2014
Filed:
Feb. 17, 2009
Applicant:
Bowden Kirkpatrick, Benington, VT (US);
Inventor:
Bowden Kirkpatrick, Benington, VT (US);
Assignee:
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B29C 51/10 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
An apparatus for forming a flange on a component is provided. The apparatus comprises a mold disposed for placement of the component thereon, a forming element configured to hold the component on the mold to facilitate formation of the flange, and a pressure element configured to cooperate with the mold to define a space therebetween. The apparatus further comprises a bladder disposed in the space and configured to impart a forming force to a portion of the component to form the flange on the component when the bladder is inflated. A method for forming a flange on a component is also presented.