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:
Jun. 30, 2015
Filed:
Jun. 13, 2011
Jon T. Carter, Farmington, MI (US);
Daniel George Valik, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Jon T. Carter, Farmington, MI (US);
Daniel George Valik, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of forming an article from a metal alloy sheet material includes stamping the metal alloy sheet material to thereby form a preform having at least one protrusion. The at least one protrusion includes a base portion, a first region having a first thickness and spaced apart from the base portion to thereby have a first maximum height, and a second region interconnecting the base portion and the first region and having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness. After stamping, the method includes selectively annealing the second region without substantially annealing the first region, and, after selectively annealing, concurrently increasing the first maximum height and substantially equalizing the first thickness and the second thickness to thereby form the article.