US3813743A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of expanding metal
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-07-14
•
Granted: 1974-06-04
•
Expires: 1992-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of expanding a sheet of metal to produce a solid border portion at opposite ends of an expanded mesh portion including first forming a series of slits in the metal sheet at first selected points transverse thereto and disposed inward from a leading end thereof to produce a row of slits; then, shearing the metal sheet at a second series of points transverse to the sheet, each of these points being laterally and longitudinally spaced from a corresponding one of the slits, and, simultaneously expanding the sheet at the second points of shear to form a plurality of mesh openings; and, finally, continuing this simultaneous shearing and expanding for a desired distance along the metal sheet to form an expanded portion. An article of manufacture produced according to the first step of the above method having a series of slits formed in a metal sheet inward from an end thereof and at selected points transverse thereto by vertically shearing the sheet at these points, the sheet being separated into different planes on opposite sides of the slits by the force of the shear.
Inventors
- 👤 B Harrell
- 👤 P Wenta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:24
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D31/00; B21D31/04; B21D31/043; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/18; Y10T29/185; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/496
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of expanding metal to produce a solid border portion at opposite ends of an expanded portion of a metal sheet, providing uniform mesh openings adjacent the border portions and eliminating tearing of the strands of the expanded portion adjacent the leading border portion, characterized by the steps of: forming slits in the metal sheet at a first series of selected points transverse to the sheet and disposed inward from an end thereof to produce a row of slits therein; shearing the metal sheet at a second series of points transverse thereto, each of said second points being laterally and longitudinally spaced from a corresponding one of said slits, and simultaneously expanding said sheet at said second points of shear to form a plurality of mesh openings in the sheet; and, continuing the simultaneous shearing and expanding of the metal sheet for a desired longitudinal distance along the sheet to form said expanded portion of the metal sheet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of expanding metal to produce a solid border portion at opposite ends of an expanded portion of a metal sheet, providing uniform mesh openings adjacent the border portions and eliminating tearing of the strands of the expanded portion adjacent the leading border portion, characterized by the steps of: forming slits in the metal sheet at a first series of selected points transverse to the sheet and disposed inward from an end thereof to produce a row of slits therein; shearing the metal sheet at a second series of points transverse thereto, each of said second points being laterally and longitudinally spaced from a corresponding one of said slits, and simultaneously expanding said sheet at said second points of shear to form a plurality of mesh openings in the sheet; and, continuing the simultaneous shearing and expanding of the metal sheet for a desired longitudinal distance along the sheet to form said expanded portion of the metal sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of expanding metal set forth in claim 1 wherein said slits are formed by shearing the metal sheet vertically at each of said first selected points while supporting only the solid border portion from below, thereby simultaneously separating the solid border portion of the metal sheet and the portion of the metal sheet to be expanded out of a common plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of expanding metal set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said slits is formed successively, transverse to the metal sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of expanding metal set forth in claim 1 wherein all of said slits are formed simultaneously, transverse to the metal sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of expanding metal set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said second series of points at which the metal sheet is sheared and expanded is generally located one-half the distance between consecutive ones of said first points, laterally, and a desired width of a mesh-forming strand longitudinally, of each corresponding slit on the metal sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a method of expanding metal to produce a solid border portion at opposite ends of an expanded portion of a metal sheet, and including the steps of shearing the portion of the sheet to be expanded at a series of shear points transverse to the sheet and simultaneously expanding the sheet at these shear points to form mesh openings, and continuing such simultaneous shearing and expanding to form further mesh openings for a desired longitudinal distance of the sheet to produce said expanded portion of the metal sheet, the improvement comprising the step of: forming slits in the metal sheet at first selected points transverse to the sheet and disposed inward from a leading end thereof, prior to the initial shearing and expanding of the sheet at said shear points, to produce a row of slits therein, said slits being effective, upon the subsequent shearing and expanding of the sheet at said shear points, which are laterally and longitudinally spaced from said slits, to provide uniform mesh openings adjacent the border portions of the sheet and to eliminate tearing of the strands forming the mesh openings of the expanded portion of the sheet adjacent the leading border portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a method of expanding metal to produce a solid border portion at opposite ends of an expanded portion of a metal sheet, and including the steps of shearing the portion of the sheet to be expanded at a series of shear points transverse to the sheet and simultaneously expanding the sheet at these shear points to form mesh openings, and continuing such simultaneous shearing and expanding to form further mesh openings for a desired longitudinal distance of the sheet to produce said expanded portion of the metal sheet, the improvement comprising the step of: forming slits in the metal sheet at first selected points transverse to the sheet and disposed inward from a leading end thereof, prior to the initial shearing and expanding of the sheet at said shear points, to produce a row of slits therein, said slits being effective, upon the subsequent shearing and expanding of the sheet at said shear points, which are laterally and longitudinally spaced from said slits, to provide uniform mesh openings adjacent the border portions of the sheet and to eliminate tearing of the strands forming the mesh openings of the expanded portion of the sheet adjacent the leading border portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The improvement in the method of expanding metal set forth in claim 6 wherein said slits are formed by shearing the metal sheet vertically at each of said first selected points while supporting only the solid border portion from below thereby simultaneously separating the solid border portion of the metal sheet and the portion of the metal sheet to be expanded out of a common plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement in the method of expanding metal set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said slits is formed successively, transverse to the metal sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement in the method of expanding metal set forth in claim 6 wherein all of said slits are formed simultaneously, transverse to the metal sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The improvement in the method of expanding metal set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said shear points at which the metal sheet is sheared and expanded is generally located one-half the distance between consecutive ones of said first points laterally, and a desired width of a mesh strand longitudinally, of each corresponding slit on the metal sheet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |