US3824757A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of joining sheet metal, and sheet metal joints
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-08-14
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1992-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A first slit aperture means is formed in a first sheet metal portion and first protruding leg means is formed from the excess metal from the first slit aperture means. A second slit aperture means is formed in a second sheet metal portion and second protruding leg means is formed from the excess metal from the second slit aperture means. The sheet metal portions are then positioned so that a surface of the second sheet metal portion is contiguous to a surface of the first sheet metal portion and so that the second leg means extends through the first slit aperture means. The leg means are then crimped to sandwich the second leg means between the first leg means and a surface of the first sheet metal portion and to sandwich a portion of the first sheet metal portion between the second leg means and a surface of the second sheet metal portion to form the completed joint.
Inventors
- 👤 V Coop
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 00:32
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B5/00; F16B5/04; F16B5/045; B; B21; B21D; B21D39/00; B21D39/03; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/34; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/49922; Y10T29/49936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A method of joining a first metal sheet portion and a second metal sheet portion comprising the steps of: forming a pair of first slits in said first metal sheet portion; bending the excess metal from said first slits to form a pair of first legs protruding above one surface of said first metal sheet portion and projecting in opposite directions away from each other; forming a pair of second slits in said second metal sheet portion; bending the excess metal from said second slits to form a pair of second legs protruding above one surface of said second metal shEet portion and projecting in opposite directions away from each other; overlapping said first and second metal sheet portions so that said one surface of said second metal sheet portion is contiguous to a surface opposite said one surface of said first metal sheet portion and so said second legs extend through respective first slits; and crimping all of said first and second legs so that a portion of each of said second legs is sandwiched between respective first legs and a portion of said one surface of said first metal sheet portion, the pairs of respective first and second slits extending along a pair of parallel ''''tracks'''', the metal forming said first legs being continuous between said first legs, and the metal forming said second legs being continuous between said second legs, the first slits being spaced apart from one another, and the second slits being spaced apart from one another.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
252 words
A method of joining a first metal sheet portion and a second metal sheet portion comprising the steps of: forming a pair of first slits in said first metal sheet portion; bending the excess metal from said first slits to form a pair of first legs protruding above one surface of said first metal sheet portion and projecting in opposite directions away from each other; forming a pair of second slits in said second metal sheet portion; bending the excess metal from said second slits to form a pair of second legs protruding above one surface of said second metal shEet portion and projecting in opposite directions away from each other; overlapping said first and second metal sheet portions so that said one surface of said second metal sheet portion is contiguous to a surface opposite said one surface of said first metal sheet portion and so said second legs extend through respective first slits; and crimping all of said first and second legs so that a portion of each of said second legs is sandwiched between respective first legs and a portion of said one surface of said first metal sheet portion, the pairs of respective first and second slits extending along a pair of parallel ''''tracks'''', the metal forming said first legs being continuous between said first legs, and the metal forming said second legs being continuous between said second legs, the first slits being spaced apart from one another, and the second slits being spaced apart from one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
260 words
A sheet metal joint comprising: a first metal sheet portion and a second metal sheet portion, a pair of elongated first slits in said first metal sheet portion; a pair of first legs formed by bending the excess metal from said first slits, said first legs protruding above one planar surface of said first metal sheet portion and projecting in opposite directions away from each other; a pair of elongated second slits in said second metal sheet portion; a pair of second legs formed by bending the excess metal from said second slits, said second legs protruding above one planar surface of said second metal sheet portion and projecting in opposite directions away from each other, said first and second metal sheet portions being overlapped so that said one planar surface of said second metal sheet portion is contiguous to a surface opposite said one surface of said first metal sheet portion and so said second legs extend through respective first slits, all of said first and second legs being crimped so that a portion of each of said second legs is sandwiched between respective first legs and a portion of said one planar surface of said first metal sheet portion, the pairs of respective first and second slits extending along a pair of parallel ''''tracks,'''' the metal forming said first legs being continuous between said first legs, and the metal forming said second legs being continuous between said second legs, the first slits being spaced apart from one another, and the second slits being spaced apart from one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
260 words
A sheet metal joint comprising: a first metal sheet portion and a second metal sheet portion, a pair of elongated first slits in said first metal sheet portion; a pair of first legs formed by bending the excess metal from said first slits, said first legs protruding above one planar surface of said first metal sheet portion and projecting in opposite directions away from each other; a pair of elongated second slits in said second metal sheet portion; a pair of second legs formed by bending the excess metal from said second slits, said second legs protruding above one planar surface of said second metal sheet portion and projecting in opposite directions away from each other, said first and second metal sheet portions being overlapped so that said one planar surface of said second metal sheet portion is contiguous to a surface opposite said one surface of said first metal sheet portion and so said second legs extend through respective first slits, all of said first and second legs being crimped so that a portion of each of said second legs is sandwiched between respective first legs and a portion of said one planar surface of said first metal sheet portion, the pairs of respective first and second slits extending along a pair of parallel ''''tracks,'''' the metal forming said first legs being continuous between said first legs, and the metal forming said second legs being continuous between said second legs, the first slits being spaced apart from one another, and the second slits being spaced apart from one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the length of each of said first slits is greater than the length of each of said second slits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of crimping sandwiched portions of said first metal sheet portion between respective second legs and portions of said one surface of said second metal sheet portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the length of each of said first slits is greater than the length of each of said second slits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein a plurality of first slits and first legs are formed along an edge portion of said first metal sheet portion and a plurality of second slits and second legs are formed along an edge portion of said second metal sheet portion, and said step of crimping comprises pressure rolling the overlapped portions of said first and second metal sheet portions to press together the portions of the overlapped first and second metal sheet portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sheet metal joint according to claim 2 wherein portions of said first metal sheet portion are sandwiched between respective second legs and portions of said one surface of said second metal sheet portion.
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) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |