# US 11,998,967 B2 · Panel-shaped formed product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,967 B2 - Document ID: US11998967B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/209,473 - Filed: 2021-03-23 - Published: 2021-07-08 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-25 - Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation - Applicants: Nippon Steel Corporation - Inventors: Kenichiro Otsuka; Yoshiaki Nakazawa; Naruhiko Nomura; Toshiya Suzuki; Masahiro Kubo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998967B2 ## CPC - B21D 22/022: {by heating the blank or stamping associated with heat treatment (C21D takes precedence)} - B21D 22/20: Deep-drawing (special deep-drawing arrangements in, or in connection with, presses B21D24/00) - B21D 22/22: with devices for holding the edge of the blanks (B21D22/24 - B21D22/30 take precedence; shaping over a die without external former B21D11/02) - B21D 22/26: for making peculiarly, e.g. irregularly, shaped articles - B21D 53/88: other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards - B60J 5/04: arranged at the vehicle sides {(panel mounted arm-rests B60N2/78; wall liners B60R13/02; door edge guards B60R13/043; padded linings associated with the side doors B60R21/0428)} - B60J 5/0413: {Inner panel, e.g. characterised by carrying components} - B21D 22/06: having relatively-movable die parts - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) ## Abstract A panel-shaped formed product made of a metal sheet includes a top panel portion, an opening portion, and a vertical wall portion. The top panel portion is polygonal. The opening portion is provided in the top panel portion. The vertical wall portion extends from at least not less than two adjacent borders among the borders of the top panel portion. At least one pair of each vertical wall portion of pairs of adjacent vertical wall portions of the vertical wall portions has a stepped portion. As a result, the panel shaped formed product has fewer defects such as cracks and wrinkles even when it has a shape that is difficult to form. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A panel-shaped formed product made of a steel sheet having a quenched martensitic structure and a tensile strength of not less than 1200 MPa, comprising: a polygonal top panel portion, an opening portion provided in the top panel portion, and a vertical wall portion extending from at least two adjacent borders among borders of the top panel portion, wherein at least one pair of each vertical wall portion of pairs of adjacent vertical wall portions among the vertical wall portions has a step portion, and a height of the vertical wall portion with the step portion is 40 mm or more. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The panel-shaped formed product according to claim 1, wherein the panel-shaped formed product is a door inner panel for an automobile, and does not have the vertical wall portion on a border on a vehicle upper side among borders of the top panel portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The panel-shaped formed product according to claim 2, wherein the opening portion is provided such that a peripheral portion of the top panel portion is left out. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The panel-shaped formed product according to claim 3, wherein in an edge portion on the vehicle upper side including a border on the vehicle upper side of the top panel portion, at least one of a recessed portion and a protruded portion is provided along the edge portion on the vehicle upper side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The panel-shaped formed product according to claim 3, wherein the top panel portion has a boundary portion for dividing the opening portion into a plurality of portions, and at least one of a recessed portion and a protruded portion is provided along the boundary portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The panel-shaped formed product according to claim 2, wherein a sheet thickness of a region of a lower-side vertical wall portion including a border on a lower side of the top panel portion is larger than a sheet thickness of a region adjacent to the afore-mentioned region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The panel-shaped formed product according to claim 2, wherein a sheet thickness of a region of a front-side vertical wall portion including a border on a front side of the top panel portion is larger than a sheet thickness of a region adjacent to that region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The panel-shaped formed product according to claim 3, wherein a sheet thickness of a region of an edge portion on the vehicle upper side including a border on the vehicle upper side of the top panel portion is larger than a sheet thickness of a region adjacent to the afore-mentioned region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The panel-shaped formed product according to claim 3, wherein the top panel portion has a boundary portion that divides the opening portion into a plurality of portions, and a sheet thickness of a region of the boundary portion is larger than a sheet thickness of a region adjacent to the afore-mentioned region.