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US 2002/0000032 A1Published application
Support bar and method for forming a support bar
AssigneeAisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHidetoshi Nakane, Nobuhiko Takeda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support bar of a headrest assembly or a hand brake is provided with one or more notches or indented portions. The notches or indented portions are formed in a way that inhibits the formation of additional material portions extending outwardly from the smoothly curved outer surface of the support bar. The indented portions or notches possess a shape having continuous curvature as seen in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the pipe member.
Claims17
A support bar comprising:
- an elongated pipe member having an outer peripheral surface and a longitudinal axis;
- and
- at least one indented portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe member by press stamping, the indented portion including a bottom surface portion possessing a continuous concave curvature as seen in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe member.
A support bar comprising:
- an elongated pipe member having an outer peripheral surface and a longitudinal axis;
- and
- at least one press-stamped indented portion on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe member, the indented surface portion including an inclined surface portion that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe member, the inclined surface portion possessing a concave curvature as seen in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe member.
A method for making a support bar comprising:
- fixing a pipe member in a die device having at least three die parts so that the pipe member is positioned parallel to the die parts with the die device encircling a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the pipe member;
- inserting a punch into a through hole formed in the die device and towards the outer peripheral surface of the pipe member, the punch having a convexly shaped free end surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the pipe member as the punch is inserted into the through hole;
- and
- pressing the free end surface of the punch against the outer peripheral surface of the pipe member to form an indented portion on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe member.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.