# US 2018/0022633 A1 · Glass sheet support structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022633 A1 - Document ID: US20180022633A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/722,393 - Filed: 2017-10-02 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-12 - Assignees: Glasstech, Inc. - Applicants: Glasstech, Inc. - Inventors: Dean M. NITSCHKE; Ashoka G. JINKA; Thomas J. ZALESAK; James P. SCHNABEL, JR.; Scott Charles MORROW - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022633A1 ## CPC - C03B 35/207: {Construction or design of supporting frames} - B25B 11/00: Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders (for holding or positioning work for welding, soldering, or cutting by applying heat locally B23K37/04; specially adapted to machine tools B23Q3/00) - C03B 23/03: by press-bending between shaping moulds - C03B 23/0355: {by blowing without suction directly on the glass sheet} - C03B 27/0442: {for bent glass sheets} - C03B 40/005: {Fabrics, felts or loose covers} - C03B 2225/02: Means for positioning, aligning or orientating the sheets during their travel, e.g. stops - C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING ## Abstract A support structure for supporting a heated glass sheet in connection with a bending operation includes a frame, a support ring adjustably supported on the frame for supporting a peripheral portion of the glass sheet, and multiple rib assemblies associated with the frame. Each rib assembly includes a laterally extending rib supported on the frame and multiple spaced apart support members connected to the rib and configured such that at least a portion of each support member is adjustable with respect to the rib. Furthermore, each support member is configured to contact a respective inner portion of the glass sheet to support the respective inner portion of the glass sheet until the glass sheet has been sufficiently cooled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support structure for supporting a heated glass sheet in connection with a glass processing operation, wherein the glass sheet has a peripheral portion and inner portions spaced inwardly from the peripheral portion, the support structure comprising: a frame; a support ring supported on the frame for supporting a peripheral portion of the glass sheet; and multiple rib assemblies associated with the frame, each rib assembly including a laterally extending rib having opposite ends connected to the frame on opposite sides of the frame, and multiple spaced apart support members connected to the laterally extending rib and configured so that at least a portion of each support member is adjustable with respect to the laterally extending rib, each support member further being configured to contact a respective inner portion of the glass sheet to support the respective inner portion of the glass sheet until the glass sheet has been sufficiently cooled. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support structure of claim 1 wherein the support ring is adjustably supported on the frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The support structure of claim 1 wherein the support ring has a contact surface for contacting the peripheral portion of the glass sheet, and at least one support member is adjustable with respect to the frame to provide a glass contact portion that is located below the contact surface of the support ring. ### Claim 4 A support structure for supporting a heated glass sheet in connection with a glass processing operation, wherein the glass sheet has a peripheral portion and inner portions spaced inwardly from the peripheral portion, the support structure comprising: a frame; a support ring supported on the frame for supporting the peripheral portion of the glass sheet; and multiple support assemblies associated with the frame, each support assembly including a laterally extending support having opposite ends supported on opposite sides of the frame so that the support spans an open area between the opposite sides of the frame, and multiple spaced apart support members connected to the laterally extending support and configured so that at least a portion of each support member is adjustable with respect to the laterally extending support, each support member further being configured to contact a respective inner portion of the glass sheet to support the respective inner portion of the glass sheet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein each laterally extending support is movably connected to the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein, for each laterally extending support, one connection on the frame is a fixed connection, and the other connection on the frame is a movable connection to allow movement of the laterally extending support relative to the frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein each support member comprises a generally vertically oriented support body and a contact portion supported by the support body, and wherein for each support member, the corresponding support body spaces the corresponding contact portion away from a respective laterally extending support to which the support member is connected. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein each support member includes a contact portion that is configured to make a point contact with the glass sheet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein the support assemblies are spaced apart from each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein the support ring is adjustably supported on the frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein the support ring has a contact surface configured to directly contact the peripheral portion of the glass sheet for supporting the peripheral portion of the glass sheet, and each support member has a contact portion configured to contact a respective inner portion of the glass sheet, and wherein at least one contact portion is adjustable with respect to the frame so that the at least one contact portion may be adjusted below the contact surface of the support ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein the support ring has a contact surface configured to directly contact the peripheral portion of the glass sheet for supporting the peripheral portion of the glass sheet, and each support member has a contact portion configured to contact a respective inner portion of the glass sheet, and wherein each contact portion is adjustable with respect to the frame so that the contact portion may be adjusted below the contact surface of the support ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein each laterally extending support has a curved upper surface having a shape that generally corresponds to a desired curved final shape of the glass sheet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein the multiple support assemblies include three or more support assemblies. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein the multiple support assemblies include four or more support assemblies. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein each support member includes a support body adjustably connected to one of the laterally extending supports, a contact element supported by the support body and configured to contact a respective inner portion of the glass sheet, and a threaded cap that threadingly engages the support body and has a circumferential projecting portion that engages the contact element, and wherein the projecting portion defines an opening that is smaller than a diameter of the contact element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The support structure of claim 4 wherein each laterally extending support has one end slidably connected to the frame so that each laterally extending support is movable with respect to the frame, and wherein, for each laterally extending support, one of the one end of the laterally extending support and the frame has an engaging element that is slidably received in an opening formed in the other of the one end of the laterally extending support and the frame. ### Claim 18 A support structure for use with a tool frame for supporting a heated glass sheet in connection with a bending operation, the support structure comprising: an outer frame configured to be connected to the tool frame; a quench ring adjustably supported on the outer frame for supporting a peripheral portion of the glass sheet; and multiple spaced apart rib assemblies associated with the outer frame, each rib assembly including a laterally extending rib having opposite ends supported on opposite sides of the outer frame and multiple spaced apart support members adjustably connected to the laterally extending rib, each support member including a support body and a curved contact portion supported by the support body and configured to make a point contact with the glass sheet at a location disposed inwardly of the peripheral portion of the glass sheet; wherein the support members are adjustable with respect to the outer frame to allow the support structure to be configured to support the glass sheet in any one of a variety of curved shapes until the glass sheet has been sufficiently quenched. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The support structure of claim 18 wherein the quench ring has a contact surface that is configured to directly contact the peripheral portion of the glass sheet, and at least one support member is adjustable with respect to the outer frame to adjust the corresponding contact portion below the contact surface of the quench ring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The support structure of claim 18 wherein the multiple support assemblies include three or more support assemblies.