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US 6,202,465 B1Granted
Method for forming endoscopic instrument body
AssigneeMicro Stamping Corporation
InventorsFrank Jankoski, Harry Lehn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for forming a metal tube includes providing a flat sheet of metal, forming features in the sheet, forming a strip within the sheet, the features being disposed within the strip, progressively forming the strip into a barrel, and trimming the barrel from the sheet.
Claims11
A method for forming an endoscopic instrument body comprising:
- providing a flat sheet of metal;
- forming pilot holes in the sheet at opposed first and second edges of the sheet, for orienting the sheet;
- forming a strip within the sheet, said strip having at least one finger extending from said strip toward said first edge of said sheet, said at least one finger terminating in a free end spaced from said first edge;
- progressively forming the strip into a barrel, the strip remaining affixed to the sheet at all times during forming by carrier strips connecting said strip and said opposed edges, said carrier strips being separate and distinct from said at least one finger;
- and
- trimming the barrel from the sheet by cutting the carrier strips.
3 more elements
A method for forming an endoscopic instrument body comprising:
- providing a flat sheet of metal having first and second opposed edges;
- forming a strip within the sheet, said strip having at least one finger extending from said strip toward said first opposed edge of said sheet, said at least one finger terminating in a free end spaced from said first edge;
- progressively forming the strip into a barrel with the strip being affixed to the sheet, at all times during forming, by carrier strips connecting said strip and said opposed edges of the sheet, said carrier strips being separate and distinct from said at least one finger;
- and
- trimming the barrel from the sheet by cutting the carrier strips.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.