S-lock flashing member forming apparatus
OwnerJoseph T. Marshallinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A forming apparatus includes a work surface and three die members movable relative to the work surface for bending a sheet metal flashing member to form an S-shaped end joint known as an S-lock or slip lock joint.
Claims16
A forming apparatus for forming an S-shaped end joint at one end of a flashing member such that the flashing member includes a main portion extending in a longitudinal direction, an intermediate portion joined to an outer end of the main portion at a first bend so as to be folded back over the main portion, and a fastener portion joined to the intermediate portion at a second bend so as to extend in the longitudinal direction beyond the outer end of the main portion in overlapping configuration with the intermediate portion, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame including a work surface arranged to support the flashing member thereon;
- a first die member having a first forming surface oriented transversely to the work surface and a first forming edge lying in a plane of the first forming surface;
- the first die member being supported on the frame so as to be movable between an engaged position in which the first forming edge is in proximity to the work surface so as to be arranged to engage the flashing member on the work surface and a released position in which the first forming edge is spaced apart from the work surface;
- a second die member having a second forming surface and a pivot edge at one end of the second forming surface, the second die member being supported such that the pivot edge is in proximity to the first forming surface in the engaged position of the first die member at a location spaced from the first forming edge along the plane of the first forming surface corresponding to a length in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate portion of the flashing member;
- a third die member having a third forming surface, a fourth forming surface intersecting the third forming surface at an acute interior angle, and a second forming edge substantially at an intersection of the third and fourth forming surfaces;
- the third die member being supported on the frame for a first movement corresponding to a pivotal movement about a third die pivot axis substantially at the first forming edge in the engaged position of the first die member between a first position in which the third forming surface is substantially co-planar with the work surface, and a second position in which the third forming surface is in close proximity to the first forming surface and the second forming edge is in close proximity to the intersection of the first and second die surfaces so as to be arranged to partially form the first bend about the first forming edge and partially form the second bend about the second forming edge;
- the second die member being supported for pivotal movement relative to first die member about a second die pivot axis extending substantially along the pivot edge thereof in proximity to an intersection of the first and second forming surfaces from a first position in which the first forming surface and the second forming surface form an obtuse exterior angle therebetween to a second position in which the second forming surface of the second die member is pivotal about the pivot axis against the fourth forming surface of the third die member in the second position of the third die member;
- the third die member being supported on the frame for a second movement from the second position thereof to a third position spaced apart from the first die member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.