Method for precision bending of sheet of materials, slit sheets fabrication process

Abstract

A method for precision bending of a sheet of material ( 41, 241, 341, 441 ) along a bend line ( 45, 245, 345, 445 ) and the resulting sheet are disclosed. A method includes a step of forming longitudinally extending slits ( 43, 243, 343, 443 ) through the sheet of material in axially spaced relation to produce precise bending of the sheet ( 41, 241, 341, 441 ) along the bend line ( 45, 245, 345, 445 ) with edges ( 257, 457 ) engaged and supported on faces ( 255, 455 ) of the sheet material on opposite sides of the slits. The edge-to-face contact produces bending along a virtual fulcrum position in superimposed relation to the bend line ( 45, 245, 345, 445 ). Several slit embodiments ( 43, 243, 343, 443 ) suitable for producing edge-to-face engagement support and precise bending are disclosed, as is the use of the slit sheets to enhance various fabrication techniques.

1 . A sheet of material formed for bending along a bend line comprising:
 a sheet of material having plurality of slits formed therethrough, the slits being configured and positions relative to a desired bend line to produce bending of the sheet of material along the bend line and to produce edge-to-face engagement of the material on opposite sides of the slits along substantially the full length of the slits.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 1  wherein,
 the sheet of material is provided by an elastically and plastically deformable sheet of one of a metal and a plastic material. 
 
     
     
         3 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 1  wherein,
 the sheet of material is formed with at least two elongated slits positioned proximate the bend line and longitudinally relatively displaced along the bend line, each slit having a slit end portion diverging away from the bend line with a pair of adjacent slit end portions on opposite sides of the bend line defining a bending strap extending obliquely across the bend line. 
 
     
     
         4 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 3  wherein,
 the slits are positioned equidistant and on opposite sides of the bend line, and the slits extend substantially parallel to the bend line. 
 
     
     
         5 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 4  wherein,
 the slit end portions are arcuate and curve away from the bend line. 
 
     
     
         6 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 1  wherein,
 the slits are provided by a plurality of arcuate slits alternatively positioned on opposite sides of and longitudinally shifted along the bend line, the arcuate slits being convex in a direction facing the bend line and defining bending straps extending obliquely across the bend line. 
 
     
     
         7 . The sheet material as defined in  claim 6  wherein,
 the arcuate slits are formed as circular segments. 
 
     
     
         8 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 1  wherein,
 the slits include a plurality of longitudinally adjacent pairs of elongated slits on alternating sides of the end line, the slits having central portions substantially parallel to the bend line and at a substantially equal transverse distance from the bend line. 
 
     
     
         9 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 8  wherein,
 the slit end portions are arcuate and curve from the central portions of the slits in a direction away from the bend line. 
 
     
     
         10 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 1  wherein,
 kerf width of the slits is sufficiently small so as to ensure interengagement of the sheet of material on opposite sides of the slits during bending. 
 
     
     
         11 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 3  wherein,
 the slits are positioned in longitudinally overlapping relation to orient the bending strap to extend at an oblique angle to the bend line. 
 
     
     
         12 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 11  wherein,
 the sheet of material is formed with a plurality of pairs of longitudinally overlapping slits positioned laterally equidistant from the bend line to define obliquely oriented bending straps between adjacent slit end portions, the bending straps extending across the bend line. 
 
     
     
         13 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 12  wherein,
 alternative slits are on alternative sides of the bend line and alternating bending straps are oblique to the bend line in oppositely inclined directions. 
 
     
     
         14 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 1  wherein,
 the slits are configured to cause an edge of the sheet of material along one side of the slits to engage and slide along a face of the sheet of material along the other side of the slits during bending. 
 
     
     
         15 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 3  wherein,
 the slits include stress reducing structures at the ends of the slit end portions. 
 
     
     
         16 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 1  wherein,
 the plurality of slits includes a plurality of slits along and proximate the bend line configured to define at least one bending web between adjacent slit end portions, at least one slit being comprised of a first pair of longitudinally extending slit segments positioned proximate to and on opposite sides of and substantially parallel to the bend line, the longitudinally extending slit segments further having a pair of longitudinally proximate ends connected by a transversely extending slit segment. 
 
     
     
         17 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 16  wherein,
 there are a pluration of longitudinally spaced apart slits each formed as defined in  claim 16  to define bending straps extending substantially perpendicularly across the bend line. 
 
     
     
         18 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 1  wherein,
 the sheet of material is secured in a coiled condition. 
 
     
     
         19 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 3  wherein,
 the ratio of the jog distance between slits on opposite sides of the bend line and the material thickness is less than about 1.0. 
 
     
     
         20 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 3  wherein,
 the bending strap width is between about 0.5 to about 4.0 times the material thickness. 
 
     
     
         21 - 59 . (canceled)