Sheet material with bend controlling displacements and method for forming the same

Abstract

A method of preparing a sheet of material for bending along a bend line comprising the step of forming of at least one displacement in the thickness direction of the sheet of material with a portion of the periphery of the displacement closest to the bend line providing an edge and opposed face configured in position to produce edge-to-face engagement of the sheet on opposite sides of the periphery during bending. The forming step is preferably accomplished using one of a stamping process, a punching process, a roll-forming process and an embossing process. A sheet of material suitable for bending using the process also is disclosed, as are the use of coatings, shin guards and displacing the area of the sheet between bending inducing slits.

1 - 65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . A method of preparing a sheet of material for bending along a bend line comprising the step of: forming at least one displacement in the thickness direction of the sheet of material with a portion of the periphery of the displacement closest to the bend line providing an edge and an opposed face configured and positioned to produce edge-to-face engagement of the sheet of material by rotating the edge into engagement with the face during bending, thereby controlling the location of bending. 
     
     
         67 . The method as defined in  claim 66 , wherein the forming step shears the sheet of material entirely through the thickness dimension along the portion of the periphery. 
     
     
         68 . The method as defined in  claim 66 , wherein the forming step plastically deforms the sheet of material to provide an edge and an opposed face configured so as not to fracture through the thickness dimension upon bending of the sheet material. 
     
     
         69 . The method as defined in  claim 66 , wherein during the forming step, forming a plurality of displacements in the sheet of material along the bend line with each displacement having a periphery portion proximate the bend line to provide a plurality of edges and opposed faces for edge-to-face bending of the sheet of material by rotating the edges into engagement with the faces during bending, thereby controlling the location of bending. 
     
     
         70 . The method as defined in  claim 69 , wherein during the forming step, forming the plurality of displacements in the sheet of material with the periphery portion of at least one displacement being positioned on each side of the bend line. 
     
     
         71 . The method as defined in  claim 70 , wherein during the forming step, forming the peripheral portions of displacements on opposite sides of the bend line to define bending straps oriented to extend obliquely across the bend line. 
     
     
         72 . The method as defined in  claim 66 , and the step of: after the forming step, adhering a layer of coating material to the sheet of material across the portion of the periphery of the displacement. 
     
     
         73 . The method as defined in  claim 72 , wherein the adhering step forms a continuous layer of flexible coating material. 
     
     
         74 . The method as defined in  claim 69 , wherein during the forming step, shearing the portion of the periphery of each displacement at least partially through the thickness dimension of the sheet of material. 
     
     
         75 . The method as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the forming step is accomplished by plastically deforming the sheet of material without shearing through the sheet of material and the bending is accomplished without fracturing the sheet of material. 
     
     
         76 . The method as defined in  claim 66 , and the step of: depositing a continuous layer of flexible coating material on at least one surface sheet of material across the displacements and the bend line before the bending step. 
     
     
         77 . The method as defined in  claim 66 , wherein the edge comprises ends that curve away from the bend line. 
     
     
         78 . The method as defined in  claim 66 , wherein the edge and the opposed face are configured and positioned to produce edge-to-face engagement of the sheet of material by rotating the edge into engagement with the face during bending almost immediately as bending begins, the edge-to-face engagement continuing during further bending. 
     
     
         79 . A sheet of material suitable for bending along a bend line comprising: at least one displacement in a thickness direction of the sheet of material with a portion of the periphery of the displacement closest to the bend line providing an edge and an opposed face configured and positioned to produce edge-to-face engagement of the sheet of material by rotating the edge into engagement with the face during bending in the direction of the displacement, thereby controlling the location of bending. 
     
     
         80 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 79 , wherein the sheet of material is formed with a plurality of displacements positioned along the bend line. 
     
     
         81 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 80 , wherein alternating displacements are positioned longitudinally along and on opposite sides of the bend line to define bending straps between adjacent ends of displacements extending across the bend line. 
     
     
         82 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 79 , wherein the portion of the periphery of the displacement is sheared partially through the thickness dimension of the sheet of material. 
     
     
         83 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 79 , wherein the portion of the periphery of the displacement is sheared completely through the thickness dimension of the sheet of material. 
     
     
         84 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 79 , wherein the portion of the periphery of the displacement is plastically deformed without being sheared through the thickness dimension of the sheet of material. 
     
     
         85 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 79 , wherein the displacement slopes upwardly from a maximum depth at the portion of the periphery to the plane of the sheet of material in a direction away from the bend line. 
     
     
         86 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 79 , wherein the displacement is an area displaced by substantially the same thickness dimension over the entire area. 
     
     
         87 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 79 , and a continuous layer of coating material adhered to at least one surface on the sheet of material after the displacement is formed. 
     
     
         88 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 87 , wherein the sheet of material is bent along the bend line without fracturing the continuous layer of coating material. 
     
     
         89 . The sheet of material as defined in  claim 79 , wherein the sheet of material is bent in a direction opposed to the direction of the displacement.