Portable sheet metal bending apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus that is a portable sheet metal apparatus generally for bending sheet metal and more particularly to an apparatus for forming a gutter guard assembly ready to be installed between the outer lip of a rain gutter and a first row of shingles on a shingled roof. Said apparatus comprising a first bending member having a cylindrical bar, a second bending member hinged to the first bending member to provide a means for bending the sheet metal, said second bending member having an angled portion, leg portions, and at least one handle member, wherein pulling the handle member forward and downward provides the application of both pressing and releasing forces against a work piece sheet metal as it is bent between said cylindrical bar of the first bending member and the angled portion of the second bending member.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A bending apparatus for manually bending pieces of material for forming a gutter guard assembly, said bending apparatus comprising: 
 a first bending member having an upper surface,    a first end and a second end of the upper surface, said first and said second end receiving a generally cylindrical bar, said bar parallel to and spaced from the first bending member,    a shoulder on the upper surface adjacent to said cylindrical bar to define an opening, said opening adapted to receive an end portion of said material, a second bending member parallel to said cylindrical bar and hinged to said first bending member such that said opening will hold said piece of material as it is bent around said cylindrical bar to form a curved portion on said piece of material.    
     
     
         2 . The bending apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second bending member includes an angle member having a first leg parallel to said cylindrical bar and a second leg.  
     
     
         3 . The bending apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one handle is attached to said second bending member.  
     
     
         4 . The bending apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said bending apparatus has a first position where a first portion of said second bending member is spaced from said cylindrical bar and substantially parallel to said first bending member and a second position where said first portion of said second bending member can contact said cylindrical bar.  
     
     
         5 . A portable sheet metal bending apparatus for manually bending pieces of sheet metal material for forming a ready to be installed gutter guard assembly between an outer lip of a rain gutter and a first row of shingles on a shingled roof, said bending apparatus comprising: 
 a first bending member having a lower surface and an upper surface,    a second bending member hinged to the first bending member, said second bending member having a lower surface and an upper surface,    an at least two leg portions attached to opposing ends of the lower surface of the first bending member,    at least one handle member attached to the second bending member,    wherein the first bending member further comprising opposing end members disposed on substantially opposite ends of the upper surface of the first bending member, said opposing end members receiving a generally cylindrical bar, said bar positioned slightly higher than the first bending member defining an opening between the bar and the first bending member, said opening adapted to receive an end portion of said sheet metal,    a shoulder portion disposed on the upper surface of the first bending member, said shoulder portion provided at the approximate juncture of where the bar extends over the first bending member.    
     
     
         6 . The bending apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the second bending member further comprising an angle member disposed on the upper surface of the second bending member.  
     
     
         7 . A method for forming a gutter guard including the steps of: 
 placing a metal sheet overlapping a hinge connecting a first bending member and a second bending member, sliding the metal sheet against a shoulder on the first bending member, manually pivoting said second bending member relative to said first bending member, bending a portion of said metal sheet around a cylindrical bar adjacent to said shoulder, releasing said metal sheet.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said metal sheet is recovered scrap from siding a house.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bending occurs manually using at least one handle attached to said second bending member.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gutter guard is formed on site where it is to be used.  
     
     
         11 . A bending apparatus for bending pieces of material for forming a gutter guard assembly, said bending apparatus comprising: 
 a fixed bending member having an upper surface,    a first end and a second end of the upper surface, said first and said second end receiving a generally cylindrical bar, said bar parallel to and spaced from the fixed bending member,    a shoulder on the upper surface adjacent to said cylindrical bar to define an opening, said opening adapted to receive an edge portion of said material, a pivot bending member parallel to said cylindrical bar and hinged to said fixed bending member such that said opening will hold said piece of material as it is bent around said cylindrical bar to form a curved portion on said piece of material.    
     
     
         12 . A bending apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein at least one handle is attached to said pivotal bending member for manually bending said pieces of material.  
     
     
         13 . The bending apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the pieces of material are sheet aluminum.  
     
     
         14 . The bending apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said bending apparatus has a first position where a first portion of said pivotal bending member is spaced from said cylindrical bar and substantially parallel to said fixed bending member and a second position where said first portion of said pivotal bending member contact traps a portion of said curved portion against said cylindrical bar.  
     
     
         15 . The bending apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the curved portion on said piece of material is bent at least 180 degrees of arc.