Reverse bending tool
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a reverse bending tool. More particularly, the invention relates to a reverse bending tool for bending a workpiece bent at a substantially right angle to a reverse curve. 
     Reverse bending tools of the type described herein are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 146,272; 229,418; 1,823,489; 2,434,401; 3,119,432; 3,343,394; 3,387,478 and 3,680,346. 
     Objects of the invention are to provide a reverse bending tool of simple structure, which is inexpensive in manufacture, used with facility, convenience and rapidity, and functions efficiently, effectively and reliably to bend a workpiece initially bent at a substantially right angle in the shape of a 90° dihedral to a reverse curve or substantially zero degree dihedral. The reverse bending tool of the invention is especially adaptable for use in the aluminum siding of structures, wherein the improved reverse bend may be utilized to hide the J channel and to provide a watertight seal of the trim on the side of the structure. The reverse bending tool of the invention also permits trimming after the installation of the siding more rapidly and with greater facility than do the known devices. The reverse bending tool of the invention seals the joints in the siding of a structure and insures that cracks, open seams and loose joints are eliminated as far as the transfer of moisture into the structure is concerned. The reverse bending tool of the invention is equally usable with sheet metal and metal initially bent at a substantially right angle to form a 90° dihedral. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the reverse bending tool of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the lines II--II, of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a workpiece before it is bent by the reverse bending tool of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the workpiece of FIG. 3 after it has been bent by the reverse bending tool of the invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment of the shaping member of the reverse bending tool of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The reverse bending tool of the invention bends a workpiece 1 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) initially bent at a substantially right angle, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, to initially form a substantially 90° dihedral to a reverse curve or substantially zero degree dihedral, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. 
     The reverse bending tool of the invention comprises a support angle iron 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2) having first and second plates 3 and 4, respectively, joining each other at right angles along a length edge 5 of each, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The first and second plates 3 and 4 have inner surfaces 6 and 7, respectively, and outer surfaces 8 and 9, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2. The first and second plates 3 and 4 of the support angle iron 2 have a predetermined width W1. 
     A handle 10 is affixed to the outer surface 8 of the first plate 3 of the support angle iron 2, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     The reverse bending tool of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, further comprises a guide angle iron 11 having first and second plates 12 and 13, respectively, joining each other at right angles along a length edge 14 of each. The first and second plates 12 and 13 of the guide angle iron 11 have inner surfaces 15 and 16, respectively, and outer surfaces 17 and 18, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2. The first and second plates 12 and 13 of the guide angle iron 11 have a width W2 (FIG. 2) smaller than the predetermined width W1 of the first and second plates 3 and 4 of the support angle iron 2. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide angle iron 11 extends from the support angle iron 2 with the first plate 12 of said guide angle iron extending substantially perpendicularly from the inner surface 6 of the first plate 3 of said support angle iron in spaced relation with the inner surface 7 of the second plate 4 of said support angle iron. The second plate 13 of the guide angle iron 11 extends substantially perpendicularly to the second plate 4 of the support angle iron 2, but spaced from the inner surface 7 of said second plate of said support angle iron by a gap 19 (FIG. 2). The support angle iron and the guide angle iron 11 thus enclose a space of substantially rectangular cross-section therebetween. 
     A shaping member 20, which preferably comprises wood (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) is secured in the space between the support angle iron 2 and the guide angle iron 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The shaping member 20, which may also be known as a plow, has a cross-section shaped to bend the right angle of the workpiece 1, shown in FIG. 3, to a reverse angle, shown in FIG. 4. The shaping member 20 preferably consists of wood. 
     The reverse bending tool of the invention is utilized by drawing or pulling the workpiece 1 between the shaping member 20 and the inner surface 7 and 16 of the second plates 4 and 13, respectively, of the support angle iron 2 and the guide angle iron 11, respectively. Alternatively, the reverse bending tool of the invention is moved along the workpiece 1 after said workpiece is initially positioned between the shaping member 20 and the inner surface 7 of the second plate 4 of the support angle iron 2. 
     While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.