Patents by Inventor Mary Herbert

Mary Herbert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Electro-mechanical actuator device and apparatus incorporating such device
    Patent number: 9165734
    Abstract: A microgripper (2) comprises a pair of opposed actuator devices (4, 6) connected to an electronic control unit (8). Each actuator (4, 6) includes an actuator body 10 of transparent flexible epoxy based photoresist material forming a “hot” arm (12) and a “cold” arm (14) joined together at their ends, and an electrical heating element wire (18) is embedded in the “hot” arm (12). A gripper arm (32) extends from the substrate and has a gripping portion (34) such that the gripper portions of the two gripper arms (32) face each other. When electrical current is supplied to the heating element (18), electrical heating of the “hot” arm (12) occurs, as a result of which thermal expansion of the “hot” arm (12) causes its length to become greater than that of the “cold” arm (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: University Of Durham
    Inventors: David Wood, Belen Pilar Solano Hermosilla, Mary Herbert
  • Laboratory Apparatus with Incubator
    Publication number: 20100291664
    Abstract: Laboratory apparatus comprises at least one cabinet; at least one incubator; at least one transfer hatch; and means for circulating air within the apparatus, wherein the at least one cabinet is connected to an incubator and a transfer hatch; wherein the at least one incubator comprises at least two discrete compartments each accessible by independent openings; and wherein the apparatus is substantially sealed against exchange of air between the cabinet and the external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Mary Herbert, Stephen Harbottle, Jeannette Fenwick, James Walker
  • ELECTRO-MECHANICAL ACTUATOR DEVICE AND APPARATUS INCORPORATING SUCH DEVICE
    Publication number: 20100058899
    Abstract: A microgripper (2) comprises a pair of opposed actuator devices (4, 6) connected to an electronic control unit (8). Each actuator (4, 6) includes an actuator body 10 of transparent flexible epoxy based photoresist material forming a “hot” arm (12) and a “cold” arm (14) joined together at their ends, and an electrical heating element wire (18) is embedded in the “hot” arm (12). A gripper arm (32) extends from the substrate and has a gripping portion (34) such that the gripper portions of the two gripper arms (32) face each other. When electrical current is supplied to the heating element (18), electrical heating of the “hot” arm (12) occurs, as a result of which thermal expansion of the “hot” arm (12) causes its length to become greater than that of the “cold” arm (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: David Wood, Belen Pilar Solano Hermosilla, Mary Herbert