Patents by Inventor Mark R. Claffee

Mark R. Claffee 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).

  • Patent number: 10578197
    Abstract: A robot includes a support, a movable member coupled to the support to permit gimbal rotation about a pitch axis and a yaw axis, and first and second linear actuators connected to each of the support and the movable member and operable to rotate the movable member about the pitch axis and the yaw axis. The first linear actuator is pivotally attached to the movable member at a first pivot point. The second linear actuator is pivotally attached to the movable member at a second pivot point. The first and second pivot points are each angularly offset from the pitch axis and the yaw axis by about 45 degrees and are located on the same side of the pitch axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Claffee, Timothy R. Ohm, Erik Amaral, Annan M. Mozeika
  • Publication number: 20180073614
    Abstract: A robot includes a support, a movable member coupled to the support to permit gimbal rotation about a pitch axis and a yaw axis, and first and second linear actuators connected to each of the support and the movable member and operable to rotate the movable member about the pitch axis and the yaw axis. The first linear actuator is pivotally attached to the movable member at a first pivot point. The second linear actuator is pivotally attached to the movable member at a second pivot point. The first and second pivot points are each angularly offset from the pitch axis and the yaw axis by about 45 degrees and are located on the same side of the pitch axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Mark R. Claffee, Timothy R. Ohm, Erik Amaral, Annan M. Mozeika
  • Patent number: 9845850
    Abstract: A robot includes a support, a movable member coupled to the support to permit gimbal rotation about a pitch axis and a yaw axis, and first and second linear actuators connected to each of the support and the movable member and operable to rotate the movable member about the pitch axis and the yaw axis. The first linear actuator is pivotally attached to the movable member at a first pivot point. The second linear actuator is pivotally attached to the movable member at a second pivot point. The first and second pivot points are each angularly offset from the pitch axis and the yaw axis by about 45 degrees and are located on the same side of the pitch axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Claffee, Timothy R. Ohm, Erik Amaral, Annan M. Mozeika
  • Patent number: 9744677
    Abstract: A robotic end effector includes a finger and at least one actuator. The finger extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a finger axis. The finger includes a first phalanx proximate the proximal end, a second phalanx proximate the distal end, and a knuckle joint including at least one vertebra interposed between and separating the first and second phalanxes. The knuckle joint is configured to permit the second phalanx to pivot relative to the first phalanx about a pivot axis transverse to the finger axis. Each vertebra has an axial thickness extending along the finger axis and a lateral width extending perpendicular to its axial thickness, and its lateral width is greater than its axial thickness. The at least one actuator is operable to move the second phalanx relative to the first phalanx about the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy R. Ohm, Mark R. Claffee, Erik Amaral, Steven V. Shamlian, Annan M. Mozeika
  • Publication number: 20170129110
    Abstract: A robotic end effector includes a finger and at least one actuator. The finger extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a finger axis. The finger includes a first phalanx proximate the proximal end, a second phalanx proximate the distal end, and a knuckle joint including at least one vertebra interposed between and separating the first and second phalanxes. The knuckle joint is configured to permit the second phalanx to pivot relative to the first phalanx about a pivot axis transverse to the finger axis. Each vertebra has an axial thickness extending along the finger axis and a lateral width extending perpendicular to its axial thickness, and its lateral width is greater than its axial thickness. The at least one actuator is operable to move the second phalanx relative to the first phalanx about the pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy R. Ohm, Mark R. Claffee, Erik Amaral, Steven V. Shamlian, Annan M. Mozeika
  • Patent number: 9545727
    Abstract: A robotic end effector includes a finger and at least one actuator. The finger extends from a proximal end to a distal end along a finger axis. The finger includes a first phalanx proximate the proximal end, a second phalanx proximate the distal end, and a knuckle joint including at least one vertebra interposed between and separating the first and second phalanxes. The knuckle joint is configured to permit the second phalanx to pivot relative to the first phalanx about a pivot axis transverse to the finger axis. Each vertebra has an axial thickness extending along the finger axis and a lateral width extending perpendicular to its axial thickness, and its lateral width is greater than its axial thickness. The at least one actuator is operable to move the second phalanx relative to the first phalanx about the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Steven V. Shamlian, Mark R. Claffee, Erik Amaral, Timothy R. Ohm, Annan M. Mozeika
  • Publication number: 20160221197
    Abstract: A robot includes a support, a movable member coupled to the support to permit gimbal rotation about a pitch axis and a yaw axis, and first and second linear actuators connected to each of the support and the movable member and operable to rotate the movable member about the pitch axis and the yaw axis. The first linear actuator is pivotally attached to the movable member at a first pivot point. The second linear actuator is pivotally attached to the movable member at a second pivot point. The first and second pivot points are each angularly offset from the pitch axis and the yaw axis by about 45 degrees and are located on the same side of the pitch axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Mark R. Claffee, Timothy R. Ohm, Erik Amaral, Annan M. Mozeika