Patents by Inventor Norwood D. Craighead, II

Norwood D. Craighead, II 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).

  • Joint for deployable structures
    Patent number: 4558967
    Abstract: A joint (10) is described for connecting a pair of beams to pivot them between positions in alignment or beside one another, which is of light weight and which operates in a controlled manner. The joint includes a pair of fittings (16, 18), and at least one center link (20) having opposite ends pivotally connected to opposite fittings and having axes (36, 38) that pass through centerplanes (36, 38) of the fittings. A control link (24) having opposite ends pivotally connected to the different fittings controls their relative orientations, and a toggle assembly (26) holds the fittings in the deployed configuration wherein they are aligned. The fittings have stops (28, 30) that lie on one side of the centerplane opposite the toggle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Norwood D. Craighead, II, Richard J. Preliasco, Timothy D. Hult