Patents by Inventor William Schnorr

William Schnorr 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).

  • Flexible, articulable column
    Patent number: 5348259
    Abstract: A flexible, articulable column having a central cable tensioning member with a series of ball and socket members strung on the cable forming articulable joints. Each socket member has at least one conical opening with internal teeth engagable with a ball which is made of an elastomeric polymer. When the cable is tensioned, the sockets move toward each other and the balls are indented by the teeth of the socket. The column thus becomes rigid. Releasing the tension returns the column to the flexible state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ernesto E. Blanco, William Schnorr