Flexible Member Is Joint Component Patents (Class 403/291)
  • Patent number: 5318819
    Abstract: A pipe joining construction includes a tube, two or more extensions extended from the tube, a tube member coupled to each of the extensions so as to form a joint portion, an insert disposed in each of the tube members and the extensions and having an envelope and a foamable material disposed in the envelope, a covering having an outer layer wrapped around the joint portion and a foamable material disposed between the outer layer and the joint portion. When foamed, the foamable materials apply forces against the tube members and the extensions so as to solidly couple them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Inventor: Ching-Dong Pai
  • Patent number: 5302044
    Abstract: A unitary construction device for temporarily attaching an object to a support of generally elongate shape along a reference axis, has a first part attached to the support and a second part attached to the object and joined to the first part by a coupling portion flexible in bending. This coupling portion includes a pair of identical axial tangs aligned on a first line transverse to the reference axis and coplanar therewith, flexible parallel to a second line transverse to the reference axis and perpendicular to the first transverse line, and requiring the same energy to fracture in tension parallel to the axis. The coupling portion further includes at least one pair of first feet attached to the first part, one on each side of the first transverse line and extending axially towards the second part, and at least one pair of second feet attached to the second part and extending axially towards the pair of first feet and separated therefrom by the same predetermined axial distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Societe Nationale Industrielle et Aerospatiale
    Inventors: Jacques Spariat, Jean-Pierre Aubret, Michel Barriere
  • Patent number: 5295755
    Abstract: A shock mount is used for mounting a first member of a piece of furniture to a second member thereof. The shock mount includes an elastic portion and a metal portion secured to the elastic portion. The metal portion has an exposed surface of a shape which conforms to the first furniture member. The elastic portion is secured to the second furniture member, the exposed surface of the metal portion is adhesively secured to the first furniture member, and the elastic portion absorbs various loads imparted by the first and second furniture members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard DeHaan, III, David M. Boruta, George B. Byma
  • Patent number: 5281043
    Abstract: A mechanical coupling device includes a spring retainer wound up around two tie rods inside a housing, a driving device supported on a bearing plate above the spring retainer and having an axle extended out of the housing through a center hole. Inserting a rod member through an opening on the housing into openings on two side sections and an intermediate section of the spring retainer causes locating spring leaves on the spring retainer to be spread out to hold the rod member firmly fastened. Rotating the axle of the driving device in one direction causes the spring retainer to be contracted in moving back the locating spring leaves and releasing the rod member; rotating the axle of the driving device in the reversed direction causes the locating spring leaves to be spread out to hold the rod member being inserted firmly fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Li J. Hsu
  • Patent number: 5269038
    Abstract: A toothbrush which automatically provides an up-down stroking action in concert with a side-to-side stroking action as the brush is stroked side-to-side along the teeth of a user. The brush incorporates two pairs of elongate bristle-carrying pads with the pads of each pair positioned side-by-side and the pairs end-to-end. Each pad is hinged to the pad-holding end of the brush with the hinge axis being angularly related to the elongate axis of the pad. The hinge comprises a relatively thin elongate web having a substantially hour-glass cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventor: Terry G. Bradley
  • Patent number: 5269617
    Abstract: An apparatus for floatingly mounting a shaft, includes a housing (2), a rigid casing (4) for receiving and rotatably supporting one end of the shaft (1), and an elastically deformable element (5) floatingly supporting the rigid casing (4) in the housing (2). The elastically deformable element (5) is a bellows of synthetic material, mounted at one of its ends by an annular portion (5,) of smaller diameter than the internal folds of the bellows, on an external seat (6) of the rigid casing (4) and at its other end, by an annular portion (5") of greater diameter than the external folds of the bellows, in an internal seat (7) of the housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventors: Benoit Urban, Jean-Marc Hubsch, Pierre Stephan
  • Patent number: 5265853
    Abstract: A spring hinge between panels of a satellite panel array comprises a plurality of serially joined known flexural pivots of the type having two cylindrical members with tongues from each extending into the other joined by a flat spring. One panel has an abutment for limiting the rotation of the next panel with respect thereto such that the spring hinge remains partially stressed when the panels are deployed. In another embodiment, two pluralities of serially joined pivots act in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventor: Thomas Szirtes
  • Patent number: 5249878
    Abstract: A fiber-glass shear puck for connecting, and transferring load between abutting together is disclosed. The shear puck is in the shape of a cylindrical section with planar side walls and is easier to manufacture and has greater strength and load bearing capacity than existing fiber-glass shear pucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Inventor: Mitchell H. Frumkin
  • Patent number: 5213436
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a spring joint having two holding bodies. The spring joint is fixedly attached to a base at one of the holding bodies. The second holding body is provided for the attachment of a component which is intended to undergo a pivot movement relative to the base during operation. A spring element acts as a connecting body between the two holding bodies. A stop is mounted on the spring joint so that the spring joint can be used again after impact loads or intermittent vibration. This stop includes at least one stop body which limits the movement range of the spring body in the spring joint for radial and axial load to the elastic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Anschutz & Co. GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Fichtner, Kurt Brenner
  • Patent number: 5192161
    Abstract: A floating structure suitable for use as a breakwater is composed of at least two displacing units have an elongated shape arranged in series. Each unit is a conventional box-like structure of reinforced concrete. The units are linked together by means of wires passing through channels provided at the top of the longitudinal sides of the units. Bodies of resilient material are fitted into recesses at the ends of the channels, and the wires also pass through these bodies. During erection of the structure the wires will be subjected to straining, and the length of the blocks and the resiliency of the material is selected so a margin will remain between meeting edges of two juxtaposed units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Inventors: Ulf Helgesson, Bjorn Helgesson
  • Patent number: 5181371
    Abstract: An improved flexible joint assembly is disclosed for use in connecting partition members for use in lawn mower drag shields. One of the members includes a receiving groove made of a rigid and heat bondable material. The other partition member includes a resiliently flexible portion which protrudes from a marginal edge thereof. The protruding portion is placed in interfitting heat bonded engagement with the rigid receiving groove so that the latter interfaces and encompassing a substantial area of the protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Crane Plastics Company
    Inventor: Sam DeWorth
  • Patent number: 5176463
    Abstract: The invention relates to a joint connection (3) between two plastic parts (1 and 2), one part being at least partly rotatable in relation to the other part. According to the invention, the joint connection (3) consists of a shell-form outer element (4) on the one plastic part (1) and an inner element (5), at least partly supported in the outer element (4), on the other plastic part (2), both elements (4) and (5) being made by being injection molded one in the other, from one tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: TRW United-Carr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Willibald Kraus, Hans-Werner Ruckwardt
  • Patent number: 5149222
    Abstract: A rolling flexure bearing. The bearing is formed of a thin sheet of elastic material that is attached to a surface of a first object. The sheet extends a short distance along the surface of the first object. The sheet then makes a 180 degree elastic bend off the surface of the first object to reverse the direction of the sheet. After making the bend, the sheet then extends a short distance along the surface of the second object substantially parallel to the surface of the first object. The sheet is attached at its end to the surface of the second object.In this configuration, the flexure bearing is stiff along an axis parallel to the bend axis to constrain movement along this axis. The flexure bearing, along the axis normal to the surfaces of the objects, has a high compliance rate to provide damping between the objects. Along the third orthogonal axis, normal to the bend axis, the bearing allows free relative movement between the two objects, until it approaches either of the two attachment areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Lester M. Yeakley
  • Patent number: 5143475
    Abstract: There is disclosed a bending device for use in an endoscope or the like. The bending device includes an articulation assembly constituted by a number of segments. In order to increase the rigidity of the articulation assembly in its radial direction, each segment has such a simple configuration that the segment can be formed by bending a hard metal plate such, for example, as a hard spring metal. More specifically, the segment has a semi-cylindrical portion and a pair of extension portions extending respectively from opposite circumferential ends of the semi-cylindrical portion in a direction of the circumference of the semi-cylindrical portion. A pair of notches are formed respectively in opposite axial ends of the segment at the boundary between each of the opposite circumferential ends of the semi-cylindrical portion and each of the extension portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Machida Seisakusho
    Inventor: Toshio Chikama
  • Patent number: 5129627
    Abstract: A retainer for a landscape body which has a pair of base portions for supporting the bottom surface of the body, a pair of feet portions which extend downwardly from the base portion for penetrating the ground and anchoring the body to the ground, and a pair of arm portions which connect the base portions for engaging the side surfaces of the landscape body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Inventor: Eugene H. Mongeau
  • Patent number: 5125759
    Abstract: A robotic wrist employs a plurality of elastomeric containers holding an electro-rheological fluid. An electromagnetic field can be selectively applied across the electro-rheological fluid within these elastomeric containers to selectively control the viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid and thereby control the stiffness of the elastomeric containers. Two sets of elastomeric containers can be used to control both the axial and radial stiffnesses of the wrist. In the preferred embodiment, the elastomeric containers have a hollow spherical shape. An electromagnetic field is created within the containers by applying a voltage between a conductive film on the interior surface of the sphere and second electrode extending through the sphere into the electro-rheological fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Inventor: Wendell H. Chun
  • Patent number: 5116190
    Abstract: A cable suspension compliance mechanism has a top plate for attaching the mechanism to a robot and a bottom plate for attaching the mechanism to a gripping device. Steel cables interconnect the plates and maintain the plates substantially parallel relative to each other. Pneumatic cylinders are also disposed between the plates to adjust the mechanism's stiffness by adjusting the tension of a selected number of the steel cables. The mechanism is also equipped with magnetic inductance sensors to sense the position and classification of the article to be gripped. Additionally, the mechanism has an overtravel sensor to indicate the presence of unexpected obstacles, and to stop the mechasnism in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: Gerald W. Silke
  • Patent number: 5102255
    Abstract: A flex-joint assembly (36) having a pair of identical flex joints (102,104) between three sections of shaft, front (88), center (86) and rear (90). Each flex joint, i.e., (102), consists of a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical bearings (89,93) and a trunnion block (92). The block (92) is a double wedge having long arcuate edges (106,108) at opposite sides thereof, the two edges being orthogonal to each other. The edges (106,108) fit into the bearings (89,93), and the bearings (89,93) and trunnion block (92) fit into complementarily shaped end-sections (91,95) in the facing ends of their associated shafts (88,86). The shafts (88,86,90), the bearings (89,93) and (98,100), and the blocks (92) and (94) are formed with a central bore (121) in which a wire (96) is placed. The wire (96) is placed under tension and affixed at the ends of the front and rear shafts (88) and (90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Theodore A. Heinz
  • Patent number: 5090519
    Abstract: In a disk brake actuated preferably hydraulically, a piston (5) is guided within a housing located in a caliper. When pressure is applied, the piston acts in such a manner against a brake shoe (15) bearing a brake lining (17) that the brake shoe (15) is pressed with its brake lining against the brake disk to be braked. The side of the piston facing the brake shoe has a pressure plate (13) which transmits the pressure forces and which moves transversely within its recess in the piston (5). The pressure plate (13) is mounted on the end of a tappet (25) extending axially inside the piston (5) and bracing itself at the end opposite the pressure plate by a disk (27) at the bottom (29) of the bore (31) accommodating the tappet, and is surrounded by a prestressed compression spring (37). Lateral movements of the pressure plate (13) cause tipping of the tappet (25) and, as a consequence thereof, a reset force exerted by the compression spring (37 ) on the tappet (25) and, thus, on the pressure plate (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse AG
    Inventors: Filip Golea, Xaver Wirth
  • Patent number: 5082424
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connection system for connecting a ring which carries aircraft propeller blades to a turbine which the ring surrounds. Brackets extend between the ring and the turbine and accommodate thermal expansion of the turbine without significant deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sifarat S. Husain, Gerard P. Kroger, Robert P. Czachor
  • Patent number: 5061107
    Abstract: A structural pivot 10 includes a first sleeve 18 and a second sleeve 20 which are connected by a pair of parallelogram shaped flexible elements 22 and 24. The flexible elements include tapered ends 40, 42 and 44, 46, respectively. The tapered ends of the flexible elements are connected to sleeves 18, 20 so that the flexible elements 22, 24 are assembled in a crisscross fashion while the flexible elements remain spaced from each other. During angular rotaton of the sleeves, the flexible elements undergo both flexural and torsional action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Santa Barbara Research Center
    Inventor: John J. Brooks
  • Patent number: 5015805
    Abstract: In providing a coaxial cable having reinforcing strands with a Kellems grip onnector, a length of the outer sheath is initially removed to expose the core, reinforcing strands and metallic braid. The exposed strands are formed into a multiplicity of bundles which are initially folded away from the end of the cable, and a metallic washer is placed over the exposed core and conductively bonded to the metallic braid. A Kellems grip connector having a connector element and a cylindrical mesh compression sleeve is inserted onto the core, and the sleeve extends over the washer and the strands. The washer is conductively connected to the connector of the Kellems grip connector which is spaced closely thereto. The bundles of strands are pulled outwardly through peripherally spaced openings in the mesh sleeve and looped about the intersections of the wires of the sleeve adjacent the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Dennis M. Beckloff, David L. Culberston
  • Patent number: 4988084
    Abstract: A spring element for connecting two components, the two components having substantially the same direction of extension, where one component is fixed relative to the other component, with the latter component having angle of rotation mobility relative to the fixed component. In the component extension direction, a T-shaped sectional piece is provided having a base section extending in the component extension direction and a section extending substantially perpendicularly from the base section. The section extending from the base section has a connecting device for connecting this section to the component with angle of rotation mobility. The base section has torsional flexibility and includes a connnecting device at each end for connecting the base section to the fixed component. The connecting devices for connecting the base section to the fixed component are limited to both ends of the base section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Alois Wagner, Otmar Friedberger
  • Patent number: 4934860
    Abstract: A support arrangement which allows pivoting of a non-rotatable shaft has a flexure structure and a pair of axially-displaced inner and outer hubs respectively connected to, and disposed inwardly and outwardly of, the flexure structure. The flexure structure is composed of a disk-shaped flexural elements disposed in stacked, axially spaced relation to one another and connected peripherally one to the next. The flexural elements together define a frictionless, laterally stiff, fulcrum or pivot point about which the shaft can pivot through a predefined range of angular motion. The inner hub is attached to an inner end one of the flexural elements at an interior peripheral edge thereof, whereas the outer hub is attached to an outer end one of the flexural elements at an exterior peripheral edge thereof. The shaft extends axially through the bores in the hubs and an opening in the flexure structure along a common axis, and is rigidly attached to the inner hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Garrett
  • Patent number: 4932806
    Abstract: A compliant joint is provided for prosthetic and robotic devices which permits rotation in three different planes. The joint provides for the controlled use of cable under motion. Perpendicular outer mounting frames are joined by swaged cables that interlock at a center block. Ball bearings allow for the free rotation of the second mounting frame relative to the first mounting frame within a predetermined angular rotation that is controlled by two stop devices. The cables allow for compliance at the stops and the cables allow for compliance in six degrees of freedom enabling the duplication or simulation of the rotational movement and flexibility of a natural hip or knee joint, as well as the simulation of a joint designed for a specific robotic component for predetermined design parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Wayne D. Eklund, James J. Kerley
  • Patent number: 4921396
    Abstract: A supporting device including a first member which supports a springy means for resiliently supporting a second member. The supporting device includes a detection for detecting displacements of the springy with respect to the first member in accordance with the movement of the second member and a biasing which applies a force to the springy from the same direction as or from a direction opposite to that of the displacement for changing the elasticity of the springy in accordance with the movement of the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Asakawa, Fumiaki Akiya, Fumio Tabata
  • Patent number: 4913266
    Abstract: The present specification discloses a braking disc for a disc brake. The braking disc comprises an annular disc member with a number of radially inwardly projecting lugs, located coaxially with respect to a central hub member which has a number of radially outwardly projecting lugs, the lugs on the hub member being located between adjacent lugs on the annular disc member. The lugs on said members are interconnected by at least one resilient member which is designed to flex generally radially but not circumferentially. Thus the or each resilient member positively transmits circumferential torque forces but is sufficiently flexible to allow for radial deflection due to thermal expansion of the disc member, without being over-stressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: David F. Russell, Simon B. Dobson, Alexander J. Williams
  • Patent number: 4869552
    Abstract: A chair which includes a seat frame having depending leg members and a pair of upstanding, spaced apart members arranged to provide a lower backrest part for the chair and an upper backrest frame part having a pair of spaced apart depending members in registry with the upstanding members, said members being hollow with open extremities, and flexible spring means secured between each pair of members to provide an articulated, flexible spring backrest for the chair. Each flexible spring means includes an elongated, flat or blade spring member having its opposite ends secured within a holder member which is closed at one end and open at its opposite end for inserting the spring into the holder. The open ends of each holder have stop flange formations protruding outwardly thereon which, when the holders are spaced apart at their open ends with a slight gap therebetween, effect limitation of the angle of flexure of the spring by engagement of the flanges one with the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Shelby Williams Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Tolleson, Gregory M. Saul, R. Duane Ware
  • Patent number: 4859107
    Abstract: A structure to be subjected to bending and fatigue loading comprises two components having different stiffness connected together. Deflection of the more flexible component is accommodated by the interposition of an intermediate member of varying flexibility between the components or by providing the less flexible component with a flexible portion to act as a fulcrum for the deflection. The components may be a radar-transparent cover and a mounting therefor for use in a submarine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering Limited
    Inventors: Robert L. Box, Peter R. Cottrell
  • Patent number: 4853965
    Abstract: A flexible joint mechanism comprises male and female joint members for joining a microphone pole to a base member. The male joint member has a substantially spherical end surface. The female joint member has a dish-shaped end surface for receiving the spherical end surface. The dish-shaped and spherical end surfaces are held together in sliding engagement by a spring or the like. A detent is interposed between the dish-shaped and spherical end surfaces for releasably holding the joint members in a vertically aligned position following movement thereof into the aligned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Chester J. Blonski
  • Patent number: 4846205
    Abstract: The apparatus, used primarily on the beach, protects user from wind and blowing sand, as well as providing minimal shade from sun. The framework, made of rigid, plastic pipe, is held together by a braided nylon elastic cord, and it is sewn into a flexible sheet of nylon, creating an integrated unit which is completely collapsible for easy transport and storage. The apparatus is anchored by two uprights embedded in the sand and sand pockets sewn into the bottom of the unit which can be filled with said and emptied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventor: William D. Knoll
  • Patent number: 4823487
    Abstract: A flex pin includes an elongated rigid locking member having an elongated lateral recess formed therein. An elongated rigid wedge member is intersecured to the locking member by means of a spaced series of elastomeric segments positioned in the recess, and is laterally movable into the recess against the resilient resistance of the elastomeric segments. The wedge member has a longitudinally intermediate portion which is engageable by a forward side surface of the adapter nose opening and is interlockable therewith, and a pair of rearwardly swept outer end portions which underlie opposite end surfaces of the locking member recess and are engageable therewith as the flex pin is being driven into its installed position to prevent shearing of the elastomeric segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: GH Hensley Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard W. Robinson
  • Patent number: 4812072
    Abstract: A structural pivot 10 includes a first end cap 18 and a second end cap 20 which are connected together by an elastic member 22 in the form of a cruciform. The structural pivot 10 does not exhibit a geometric center shift when one of the end caps is angularly deflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Santa Barbara Research Center
    Inventor: John J. Brooks
  • Patent number: 4802784
    Abstract: A structural pivot 10 includes a first sleeve 18 and a second sleeve 20 which are connected together by a pair of flexures 22 and 24. Each flexure includes a pair of blades 40, 42 and 54, 56. The free ends of the blades are connected to the sleeves 18, 20 while the common cross members 44 and 62 remain spaced from the inner surfaces of the sleeves. During angular rotation of the sleeves, the blades can flex without resulting in a geometric center shift for the pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Santa Barbara Research Center
    Inventor: John J. Brooks
  • Patent number: 4792340
    Abstract: A prosthetic ankle having an elongated tubular shank, which provides bending. The shank is part of a monolithic ankle with the lower portion being a flexure joint. The flexure joint has a flexing post defined by an entrapment kerf. The entrapment kerf allows relatively free movement of flexure within defined limits in axial rotation, dorsi and plantar flexion, inversion and eversion. The kerf surfaces provide resistance to axial rotation during dorsiflexion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Ernest M. Burgess
    Inventors: Alan L. Aulie, Ernest M. Burgess
  • Patent number: 4778359
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved connector assembly which is made of one-piece design and construction with two sections that can move relative to each other to thereby provide a connector assembly which can pivotally connect the adjoining end portions of an upper and lower string of sucker rods that are angularly disposed relative to one another within a tubing string of like angulation. Through use of the present invention one-piece connector assembly, the string of sucker rods can be inserted through various dog-leg sections in the well bore hole and further are able to absorb longitudinal forces which may be exerted on the sucker rod strings thereby permitting the sucker rod strings to reciprocate without being subjected to stress from numerous frictional forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Inventors: Whetstine B. Pridy, Sean M. Pridy
  • Patent number: 4749088
    Abstract: A doll pole for suspending stuffed dolls has a pair of stiffening and filler rods made from resilient foam plastic that are coaxially aligned and housed in a hollow tube made from sheet material. The rods are slidable within the tube and have a combined length which is less than the length of the tube so that the tube may be folded at its midsection for ease of transport and storage. Ribbons are spaced along the length of the tube for tying the stuffed dolls to the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Janice C. Workman
    Inventors: Janice C. Workman, Russell W. Morris
  • Patent number: 4741642
    Abstract: An improved joint for connecting an end effector to a robotic arm is described. The joint includes a spring for supporting the weight of the end effector, a plurality of ball and socket locating members, and a plurality of ball plungers. The ball plungers are located adjacent a platform connected to the robotic arm to effect a snap-like trip point when struck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Phase 2 Automation
    Inventor: Richard J. Carlton
  • Patent number: 4737048
    Abstract: A road sign attachment and repair apparatus having first and second U-shaped brackets adapted to be attached to a wooden sign post near the bottom thereof to form a resilient joint or to form such resilient joint at a place where a wooden sign post has been broken off. Four coil springs are attached to one of the U-shaped brackets at one end thereof and to the other U-shaped bracket at the other end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Inventor: Timothy J. Herrstrom
  • Patent number: 4719845
    Abstract: A joint for connecting a driving means to a driven means for reciprocating movement wherein a confined deformable, non-compressible material is in contact with a surface area of the driving means and with a surface area of the driven means and when a force is applied to the driving means to move the driving means toward the driven means, the deformable, non-compressible material deforms to compensate for any misalignment between the driving means and the driven means until it reaches its non-compressible state so that a uniform force is then transmitted across the surface area of the driven means in one direction to move the driven means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Adolph Coors Company
    Inventor: Larry M. Dugan
  • Patent number: 4717288
    Abstract: A flexible structural joint of "flex joint" for use in an articulated structure is disclosed. The articulated structure has a first section and a second section which are located along a longitudinal axis of the structure, the first section being subject to lateral or transverse loads. The flex joint is located between the first and second sections and accommodates lateral pivoting of the first section with respect to the second section through elastic flexing or bending of certain of its members. No moving parts are used. In a first embodiment, the flex joint consists of an elongated axial load member and at least three shear and torsion links oriented so as to lie substantially in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the structure. Each of the links is connected at one of its ends to the first section and at its other end to the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventors: Lyle D. Finn, Leonard D. Power
  • Patent number: 4715589
    Abstract: A connecting device has at least one bolt and a loop of unidirectional fis bound by or embedded in a synthetic matrix material looping around the bolt to form a looping range extending around the bolt. The resistance of the matrix material in the looping range against squeeze-out is improved by reinforcing fiber layers located in the looping range of the loop around the bolt. The fibers of these reinforcing layers are also bound by the matrix of the synthetic material. The reinforcing fibers form insert and/or cover layers having at least one main fiber orientation which extends at least approximately in the direction of the longitudinal bolt axis whereas the unidirectional fibers forming the loop extend approximately tangentially to the bolt in the looping range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventor: Rudolf Woerndle
  • Patent number: 4694703
    Abstract: A two-axis, monolithic, flexure hinge suspension system for an accelerometer or gyroscope has first, second and third cylindrical portions which are slightly axially spaced from each other along a common axis and are connected by pairs of flexible hinges therebetween. Each pair of flexible hinges is mutually perpendicular to another pair of flexible hinges and is also perpendicular to the common axis. Each flexural hinge comprises a pair of flexure leaves extending between adjacent cylindrical portions and joined together at the crossing portions thereof. One of the leaves in the flexure extends downwardly from an arcuate wall of one of the cylindrical portions to an arcuate wall of another cylindrical portion at about a 55.degree. angle to a vertically oriented common axis. The other leaf in the flexure extends upwardly from an arcuate wall portion in the one cylindrical portion to an arcuate wall in the other cylindrical portion at about a 55.degree. angle to the vertically oriented common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Lear Siegler, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory S. Routson
  • Patent number: 4679434
    Abstract: An accelerometer fabricated from a semiconductor substrate sandwiched between two non-conductive plates is shown having an inertial mass formed by etching the substrate. The mass is joined to the substrate by hinges having crossed blades to provide flexure in one direction and rigidity in other directions. The fabrication technique permits the integration of accelerometer servo and signal processing circuitry upon the same substrate in which the accelerometer mass is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4669457
    Abstract: Brace for use on a body limb having a joint, wherein a cuff is adapted to be attached to the limb above the joint and a cuff to be attached to the limb below the joint, the two cuffs being joined by a connecting member. The connecting member consists of a main body having a track in which lies a limiting element, the limiting element allowing the main body to be bent one direction only, but not in any other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Inventor: William F. Hallisey
  • Patent number: 4655629
    Abstract: A flexural pivot device and method for producing same, wherein rotational motion of a first tubular member relative to a second tubular member is obtained by: forming flexural members from a shape memory alloy into a first shape in the austenitic phase at a first temperature; cooling the flexural members into the martensitic phase at a second temperature; forming the flexural members into a second shape; installing the flexural members between the first and second tubular members; and recreating the first temperature, thus returning the flexural members to the first shape in the austenitic phase and rotating the second tubular member relative to the first tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Robert Flaherty
  • Patent number: 4651945
    Abstract: A removable spool for a fishing rod reel is provided comprising a front face having a slightly proeminent and smoothly rounded convex shape forming a smooth surface free of roughnesses on which the line cannot catch. This front face is formed by a resilient membrane integral with a push button for disengaging the spool from its support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Mitchell Sports
    Inventor: Jean Ruin
  • Patent number: 4648734
    Abstract: A corner connector assembly for a tent characterized as a two-part casting arranged for a floating relationship, the latter serving advantages in assembling struts or eave bars having crimped areas proximate the ends thereof which cooperate with projections on the inner surfaces of hollow arms forming part of the assembly. The arrangement also includes a vertical adjustment feature for the leg supporting the connector, such involving upper and lower members, the upper member being rotatable within the lower member by means of a bolt riding along a spring, to accommodate for variations in the terrain or other supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Anchor Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Daus, Jr., Henry E. James
  • Patent number: 4640640
    Abstract: A substantially frictionless connecting means providing universal swivel movement which can be used to mount an actuation means such as a hydraulic cylinder, including first and second flexible planar blades interconnected substantially perpendicular to each other so that movement imparted to either or both of the connected members bends the flexible blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Fox J. Herrington
  • Patent number: RE33003
    Abstract: A joint for connecting a driving means to a driven means for reciprocating movement wherein a confined deformable, non-compressible material is in contact with a surface area of the driving means and with a surface area of the driven means and when a force is applied to the driving means to move the driving means toward the driven means, the deformable, non-compressible material deforms to compensate for any misalignment between the driving means and the driven means until is reaches it non-compressible state so that a uniform force is then transmitted across the surface area of the driven means in one direction to move the driven means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Adolph Coors Company
    Inventor: Larry M. Dugan