Abstract: An artificial dexterous hand is provided for conformally engaging and manipulating objects. The hand includes an articulated digit which is connected to an engagement sub-assembly and has a first shape adaption mechanism associated with it. The digit has a digit base and first and second phalanges. The digit base is operatively interconnected to the first phalange by a base joint having a base pulley. The phalanges are operatively interconnected by a separate first phalange joint having a first phalange pulley. The engagement sub-assembly includes a tendon, which is received by the base pulley and by the first phalange pulley, and an actuation device for selectively tensioning the tendon. The first shape adaption mechanism is responsive to and receives the tendon. It is also situated between the base joint and the first phalange joint and is connected to the first phalange.

Abstract: A bowling aid to enable a person to bowl whose natural thumb is missing, deformed, or injured, or to provide a person having a healthy thumb with an alternative mode of ball handling and control. A semi-rigid support member is removably received on the hand of the bowler and, when so received, extends between the upper surface of the hand and the palm of the hand and is contoured to snugly conform to the hand. An artificial thumb member is provided on the support member proximate to the general location of a natural thumb and projects away from the support member and away from the palm of the bowler's hand and is so sized and positioned as to be receivable in the thumb hole of a bowling ball when fingers of the bowler are received in the finger holes of the bowling ball. The bowling aid may be size adjustable and can be releasably secured to the hand. The support member may have an outer covering of flexible material such as fabric, leather, or plastic nonwoven sheet material.

Abstract: A robotic hand having a plurality of fingers, each having a plurality of joints pivotally connected one to the other, with actuators connected at one end to an actuating and control mechanism mounted remotely from the hand and at the other end to the joints of the fingers for manipulating the fingers and passing externally of the robot manipulating arm in between the hand and the actuating and control mechanism. The fingers include pulleys to route the actuators within the fingers. Cable tension sensing structure mounted on a portion of the hand are disclosed, as is the covering of the tip of each finger with a resilient and pliable friction enhancing surface.

Abstract: The function and advantages of a split hook and a mechanical hand are combined into a single unit obviating the complex and difficult process of interchanging hook and hand units while at the same time providing the dexterity of a hook for grasping and manipulating small objects and the prehensile function of an operable locking thumb including extending holding times without the need for cable manipulation. Covering the split hook members with finger-shaped material and adding rigid fingers enhances the cosmetic appeal of the unit.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a mechanical hand constructed to simulate the range of motion of a human band. The mechanical hand provides a remote manipulator device capable of reproducing all of the motions of the human wrist, hand, fingers, and thumb in a compact in-line package. The configuration of the hand allows the motion of each finger or digit to be independent of the motion the wrist and of the motion of each other digit. Also the motion of each joint of each digit is independent of the motion of each other joint on the same digit and other joints of other digits. Also, the hand allows the amount of pressure applied to an object by the digits and the resistance to motion of the joints in the hand by an external applied force on the hand to vary under the control of features inherent in the hand's construction. Further, a method for the organization of actuators for the hand, that may be fluid-activated cylinders, is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial hand or prosthesis with a carcase, a palm and a finger pair, a thumb and a link (20). Distinguishing for the invention is that the movement pattern of the thumb in relation to the movement of the finger pair, the pattern being provided by the palm on which the thumb is rigidly attached being pivotably connected to the carcase about a wrist turning point (B) and by the finger pair being connected to the palm via the finger joint turning point (A). A link mechanism comprising four joints (inter alia 29, A, B) controls the gripping movements of the prosthesis, and is driven by an electric motor located in the palm in the preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A gripping hand for a manipulator which consists of several hollow elements, simulating the human hand, which are linked to one another by articulations, whereby each member has a corresponding, reversibly actuated positioning drive and a sensor. For programming, the sensors detect the movements of the elements which are derived from a human hand inserted in the gripping hand, and the signals from the sensors determine the program which the elements perform, controlled by the relevant positioning drive. The gripping hand is associated with an arm which can be programmed by the movements of the gripping hand, if a human hand describing these movements is inserted in the gripping hand, and this arm can perform movements in three mutually perpendicular axes and rotary movements.

Abstract: A hand prosthesis or artificial hand with soft gripping having a palmar part made from a flexible material, and an attached dorsal part formed from a rigid material having a base plate having a dorsal face, and a palmar face forming a palm of the hand, and fingers detachably attached to the base plate on its dorsal face, with each finger having ball joint elements; a return spring is connected to a hook and passes internally through the joints over dorsal facing sides of pins, tubular guides are supportedly mounted and attached to the internal walls of the joints, traction spring segments in the tubular guides have spaced portions between ends of succeeding segments with the spaced portions occurring in zones of the ball joint elements, a traction cable is connected to the hook and guided internally of the joints and passes through the tubular guides within the traction spring elements, a yoke is connected to a single traction cable to balance forces and divide the force from the single traction cable into fo

Abstract: An artificial arm capable of being used as a prosthesis on a human body and controlled through activating sensors secured to the human body adjacent the attachment site of the artificial arm and operating a plurality of drive motors. Three independent drive motors are mounted between foundation bases including an upper arm base, forearm base and hand base wherein the latter two move relative to one another and to the forearm base and each of the three drive motors are positioned and structured to cause relative movement of one foundation base relative to the other, thereby adding strength and simplicity to an artificial arm structure having a high degree of versatility and range of movements.

Abstract: A prosthesis of the hand and including a thumb and at least one finger, and other fingers as may be required, and a forearm socket, and comprised of at least said one finger articulated and biased in opposition to an adjustably fixed thumb, thereby providing a grip adapted to yield to forcible entry of an object therein and released by angular movement of the upper arm relative to the lower arm through a pull cord that operates to withdraw said finger or fingers from prehensile grasp with an object held against the thumb by said bias.

Abstract: An artificial hand comprises a palm member and thumb and finger members movable towards and away from one another by an actuator. A cosmesis covering the actuator has a touch sensor in a cavity of the cosmesis that deforms on contact with an object. The cavity is connected via a conduit with a microphone that picks up pressure waves resulting from stick/slip motion of the object along the surface of the cosmesis. The distance between the thumb and finger members is determined by a position sensor, and muscle sensor means responsive to contraction of first and second muscle groups supplies position and control signals in first and second channels.

Abstract: A dual mode robotic mechanical hand is disclosed in a preferred embodiment with one fixed and two opposed articulated fingers, each with a base and a tip digit. In a first mode, the two independently controlled articulated fingers are operated to soft grip an object against the fixed finger. In a second mode, the base digits are anchored so that only the tip digits rotate, allowing smaller size objects to be conveniently manipulated. The preferred embodiment is designed for particular compactness and simplicity, as well.