EP0081372A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Connecting device
Assignee: Raychem Corp
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Filing: 1982-12-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A connecting device comprises a body of shape memory metal 10 capable of reversing between a martensitic and an ausenitic state, the body comprising at least two arms 14,16 cantilevered to form a support means 18 which joins the arms. The arms 14,16 are deformable with low force when the body is in its martensitic state and the arms revert towards their undeformed state when the body is in its austenitic state. Preferably the arms 14,16 are deformable away from each other and converge to grip a substrate when the body is in its austenitic state.
Inventors
- 👤 Gabe Cherian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:07
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23P; B23P11/00; B23P11/02; B23P11/025; H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A connecting device comprising a body of shape-memory metal (10) capable of reversing between a martensitic and an austenitic state, the body comprising at least two arms (14,16) cantilevered from a support means (18) which joins the arms, the arms being deformable with low force when the body is in its martensitic state and the arms reverting towards their deformed state when the body is in its austenitic state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A connecting device comprising a body of shape-memory metal (10) capable of reversing between a martensitic and an austenitic state, the body comprising at least two arms (14,16) cantilevered from a support means (18) which joins the arms, the arms being deformable with low force when the body is in its martensitic state and the arms reverting towards their deformed state when the body is in its austenitic state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A connecting device according to Claim 1, wherein the arms (14,16) are deformable away from each other and converge when the body is in its austenitic state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A connecting device according to Claim 2, wherein the arms are adapted such that the low force to deform said arms can be provided by insertion of a substrate and wherein the arms are adapted to engage the substrate inserted, in use, therein when the body is in its austenitic state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A connecting device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an end (54,56) of each arm (46,48) is inwardly overbent (as hereinbefore defined) so that it is in touching contact with at least one other arm (46,48) thereby preloading the arms (46,48) to enhance engagement of the arms (46,48) with a substrate inserted, in use, between the arms (46,48).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
A connecting device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said body of shape-memory metal defines a driver member (44), the device further comprising a second member (74) having at least one female end (76), which is normally diverging to an open condition and which is deformable to a closed condition; the driver member (44) being connected to the second member (74); and the female end (76) spreading apart the arms (46,48), with the driver member in its martensitic state, sufficiently to allow a substrate to be inserted, in use, therein, and the arms (46,48), with the driver member in its austenitic state, forcing the female end (76) to its closed condition for engaging a substrate inserted, in use, therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
6 A connecting device according to Claim 5 , wherein the female end of the second member has at least two spread apart normally diverging resilient legs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A connecting device according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the driver member surrounds the second member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A connecting device according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the female end (76) includes a terminus having an enlarged end zone (84) for receiving and locating a substrate therein, and wherein the female end (76) has an outer surface on the enlarged end zone having an annular recess (82) defining a gripping means for securely connecting the driver (44) and second member (74).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
A connecting device according to Claim 8, wherein two arms (46,48) of the driver member (44) are bent, with the driver member in its austenitic state, to diverge from one another, and wherein the arms are reverse bent, with the driver member in its martensitic state, to diverge from one another in the opposite way, and wherein the second member female end (76) has two legs (78,80) and each leg includes means for connecting its respective driver member arms thereto, and each arm is connected to its respective leg (78,80) with the driver member in its martensitic state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the arms are adapted to be inserted within a super-strate when the body is in its martensitic state and wherein the arms are adapted to diverge to engage the superstrate when the body is in its austenitic state.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for making a connecting device, comprising: providing a sheet of shape-memory metal capable of reversing between a martensitic and an austenitic state; stamping a blank from the sheet; forming the blank into a body having at least two arms cantilevered from a support means for joining the arms; and folding the above formed arms with the body in its austenitic state so the arms are a distance no further apart than the cross sectional width of a substrate to be inserted therein.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for making a connecting device, comprising: providing a sheet of shape-memory metal capable of reversing between a martensitic and an austenitic state; stamping a blank from the sheet; forming the blank into a body having at least two arms cantilevered from a support means for joining the arms; and folding the above formed arms with the body in its austenitic state so the arms are a distance no further apart than the cross sectional width of a substrate to be inserted therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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