US6270453B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bending device for examining insertion tube
Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corp
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Filing: 1999-12-27
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Granted: 2001-08-07
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Expires: 2019-12-27
Abstract
Abstract Multiple ring-shape cylindrical members ( 3 ) and four wires ( 4 ) that link these cylindrical members ( 3 ) in a tubular shape are provided. Each cylindrical member ( 3 ) comprises two first protruding parts ( 33 ) which protrude from the top end face ( 31 ) and are formed at both ends of a first diameter (D1), two second protruded parts ( 34 ) which protrude from the bottom end face ( 32 ) and are formed at both ends of a second diameter (D2), two first small cylindrical members ( 35 ) for wire insertion mounted on the outer circumferential face of the cylindrical member respectively at the vicinity of each protruded part ( 33 ), and two second small cylindrical members ( 36 ) mounted on the outer circumferential face of the cylindrical member respectively at the vicinity of each second protruded part ( 35 ), and the first diameter (D1) and the second diameter (D2) are approximately perpendicular.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshinori Sakai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:44
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055; A61B1/008; A61B34/00; A61B34/70; A61B34/71; A61B1/0057; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2017/00305; A61B2017/00314; A61B34/30; A61B2034/305; A61B2034/306
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
A bending device for an examining insertion tube which is inserted in an examined object to inspect inside, said bending device operating to bend a head portion of the examining insertion tube, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical members; and four wires linking said cylindrical members in a cylindrical manner; wherein each of said cylindrical members comprises: two first protruding portions formed at both ends of a first diameter of said cylindrical member and protruding from a top end of said cylindrical member i an axial direction of said cylindrical member; two second protruding portions formed at both ends of a second diameter of said cylindrical member and protruding from a bottom end of said cylindrical member in the axial direction of said cylindrical member; two first small cylindrical members for two of the four wires to pass through, respectively, said two first small cylindrical members being fixed on an outer circumferential face of said cylindrical member and in vicinities of said first protruding portions, respectively; and two second small cylindrical members for the rest two of the four wires to pass through, respectively, said two second small cylindrical members being fixed on the outer circumferential face of said cylindrical member and in vicinities of said second protruding portions, respectively; wherein said first diameter is approximately perpendicular to the second diameter; and wherein said plurality of cylindrical members are linked by the wires, said first protruding portions of one cylindrical member contacting respectively said second protruding portions of another cylindrical member adjacent and above said cylindrical member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
A bending device for an examining insertion tube which is inserted in an examined object to inspect inside, said bending device operating to bend a head portion of the examining insertion tube, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical members; and four wires linking said cylindrical members in a cylindrical manner; wherein each of said cylindrical members comprises: two first protruding portions formed at both ends of a first diameter of said cylindrical member and protruding from a top end of said cylindrical member i an axial direction of said cylindrical member; two second protruding portions formed at both ends of a second diameter of said cylindrical member and protruding from a bottom end of said cylindrical member in the axial direction of said cylindrical member; two first small cylindrical members for two of the four wires to pass through, respectively, said two first small cylindrical members being fixed on an outer circumferential face of said cylindrical member and in vicinities of said first protruding portions, respectively; and two second small cylindrical members for the rest two of the four wires to pass through, respectively, said two second small cylindrical members being fixed on the outer circumferential face of said cylindrical member and in vicinities of said second protruding portions, respectively; wherein said first diameter is approximately perpendicular to the second diameter; and wherein said plurality of cylindrical members are linked by the wires, said first protruding portions of one cylindrical member contacting respectively said second protruding portions of another cylindrical member adjacent and above said cylindrical member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The bending device for the examining insertion tube of claim 1 , wherein said each protruding portion includes a flat face which is approximately perpendicular to the axial direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The bending device for the examining insertion tube of claim 1 , further comprising four small tubes having approximately the same diameter as that of the small cylindrical member and extending from four small cylindrical members of the lowest cylindrical member such that each of the four wires consecutively pass through each small cylindrical member of said plurality of cylindrical members and each corresponding small tube of the said four small tubes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bending device for the examining insertion tube of claim 1 , further comprising an operating mechanism around a bottom portion of the examining insertion tube to operate the bending device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bending device for the examining insertion tube of claim 3 , further comprising an operating mechanism at a bottom of each of said small tubes to operate the bending device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The bending device for the examining insertion tube of claim 1 , further comprising: a flexible tube to cover an entire face of the examining insertion tube excluding head and bottom end faces; and a functional tube disposed on the outer circumferential face of said cylindrical member and inside said flexible tube, said functional tube elongating along said flexible tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
238 words
A bending device for an examining insertion tube which is inserted in an examined object to inspect inside, said bending device operating to bend a head portion of the examining insertion tube, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical members; and four wires linking said cylindrical members in a cylindrical manner; wherein each of said cylindrical members comprises: two first small cylindrical members for two of said four wires to pass through, respectively, each of said two first small cylindrical members being fixed on an outer circumferential face at both ends of a first diameter of the cylindrical member, respectively, with an axial direction thereof aligned parallel to an axial direction of the cylindrical member and protruding from a top end of the cylindrical member; two second small cylindrical members for the rest two of said four wires to pass through, respectively, each of said two second small cylindrical members being fixed on an outer circumferential face at both ends of a second diameter of the cylindrical member, respectively, with an axial direction thereof aligned parallel to an axial direction of the cylindrical member and protruding from a bottom end of the cylindrical member; wherein said first diameter is approximately perpendicular to said second diameter; and wherein said plurality of cylindrical members are linked by the wires, said first small cylindrical members contacting respectively said second small cylindrical members of another cylindrical member adjacent and above said one cylindrical member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
238 words
A bending device for an examining insertion tube which is inserted in an examined object to inspect inside, said bending device operating to bend a head portion of the examining insertion tube, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical members; and four wires linking said cylindrical members in a cylindrical manner; wherein each of said cylindrical members comprises: two first small cylindrical members for two of said four wires to pass through, respectively, each of said two first small cylindrical members being fixed on an outer circumferential face at both ends of a first diameter of the cylindrical member, respectively, with an axial direction thereof aligned parallel to an axial direction of the cylindrical member and protruding from a top end of the cylindrical member; two second small cylindrical members for the rest two of said four wires to pass through, respectively, each of said two second small cylindrical members being fixed on an outer circumferential face at both ends of a second diameter of the cylindrical member, respectively, with an axial direction thereof aligned parallel to an axial direction of the cylindrical member and protruding from a bottom end of the cylindrical member; wherein said first diameter is approximately perpendicular to said second diameter; and wherein said plurality of cylindrical members are linked by the wires, said first small cylindrical members contacting respectively said second small cylindrical members of another cylindrical member adjacent and above said one cylindrical member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The bending device for the examining insertion tube of claim 7 , wherein said each small cylindrical member includes a flat face on each protruding end which is approximately perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylindrical member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The bending device for the examining insertion tube of claim 7 , further comprising four small tubes having approximately the same diameter as that of the small cylindrical member and extending from four small cylindrical members of the lowest cylindrical member such that each of the four wires consecutively pass through each small cylindrical member of said plurality of cylindrical members and each corresponding small tube of the said four small tubes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bending device for the examining insertion tube of claim 7 , further comprising an operating mechanism around a bottom portion of the examining insertion tube to operate the bending device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bending device for the examining insertion tube of claim 9 , further comprising an operating mechanism at a bottom of each of said small tubes to operate the bending device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The bending device for the examining insertion tube of claim 7 , further comprising: a flexible tube to cover an entire face of the examining insertion tube excluding head and bottom end faces; and a functional tube disposed on the outer circumferential face of said cylindrical member and inside said flexible tube, said functional tube elongating along said flexible tube.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-08-06 | 2005-02-05 | 2005-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-06 | 2009-02-05 | 2009-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-06 | 2013-02-05 | 2013-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |