USRE28663E
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid motor and material handling apparatus and the like utilizing same
Assignee: —
•
Filing: 1969-09-22
•
Granted: 1975-12-23
•
Expires: 1989-09-22
Abstract
Abstract Fluid motor comprising a longitudinally extensive first part adapted for bending at least transversely of its longitudinal extent attached to a second co-extending part which is elongatable relative to the first part in response to fluid pressure application therebetween so that the elongation of the second part produces bending or curling of the first part and material handling apparatus incorporating same.
Inventors
No inventors recorded.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:39
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25J; B25J15/00; B25J15/08; B25J15/12; B25J15/0009; B25J15/0023; B66; B66C; B66C1/00; B66C1/10; B66C1/42; B66C1/44; B66C1/46; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for gripping objects and the like comprising a base member, a pair of tubular members each supported at one end to said base member and normally extending relatively straight, each of said tubular members being closed at its extended end and each comprising a yieldable extendable side wall connected along the edges thereof with a relatively non-extendable side of said member, and means to direct fluid into said tubular members under pressure for causing extension of said extendable walls thereof hereby curving said non-extendable sides, said tubular members being disposed with the non-extendable sides facing toward the other whereby said members curve in response to fluid pressure therein toward one another to grip an object therebetween.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for gripping objects and the like comprising a base member, a pair of tubular members each supported at one end to said base member and normally extending relatively straight, each of said tubular members being closed at its extended end and each comprising a yieldable extendable side wall connected along the edges thereof with a relatively non-extendable side of said member, and means to direct fluid into said tubular members under pressure for causing extension of said extendable walls thereof hereby curving said non-extendable sides, said tubular members being disposed with the non-extendable sides facing toward the other whereby said members curve in response to fluid pressure therein toward one another to grip an object therebetween.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for supporting objects and the like comprising, two elongated rigid members arranged in end to end relation and connected by joint means comprising a tubular member having one side of flexible relatively non-extendable material and the opposite wall formed of flexible material and extendable in the direction said tubular members extend, means normally tending to maintain said members at a relatively substantial angle, and means for applying fluid pressure to said tubular member whereby said elongated wall thereof is extended and about said non-extendable wall thereby causing relative angular movement between said members to decrease the normal angle therebetween.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for supporting objects and the like comprising, two elongated rigid members arranged in end to end relation and connected by joint means comprising a tubular member having one side of flexible relatively non-extendable material and the opposite wall formed of flexible material and extendable in the direction said tubular members extend, means normally tending to maintain said members at a relatively substantial angle, and means for applying fluid pressure to said tubular member whereby said elongated wall thereof is extended and about said non-extendable wall thereby causing relative angular movement between said members to decrease the normal angle therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
148 words
A structure for gripping objects comprising a relatively rigid support element, a flexible hollow member having one end secured to said support element and the remainder thereof being free to flex, means to supply fluid under pressure to the interior of said member, said flexible hollow member having an extendable wall adapted to elongate in response to fluid pressure applied inside said member, and flexible gripPing means extending along one side of said extendable wall and connected therewith, said flexible gripping means being non-elongatable relative to said extendable wall whereby fluid pressure applied to the interior of said flexible member causes said extendable wall to elongate and flex about said gripping means and curve said gripping means away from said extendable wall for embracing an object, and means normally urging said member and flexible means toward a non-curving position to release an object embraced by said gripping means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
A structure for gripping objects comprising a relatively rigid support element, a flexible hollow member having one end secured to said support element and the remainder thereof being free to flex, means to supply fluid under pressure to the interior of said member, said flexible hollow member having an extendable wall adapted to elongate in response to fluid pressure applied inside said member, and flexible gripPing means extending along one side of said extendable wall and connected therewith, said flexible gripping means being non-elongatable relative to said extendable wall whereby fluid pressure applied to the interior of said flexible member causes said extendable wall to elongate and flex about said gripping means and curve said gripping means away from said extendable wall for embracing an object, and means normally urging said member and flexible means toward a non-curving position to release an object embraced by said gripping means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A structure as defined in claim 12 in which said hollow member comprises a finger-like element closed at the end remote from said support element, and said flexible gripping means comprises a side wall of said finger-like element formed of relatively non-elongatable flexible material which tends to assume a substantially straight attitude when fluid pressure in said hollow member is relatively low.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A structure as defined in claim 13 in which the exterior of said side wall has an outer surface adapted to grip articles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A structure as defined in claim 13 in which said extendable wall is comprised of corrugations extending transversely of said extendable member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structure as defined in claim 12 in which said extendable wall comprises a corrugated section having the corrugation thereof extending transversely of the direction of elongation thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A structure as set forth in claim 12 in which said extendable wall comprises flexible material having random folds therein when said member is in a relatively straight attitude.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for gripping objects and the like comprising a support member including a base portion, a flexible tubular member supported at one end on said base portion and having the opposite end closed and free to swing by flexing, said tubular member being normally disposed in a relatively straight attitude, means forming a yieldable extendable side wall of said tubular member connected along the edges thereof with a relatively non-extendable side of said member, and means to direct fluid into said tubular member under pressure for causing extension of said extendable wall thereby curving said non-extendable side.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for gripping objects and the like comprising a support member including a base portion, a flexible tubular member supported at one end on said base portion and having the opposite end closed and free to swing by flexing, said tubular member being normally disposed in a relatively straight attitude, means forming a yieldable extendable side wall of said tubular member connected along the edges thereof with a relatively non-extendable side of said member, and means to direct fluid into said tubular member under pressure for causing extension of said extendable wall thereby curving said non-extendable side.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for supporting objects and the like comprising, two longitudinally extensive rigid members arranged in end to end relation and connected by joint means comprising a tubular member having one side wall of relatively non-elongatable substantially flat material and the opposite side wall formed of bendable material elongatable in the direction said tubular members extend, means normally tending to maintain said members at a relatively substantial angle, and means for enabling a fluid pressure increase within said tubular member so that said elongatable wall thereof is extended and bends or curls about said non-elongatable wall causing relative angular movement between said members to decrease the normal angle therebetween.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for supporting objects and the like comprising, two longitudinally extensive rigid members arranged in end to end relation and connected by joint means comprising a tubular member having one side wall of relatively non-elongatable substantially flat material and the opposite side wall formed of bendable material elongatable in the direction said tubular members extend, means normally tending to maintain said members at a relatively substantial angle, and means for enabling a fluid pressure increase within said tubular member so that said elongatable wall thereof is extended and bends or curls about said non-elongatable wall causing relative angular movement between said members to decrease the normal angle therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
142 words
A structure for gripping objects comprising a relatively rigid support, a bendable hollow member having one end secured to said support element and the remainder thereof being free to bend, means to provide a fluid pressure increase internally of said member, said bendable hollow member having a wall adapted to elongate in response to fluid pressure increase inside said member, and bendable gripping means extending along one side of said wall and connected therewith, said gripping means being substantially flat and non-elongatable relative to said wall so that fluid pressure increases applied to the interior of said flexible member causes said wall to elongate and bend about said gripping means and curve said gripping means away from said wall for embracing an object, and means normally urging said member toward a non-curving position to release an object embraced by said gripping means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
142 words
A structure for gripping objects comprising a relatively rigid support, a bendable hollow member having one end secured to said support element and the remainder thereof being free to bend, means to provide a fluid pressure increase internally of said member, said bendable hollow member having a wall adapted to elongate in response to fluid pressure increase inside said member, and bendable gripping means extending along one side of said wall and connected therewith, said gripping means being substantially flat and non-elongatable relative to said wall so that fluid pressure increases applied to the interior of said flexible member causes said wall to elongate and bend about said gripping means and curve said gripping means away from said wall for embracing an object, and means normally urging said member toward a non-curving position to release an object embraced by said gripping means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A structure as defined in claim 20 in which said hollow member comprises a finger-like element closed at the end remote from said support, and said gripping means comprises a side wall of said finger-like element formed of relatively non-elongatable material which tends to assume a substantially straight attitude when fluid pressure in said hollow member is relatively low.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A structure as defined in claim 21 in which the exterior of said side wall has an outer surface defining said gripping means adapted to grip articles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A structure as defined in claim 21 in which said elongatable wall is comprised of corrugations extending transversely of said extendable member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structure as defined in claim 20 in which said elongatable wall comprises a corrugated section having the corrugations thereof extending transversely of the direction of elongation thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A structure as set forth in claim 20 in which said elongatable wall comprises flexible material having random folds therein when said member is in a relatively straight attitude.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for gripping objects and the like comprising a support member including a base portion, a bendable hollow member supported at one end on said base portion and having the opposite end closed and free to swing by bending, said hollow member being normally disposed in a relatively straight attitude, means forming an elongatable side wall of said tubular member connected along the edges thereof with a substantially flat relatively non-elongatable side of said member, and means to direct fluid into said hollow member under pressure for causing elongation of said elongatable wall thereby curving said non-elongatable side.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for gripping objects and the like comprising a support member including a base portion, a bendable hollow member supported at one end on said base portion and having the opposite end closed and free to swing by bending, said hollow member being normally disposed in a relatively straight attitude, means forming an elongatable side wall of said tubular member connected along the edges thereof with a substantially flat relatively non-elongatable side of said member, and means to direct fluid into said hollow member under pressure for causing elongation of said elongatable wall thereby curving said non-elongatable side.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
112 words
Article of manufacture comprising a base portion; a longitudinally extensive tubular member supported at one end portion of said base portion, said tubular member comprising, in turn, means forming an elongatable side wall projecting outwardly of said base portion, means forming a bendable substantially non-elongatable side wall projecting outwardly of said base portion along and on one side of said extendable side wall and means connecting the edges and remote end portions thereof together in fluid impervious relationship; a quantity of fluid contained within said member and means for increasing the fluid pressure therein for causing elongation of said elongatable side wall and thereby curving said tubular member along said non-elongatable wall.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
112 words
Article of manufacture comprising a base portion; a longitudinally extensive tubular member supported at one end portion of said base portion, said tubular member comprising, in turn, means forming an elongatable side wall projecting outwardly of said base portion, means forming a bendable substantially non-elongatable side wall projecting outwardly of said base portion along and on one side of said extendable side wall and means connecting the edges and remote end portions thereof together in fluid impervious relationship; a quantity of fluid contained within said member and means for increasing the fluid pressure therein for causing elongation of said elongatable side wall and thereby curving said tubular member along said non-elongatable wall.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
Article of manufacture defined in claim 27 wherein said fluid pressure increasing means comprises conduit means mounted with said base portion for directing fluid under pressure into said tubular member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
Article of manufacture defined in claim 27 wherein said non-elongatable side wall is of generally straight configuration and comprises sufficient rigidity to support said tubular member when the fluid is unpressurized.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for gripping objects and the like comprising a base member, a pair of tubular members each supported at one end to said base member and normally extending relatively straight, each of said tubular members being closed at its extended end and each comprising an elongatable side wall connected along the edges thereof with a relatively non-elongatable substantially flat side wall of said member, and means to direct fluid into said tubular members under pressure for causing elongation of said elongatable walls thereof thereby curving said non-elongatable sides, said tubular members being disposed with the non-elongatable sides facing towards each other whereby said members curve in response to increased fluid pressure therein toward one another to grip an object therebetween.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for gripping objects and the like comprising a base member, a pair of tubular members each supported at one end to said base member and normally extending relatively straight, each of said tubular members being closed at its extended end and each comprising an elongatable side wall connected along the edges thereof with a relatively non-elongatable substantially flat side wall of said member, and means to direct fluid into said tubular members under pressure for causing elongation of said elongatable walls thereof thereby curving said non-elongatable sides, said tubular members being disposed with the non-elongatable sides facing towards each other whereby said members curve in response to increased fluid pressure therein toward one another to grip an object therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |