The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 01, 2021
Filed:
Apr. 05, 2018
United States of America As Represented BY the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (US);
Emily R. McBryan, Houston, TX (US);
Jonathan M. Rogers, League City, TX (US);
Benjamin J. Peters, Houston, TX (US);
Evan Laske, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A grasp assist system includes a glove, finger saddles attached to a respective glove finger, one or more tendon actuators, and artificial tendons. The saddles have a rectangular body partially circumscribing a respective glove finger. Each saddle includes end lobes at opposite distal ends of the body. A first end of each tendon is secured to one of the tendon actuators. A second end forms a triple Brummel loop defining a main loop and two anchor loops. The anchor loops are disposed around the lobes. The saddles may form a rounded, double-headed arrow shape that is at least double the thickness of the body. The finger saddles are anisotropic, with different bending strengths depending on the axis, and may be constructed of thermoplastic polyurethane-coated nylon. Flexion and/or contact sensors and a controller, may be used. A method of connecting the tendon actuator to the finger is also disclosed.