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:
Mar. 31, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 13, 1995
Alexander H Slocum, Concord, NH (US);
Matthew J Van Doren, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Rodney Scott Ziegenhagen, II, San Jose, CA (US);
Don Sauer, San Jose, CA (US);
Silicon Valley Group, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A modular system and a method of creating a modular system comprising a substantially rigid frame and a plurality of modules mounted at predetermined locations on the frame by means of kinematic couplings. The frame includes a main beam in the form of a spine, and a plurality of transversely extending bulkheads. The method includes creating a model of the system using rigid bodies and thereafter providing the frame and modules and securing them kinematically. The kinematic couplings comprise three pairs of aligning elements, each in the form of a male element and a contact element. The contact elements may take the form of grooves, tetrahedral depressions, or flat surfaces.