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:
Jul. 07, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 09, 1996
Todd Solomon, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Donald J Thomas, San Jose, CA (US);
Smart Machines, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A robotic arm has a base with a top surface and an aperture therein. A shaft extends up through the aperture, and there is a gap between the shaft and an inner edge of the aperture. A splash guard may extend over said gap, and an indentation in said top surface may at least partially surround the gap. A seal, including a bearing and a barrier, is located in the gap. The bearing allows the inner and outer surfaces to rotate relative to each other. The barrier includes a plurality of annular outward-pointing flanges attached to an inner surface interleaved with a plurality of annular inward-pointing flanges attached to an outer surface. The flanges may be angled and have an upturned lip located at an inner edge of each flange. The seal may include a magnet attached to a flange.