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:
Nov. 01, 2011
Filed:
Feb. 27, 2009
Applicants:
Lonnie J. Love, Knoxville, TN (US);
Randall F. Lind, Loudon, TX (US);
Inventors:
Lonnie J. Love, Knoxville, TN (US);
Randall F. Lind, Loudon, TX (US);
Assignee:
UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F16H 27/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
Mechanical joints are provided in which the angle between a first coupled member and a second coupled member may be varied by mechanical actuators. In some embodiments the angle may be varied around a pivot axis in one plane and in some embodiments the angle may be varied around two pivot axes in two orthogonal planes. The joints typically utilize a cam assembly having two lobes with an involute surface. Actuators are configured to push against the lobes to vary the rotation angle between the first and second coupled member.