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. 23, 2015
Filed:
Jan. 24, 2013
Nichols Therapy Systems, Llc, Sabetha, KS (US);
Galen Ralph Ackerman, Sabetha, KS (US);
Jarrod L Nichols, Manhattan, KS (US);
Nichols Therapy Systems, LLC, Sabetha, KS (US);
Abstract
An apparatus has conforming arms each respectively attached to a support surface in a pattern for cooperatively receiving an object. Actuators respectively position the plurality of conforming arms between a disengaged state to receive the object and an engaged state to contact the object at a respective contact area to immobilize the object. A control system selectively controls each of the actuators to cause the respective one of the conforming arms to curve inwardly toward the object to cooperatively exert a grasping force upon the object such that only a fraction of total force required to immobilize the object is applied to the object by each individual conforming arm. A selected grasping force of a selected one of the conforming arms corresponds to a relative fragility of the respective contact area.