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. 30, 2015
Filed:
Feb. 29, 2012
Chris A. Ihrke, Hartland, MI (US);
Donald R. Davis, Novi, MI (US);
Douglas Martin Linn, White Lake, MI (US);
Bryan Bergelin, Houston, TX (US);
Lyndon B. J. Bridgwater, Friendswood, TX (US);
Heather Bibby, Houston, TX (US);
Judy Schroeder, Houston, TX (US);
Craig Erkkila, Houston, TX (US);
Chris A. Ihrke, Hartland, MI (US);
Donald R. Davis, Novi, MI (US);
Douglas Martin Linn, White Lake, MI (US);
Bryan Bergelin, Houston, TX (US);
Lyndon B. J. Bridgwater, Friendswood, TX (US);
Heather Bibby, Houston, TX (US);
Judy Schroeder, Houston, TX (US);
Craig Erkkila, Houston, TX (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A grasp assist system includes a glove and a flexible sleeve. The glove includes a digit such as a finger or thumb, a force sensor configured to measure a grasping force applied to an object by an operator wearing the glove, and adjustable phalange rings positioned with respect to the digit. A saddle is positioned with respect to the finger. A flexible tendon is looped at one end around the saddle. A conduit contains the tendon. A conduit anchor secured within a palm of the glove receives the conduit. The sleeve has pockets containing an actuator assembly connected to another end of the tendon and a controller. The controller is in communication with the force sensor, and calculates a tensile force in response to the measured grasping force. The controller commands the tensile force from the actuator assembly to tension the tendon and thereby move the finger.