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Flexible joint arrangement incorporating flexure members

  • US 10,060,469 B2
  • Filed: 06/30/2016
  • Issued: 08/28/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An expandable device, comprising:

  • a first base member and a second base member;

    a plurality of flexure assemblies disposed between the first base member and the second base member, wherein each flexure assembly comprises;

    a first structural member connected to the first base member with a first flexure member;

    an intermediate block connected to the first structural member with a second flexure member; and

    a second structural member connected to the intermediate block with a third flexure member and to the second base member with a fourth flexure member, wherein each structural member is rotatable with respect to the first base member and the second base member via the corresponding flexure members to move the first base member relative to the second base member such that the first base member and the second base member are movable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration relative to each other,wherein a wrapping surface is defined, in each of the first base member adjacent the first flexure, member, the intermediate block adjacent the second flexure member, the intermediate block adjacent the third flexure member and the second base member adjacent the fourth flexure member, andwherein each wrapping surface provides a guide for rotation of the corresponding flexure member that, defines a traveling, instantaneous axis of rotation about which the flexure member rotates that moves along a path defined by an interface of the wrapping surface and the corresponding flexure member as, the flexure member rotates,wherein each point along each flexure member has a radius of curvature that changes only in discrete quantum steps without reversing from either a positive radius of curvature or a negative radius of curvature to the other of a positive radius of curvature and a negative radius of curvature as the first base member and the second base member are moved from the compressed configuration to the expanded configuration, andwherein the plurality of flexure assemblies, first base member and second base member comprise a unitary one-piece monolithic body.

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