MODULAR KIT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS INCLUDING POSITIONING MECHANISMS

• US 20160033075A1
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of North Carolina At Charlotte (University of North Carolina System)
• Original Assignee: University of North Carolina At Charlotte (University of North Carolina System)
• Inventors: SMITH, Stuart T., Howard, Stephen C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,197,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/00 Supporting devices; Holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/50 Clamping means, tongs in general F16B2/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/043 Allowing translations
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/06 allowing pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/00 Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements

Abstract

In one aspect, kits for constructing an apparatus are described herein which, in some embodiments, can demonstrate desirable modularity, adjustability, and reconfigurability. A kit for constructing an apparatus described herein comprises a plurality of modular blocks and fastening sleeves, sleeve pins and coupling pins for connecting the modular blocks to one another. A modular block comprises a series of first apertures for receiving one or more of the fastening sleeves and series of second apertures for receiving the sleeve pins to secure the fastening sleeves in the first apertures, wherein the second apertures intersect the first apertures.

Claims

1. A kit for constructing an apparatus comprising:

a plurality of modular blocks; and

fastening sleeves, sleeve pins and coupling pins for connecting the modular blocks to one another, a modular block comprising a series of first apertures for receiving one or more of the fastening sleeves and a series of second apertures for receiving the sleeve pins to secure the fastening sleeves in the first apertures, wherein the second apertures intersect the first apertures.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein adjacent faces of the modular block each comprise the series of first apertures and the series of second apertures.

3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the first apertures alternate with the second apertures along each adjacent face.

4. The kit of claim 1, wherein intersecting first apertures and second apertures are normal to one another.

5. The kit of claim 1, wherein interiors of the fastening sleeves are of dimensions to engage the coupling pins.

6. The kit of claim 1, wherein fastening sleeve interiors are threaded.

7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the fastening sleeves comprise a sidewall aperture for receiving the sleeve pins.

8. The kit of claim 1 further comprising flexible elements for connecting the modular blocks to one another, the flexible elements permitting movement of the modular blocks relative to one another.

9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the flexible elements are selected from the group consisting of metal sheets, metal rods, metal bars, and complex shapes.

10. The kit of claim 8, wherein the flexible elements comprise one or more apertures for receiving the coupling pins.

11. The kit of claim 1, wherein the modular blocks are formed of metal.

12. The kit of claim 8, wherein the apparatus constructed from the kit comprises a stage translatable by deformation of the flexible elements.

13. The kit of claim 12, wherein the flexible elements are deformed by one or more drive elements linked to one or more modular blocks.

14. The kit of claim 13, wherein the one or more drive elements are linked to one or more modular blocks by a drive coupling.

15. The kit of claim 12, wherein the stage is at least one of linearly translatable and rotationally translatable.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a frame including a plurality of modular blocks connected by fastening sleeves and coupling pins, the fastening sleeves positioned in a series of first apertures in the modular blocks and secured in the first apertures by sleeve pins, the sleeve pins positioned in a series of second apertures in the modular blocks, wherein the second apertures intersect the first apertures;

a stage coupled to the frame by one or more flexible elements; and

a drive element coupled to one or more of the modular blocks, the drive element operable to move the one or more modular blocks resulting in deformation of the one or more flexible elements to translate the stage.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the stage is at least one of linearly translated and rotationally translated.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein adjacent faces of a modular block each comprise the series of first apertures and the series of second apertures.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first apertures alternate with the second apertures along each adjacent face.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein intersecting first apertures and second apertures are normal to one another.

21-34. -34. (canceled)