Anti-Symmetric Spring
First Claim
1. A torsion spring comprising:
- a middle plate having a first attachment point displaced from a geometric center of the middle plate;
one or more first elastomeric elements, wherein one of the first elastomeric elements proximate to a first side of the middle plate is secured to the first side of the middle plate and, and wherein the one or more first elastomeric elements has an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate;
one or more second elastomeric elements, wherein one of the second elastomeric elements proximate to a second side of the middle plate is secured to the second side of the middle plate, and wherein the one or more second elastomeric elements has an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate;
a first outer plate secured to one of the first elastomeric elements proximate to the first outer plate and having an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate; and
a second outer plate secured to one of the second elastomeric elements proximate to the second outer plate and having an opening coincident with the attachment point of the middle plate;
wherein rotation of an item attached to the torsion spring at the first attachment point rotationally displaces the middle plate relative to the first outer plate and the second outer plate and stores energy in the one or more first elastomeric elements and the one or more second elastomeric elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes a torsion spring including a middle plate having a first attachment point displaced from the geometric center of the middle plate; a first elastomeric element secured to a first side of the middle plate and having an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate; a second elastomeric element secured to a second side of the middle plate and having an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate; a first outer plate secured to the first elastomeric element and having an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate; and a second outer plate secured to the second elastomeric element, having an opening coincident with the attachment point of the middle plate.
0 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A torsion spring comprising:
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a middle plate having a first attachment point displaced from a geometric center of the middle plate; one or more first elastomeric elements, wherein one of the first elastomeric elements proximate to a first side of the middle plate is secured to the first side of the middle plate and, and wherein the one or more first elastomeric elements has an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate; one or more second elastomeric elements, wherein one of the second elastomeric elements proximate to a second side of the middle plate is secured to the second side of the middle plate, and wherein the one or more second elastomeric elements has an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate; a first outer plate secured to one of the first elastomeric elements proximate to the first outer plate and having an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate; and a second outer plate secured to one of the second elastomeric elements proximate to the second outer plate and having an opening coincident with the attachment point of the middle plate; wherein rotation of an item attached to the torsion spring at the first attachment point rotationally displaces the middle plate relative to the first outer plate and the second outer plate and stores energy in the one or more first elastomeric elements and the one or more second elastomeric elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A torsion spring comprising:
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a middle plate having an opening displaced from a geometric center of the middle plate; an elastomeric element having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion secured to a first side of the middle plate and the second portion secured to a second side of the middle plate, and the elastomeric element having an opening coincident with the opening of the middle plate; a first outer plate secured to the first portion of the elastomeric element, having an indentation coincident with the opening of the middle plate, and having a first attachment point in the indentation; and a second outer plate secured to the second portion of the elastomeric element and secured to the first outer plate at the indentation; wherein rotation of an item attached to the torsion spring at the first attachment point rotationally displaces the first outer plate and the second outer plate relative to the middle plate and stores energy in the elastomeric element; and wherein the torsion spring provides shear stress to the item when energy is stored in the elastomeric element and provides torque to the item when the elastomeric element returns to a neutral position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A kit comprising:
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a torsion spring comprising; a middle plate having a first attachment point displaced from a geometric center of the middle plate; one or more first elastomeric elements, wherein one of the first elastomeric elements proximate to a first side of the middle plate is secured to the first side of the middle plate and, and wherein the one or more first elastomeric elements has an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate; one or more second elastomeric elements, wherein one of the second elastomeric elements proximate to a second side of the middle plate is secured to the second side of the middle plate, and wherein the one or more second elastomeric elements has an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate; a first outer plate secured to one of the first elastomeric elements proximate to the first outer plate and having an opening coincident with the first attachment point of the middle plate; and a second outer plate secured to one of the second elastomeric elements proximate to the second outer plate and having an opening coincident with the attachment point of the middle plate; wherein rotation of an item attached to the torsion spring at the first attachment point rotationally displaces the middle plate relative to the first outer plate and the second outer plate and stores energy in the one or more first elastomeric elements and the one or more second elastomeric elements. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A kit comprising:
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a torsion spring comprising; a middle plate having an opening displaced from a geometric center of the middle plate; an elastomeric element having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion secured to a first side of the middle plate and the second portion secured to a second side of the middle plate, and the elastomeric element having an opening coincident with the opening of the middle plate; a first outer plate secured to the first portion of the elastomeric element, having an indentation coincident with the opening of the middle plate, and having a first attachment point in the indentation; a second outer plate secured to the second portion of the elastomeric element and secured to the first outer plate at the indentation; wherein rotation of an item attached to the torsion spring at the first attachment point rotationally displaces the first outer plate and the second outer plate relative to the middle plate and stores energy in the elastomeric element; and wherein the torsion spring provides shear stress to the item when energy is stored in the elastomeric element and provides torque to the item when the elastomeric element returns to a neutral position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of designing a torsion spring comprising:
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providing a set of dimensions and a set of clearance distances of a space in which the torsion spring is required; providing one or more mechanical properties required of the torsion spring; determining a three-dimensional shape of a torsion spring and a position of an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is displaced from a geometric center of the torsion spring; determining a set of mechanical properties of one of more elastomeric elements to be used in the torsion spring; and determining a set of mechanical properties for one or more plates to be used in the torsion spring. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for execution by a processor operable to design a torsion spring, the computer program comprising:
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providing a set of dimensions and a set of clearance distances of a space in which the torsion spring is required; providing one or more mechanical properties required of the torsion spring; determining a three-dimensional shape of a torsion spring and a position of an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is displaced from a geometric center of the torsion spring; determining a set of mechanical properties of one of more elastomeric elements to be used in the torsion spring; and determining a set of mechanical properties for one or more plates to be used in the torsion spring.
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Specification