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Flexible joint arrangement incorporating flexure members

  • US 9,381,092 B2
  • Filed: 09/12/2013
  • Issued: 07/05/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A flexible joint, comprising:

  • a base;

    a structural member;

    a flexure member connecting the structural member to the base that rotates to allow movement of the structural member relative to the base, wherein the base, structural member, and flexure member comprise a unitary one-piece monolithic body; and

    a wrapping surface defined in the base, the wrapping surface providing a guide for rotation of the 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 flexure member and the wrapping surface as the flexure member rotates, wherein each point along the 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 and a negative radius of curvature.

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