Limiting movement
First Claim
1. A flexible electronic device comprising electronic components and an apparatus configured to constrain flexibility of the flexible electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
- a first portion;
a second portion, where the first portion and the second portion are configured for relative movement;
a compression transmission arrangement extending between the first portion and the second portion configured in a first non-abutting configuration of the compression transmission arrangement to enable movement of the first portion and the second portion towards each other and configured in a second abutting configuration of the compression transmission arrangement to transmit compression forces between the first portion and the second portion to limit movement of the first portion and the second portion towards each other;
a tension transmission arrangement extending between the first portion and the second portion configured in a first non-abutting configuration of the tension transmission arrangement to enable movement of the first portion and the second portion away from each other and configured in a second abutting configuration of the tension transmission arrangement to transmit tension forces between the first portion and the second portion to limit movement of the first portion and the second portion away from each other;
a ribbed structure comprising a plurality of ribs that are interconnected in series in a first direction by first link structures providing, in part, the compression transmission arrangement, and that are interconnected in series in the first direction by second link structures, separated from the first link structures by a gap extending in a second orthogonal direction, providing, in part, the compression transmission arrangement, wherein the plurality of ribs extend in the second direction with gaps therebetween;
wherein each link structure is configured to provide simultaneously the compression transmission arrangement and the tension transmission arrangement;
a first compression resisting surface; and
a first tension resisting surface displaced from the first compression resisting surface, wherein each link structure is configured to transmit compression forces and tension forces to the second portion and comprises a first compression abutment surface and a first tension abutment surface, andwherein the first compression resisting surface, the first compression abutment surface, the first tension abutment surface and the first tension resisting surface are configured such that relative spacing between the first compression resisting surface and the first tension resisting surface and between the first compression abutment surface and the first tension abutment surface enables movement of the first portion and the second portion towards each other until abutment of the first compression resisting surface and the first compression abutment surface and enables movement of the first portion and the second portion away from each other until abutment of the first tension resisting surface and the first tension abutment surface; and
wherein an enclosure defines the first compression resisting surface and the first tension resisting surface, each link structure comprises a head that is positioned within the enclosure and a gap in the enclosure receives the head of the link structure and enables reciprocation of the link structure.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes first and second portions configured for relative movement; and a compression transmission arrangement extending between them and configured to enable movement of the first portion and the second portion towards each other and further configured to transmit compression forces between the first portion and the second portion to limit movement of the first portion and the second portion towards each other. The apparatus further includes a tension transmission arrangement extending between those portions which is configured to enable movement of the first portion and the second portion away from each other and further configured to transmit tension forces between the first portion and the second portion to limit movement of the first portion and the second portion away from each other. Both transmission arrangements may be on the same side of an equilibrium plane of the apparatus.
128 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A flexible electronic device comprising electronic components and an apparatus configured to constrain flexibility of the flexible electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
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a first portion; a second portion, where the first portion and the second portion are configured for relative movement; a compression transmission arrangement extending between the first portion and the second portion configured in a first non-abutting configuration of the compression transmission arrangement to enable movement of the first portion and the second portion towards each other and configured in a second abutting configuration of the compression transmission arrangement to transmit compression forces between the first portion and the second portion to limit movement of the first portion and the second portion towards each other; a tension transmission arrangement extending between the first portion and the second portion configured in a first non-abutting configuration of the tension transmission arrangement to enable movement of the first portion and the second portion away from each other and configured in a second abutting configuration of the tension transmission arrangement to transmit tension forces between the first portion and the second portion to limit movement of the first portion and the second portion away from each other; a ribbed structure comprising a plurality of ribs that are interconnected in series in a first direction by first link structures providing, in part, the compression transmission arrangement, and that are interconnected in series in the first direction by second link structures, separated from the first link structures by a gap extending in a second orthogonal direction, providing, in part, the compression transmission arrangement, wherein the plurality of ribs extend in the second direction with gaps therebetween; wherein each link structure is configured to provide simultaneously the compression transmission arrangement and the tension transmission arrangement; a first compression resisting surface; and a first tension resisting surface displaced from the first compression resisting surface, wherein each link structure is configured to transmit compression forces and tension forces to the second portion and comprises a first compression abutment surface and a first tension abutment surface, and wherein the first compression resisting surface, the first compression abutment surface, the first tension abutment surface and the first tension resisting surface are configured such that relative spacing between the first compression resisting surface and the first tension resisting surface and between the first compression abutment surface and the first tension abutment surface enables movement of the first portion and the second portion towards each other until abutment of the first compression resisting surface and the first compression abutment surface and enables movement of the first portion and the second portion away from each other until abutment of the first tension resisting surface and the first tension abutment surface; and wherein an enclosure defines the first compression resisting surface and the first tension resisting surface, each link structure comprises a head that is positioned within the enclosure and a gap in the enclosure receives the head of the link structure and enables reciprocation of the link structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A flexible electronic device comprising electronic components and an apparatus configured to constrain flexibility of the flexible electronic device, the apparatus comprising:
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a first portion; a second portion, where the first portion and the second portion are configured to move relative to one another; a first compression resisting surface; a first tension resisting surface displaced from the first compression resisting surface in a first direction; a first link structure and a second link structure, each configured to transmit compression forces and tension forces to the second portion and comprising a first compression abutment surface and a first tension abutment surface; wherein the first compression resisting surface, the first compression abutment surface, the first tension abutment surface and the first tension resisting surface are configured such that relative spacing between the first compression resisting surface and the first tension resisting surface and between the first compression abutment surface and the first tension abutment surface enables movement of the first portion and the second portion towards each other in the first direction determined by non-abutment of the first compression resisting surface and the first compression abutment surface to a minimum separation distance between the first portion and the second portion determined by abutment of the first compression resisting surface and the first compression abutment surface and enables movement of the first portion and the second portion away from each other in the first direction determined by non-abutment of the first tension resisting surface and the first tension abutment surface to a maximum separation distance between the first portion and the second portion determined by abutment of the first tension resisting surface and the first tension abutment surface; and a ribbed structure comprising a plurality of ribs that extend in a second orthogonal direction with gaps therebetween that are interconnected in series in the first direction by a first plurality of link structures including the first link structure, and that are interconnected in series in the first direction by a second plurality of link structures including the second link structure, separated from the first link structure by a gap extending in the second direction; wherein an enclosure defines the first compression resisting surface and the first tension resisting surface, each link structure comprises a head that is positioned within the enclosure and a gap in the enclosure receives the head of the link structure and enables reciprocation of the link structure.
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Specification