Granted Patent B2

US 8,869,364 · App. 13/532,462 · Granted Oct 28, 2014

Abstract

Claims (25)

1. A tool for separating material layers comprising:

a first arm comprising a first end and a second end;

a second arm comprising a first end and a second end;

a first material contact pad carried by the first arm proximate the first end of the first arm; and

a second material contact pad carried by the second arm proximate the first end of the second arm;

wherein the second end of the first arm is joined to the second end of the second arm, and

wherein the first arm and the second arm are movable with respect to one another along two substantially orthogonal axes.

2. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first arm and the first end of the second arm define a gap there between, and wherein the first material contact pad and the second material contact pad are disposed within the gap.

3. The tool according to claim 2 , wherein the first material contact pad and the second material contact pad comprise a material that is of a different composition than a material of the first arm or the second arm.

4. The tool according to claim 3 , wherein the material of the material contact pad comprises rubber.

5. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the first arm comprises a pivot connection disposed between the first end and the second end.

6. The tool according to claim 5 , wherein the first material contact pad defines a material contact surface, wherein the material contact surface defines a material contact plane, and wherein the pivot connection is configured to permit rotation of the first material contact pad relative to the second material contact pad within the material contact plane.

7. The tool according to claim 5 , wherein the pivot connection comprises a biasing element configured to bias the first end of the first arm to a position in which the first material contact pad is facing the second material contact pad.

8. The tool according to claim 7 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are joined proximate their respective second ends by a flexible portion.

9. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the first material contact pad defines a material contact surface, wherein the material contact surface defines a material contact plane, wherein a first of the two substantially orthogonal axes is perpendicular to the material contact plane, and wherein a second of the two substantially orthogonal axes is parallel to the material contact plane.

10. The tool according to claim 9 , wherein the first material contact pad and the second material contact pad are configured to face one another, and wherein motion between the first material contact pad and the second material contact pad is limited such that at least a portion of the first material contact pad overlies a portion of the second material contact pad at all times.

11. A tool for separating material layers comprising:

a first arm comprising a first material contact surface defining a first material contact plane, wherein a first axis is defined orthogonal to the first material contact plane, and a second axis is defined parallel to the first material contact plane; and

a second arm comprising a second material contact surface defining a second material contact plane, wherein the first material contact surface faces the second material contact surface, and wherein the first material contact surface and the second material contact surface are separated by a gap;

wherein the first arm is connected to the second arm and wherein the connection between the first arm and the second arm permits motion between the first arm and the second arm along both the first and second axes.

12. The tool according to claim 11 , wherein the first material contact surface and the second material contact surface comprise rubber.

13. The tool according to claim 11 , wherein the connection between the first arm, and the second arm, comprises a flexible portion connecting the first arm and the second arm.

14. The tool according to claim 13 , wherein the flexible portion allows the first material contact surface to move relative to the second material contact surface along the first axis.

15. The tool according to claim 14 , wherein the first arm comprises a pivot connection between the flexible portion and the first material contact surface, wherein the pivot connection allows the first material contact surface to move relative to the second material contact surface along the second axis.

16. The tool according to claim 15 , wherein the pivot connection comprises a biasing member configured to bias the first material contact surface into alignment with the second material contact surface.

Assignments (9)