IP Library Granted Patent US 8,303,611
Granted Patent B2
US 8,303,611 · App. 12/892,692 · Granted Nov 6, 2012

Shaft for use with clamp device

Assignee: Vitalitec International, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,303,611
App. No.
12/892,692
Granted
Nov 6, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A shaft for use with a clamp device, includes a cable which extends through a bore of the shaft; and a plurality of alternating first beads and second beads defining the shaft, each of the first and second beads having an inner opening defining the bore of the shaft, and having a surface, wherein each of the second beads has a larger inner diameter of the inner opening than each of the first beads, each of the second beads is supported on the surface of two adjacent first beads at a line of contact, and the surface of each of the second beads has a convex shape at the line of contact, wherein the first beads and the second beads have a three-dimensional convex torus configuration.

Claims (22)

1. A shaft for use with a clamp device, comprising:

a cable which extends through a bore of the shaft; and

a plurality of alternating first beads and second beads defining the shaft, each of the first and second beads having an inner opening defining the bore of the shaft, and having a surface,

wherein each of the second beads has a larger inner diameter of the inner opening than each of the first beads, each of the second beads is supported on the surface of two adjacent first beads at a line of contact, and the surface of each of the second beads has a convex shape at the line of contact, wherein the first beads and the second beads have a three-dimensional convex torus configuration.

2. The shaft of claim 1 , wherein the surface of each of the first beads has a convex shape at the line of contact.

3. The shaft of claim 1 , wherein each of the second beads has a larger outer diameter than each of the first beads.

4. The shaft of claim 1 , wherein each of the second beads has a smaller outer diameter than each of the first beads.

5. The shaft of claim 1 , wherein each of the second beads has the same outer diameter as each of the first beads.

6. The shaft of claim 1 , wherein the line of contact is a circular line of contact.

7. The shaft of claim 1 , wherein the line of contact exists between the first beads and second beads at all times.

8. A shaft for use with a clamp device, comprising:

a cable which extends through a bore of the shaft; and

a plurality of alternating first beads and second beads defining the shaft, each of the first and second beads having an inner opening defining the bore of the shaft, and having a surface,

wherein each of the second beads is supported on the surface of two adjacent first beads at a line of contact, and the surface of each of the first and second beads has a convex shape at the line of contact, wherein the first beads and the second beads have a three-dimensional convex torus configuration.

9. The shaft of claim 8 , wherein each of the second beads has a larger outer diameter than each of the first beads.

10. The shaft of claim 8 , wherein each of the second beads has a smaller outer diameter than each of the first beads.

11. The shaft of claim 8 , wherein each of the second beads has the same outer diameter as each of the first beads.

12. The shaft of claim 8 , wherein the line of contact is a circular line of contact.

13. The shaft of claim 8 , wherein the line of contact exists between the first beads and the second beads at all times.

14. A shaft for use with a clamp device, comprising:

a central member; and

a plurality of alternating first beads and second beads alternatingly positioned along the central member to define the shaft, wherein each of the first beads and the second beads has an inner opening collectively defining a bore through the shaft, the central member extending through the bore, wherein the second beads contact adjacent first beads along a line of contact, and wherein each of the second beads has a an inner opening having a larger inner diameter than each of the first beads, each of the second beads is supported on a surface of two adjacent first beads at a line of contact, and the surface of each of the second beads has a convex shape at the line of contact, wherein the first beads and the second beads have a three-dimensional convex torus configuration.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 10679103 · Oct 4, 2003
Continuation 10013207 · Dec 7, 2001
Continuation In Part 09847135 · May 2, 2001
Related Publication 20110022067A1 · Jan 27, 2011