Granted Patent B1

US 10,625,413 · App. 16/127,290 · Granted Apr 21, 2020

Inventor: Lornetta McPherson (Seattle, WA)

B25J1/04B25J13/006B25J15/024B25J15/08B25J18/025B25J19/005

Abstract

Claims (126)

1. A rigid manipulator comprising:

a clamp, a telescopic structure and a remote control;

wherein the clamp and the remote control attach to the telescopic structure;

wherein the rigid manipulator is an extension apparatus;

wherein the rigid manipulator is an articulated structure;

wherein the rigid manipulator is configured for use with a targeted object;

wherein the rigid manipulator grasps a targeted object for subsequent manipulation;

wherein the span of the length of the rigid manipulator is adjustable;

wherein the telescopic structure is an extension apparatus that comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a first detent;

wherein the first detent attaches the first arm to the second arm;

wherein the first arm is a hollow prism that is further defined with an inner dimension;

wherein the second arm is a hollow prism that is further defined with an outer dimension;

wherein the second arm is geometrically similar to the first arm;

wherein the span of the outer dimension of the second arm is lesser than the span of the inner dimension of the first arm such that the second arm inserts into the first arm in a telescopic fashion;

wherein the telescopic structure further comprises a third arm, and a second detent;

wherein the second detent attaches the second arm to the third arm;

wherein the second arm is further defined with an inner dimension;

wherein the third arm is a hollow prism that is further defined with an outer dimension;

wherein the third arm is geometrically similar to the second arm;

wherein the span of the outer dimension of the third arm is lesser than the span of the inner dimension of the second arm such that the third arm inserts into the second arm in a telescopic fashion;

wherein the telescopic structure further comprises a fourth arm, and a third detent;

wherein the third detent attaches the third arm to the fourth arm;

wherein the third arm is further defined with an inner dimension;

wherein the fourth arm is a hollow prism that is further defined with an outer dimension;

wherein the fourth arm is geometrically similar to the third arm;

wherein the span of the outer dimension of the fourth arm is lesser than the span of the inner dimension of the third arm such that the fourth arm inserts into the third arm in a telescopic fashion;

wherein the first arm is further defined with a first end and a second end;

wherein the second arm is further defined with a third end and a fourth end;

wherein the third arm is further defined with a fifth end and a sixth end;

wherein the fourth arm is further defined with a seventh end and an eighth end;

wherein the clamp mounts on the eighth end of the fourth arm of the telescopic structure;

wherein the second end of the first arm inserts into the third end of the second arm;

wherein the fourth end of the second arm inserts into the fifth end of the third arm;

wherein the sixth end of the third arm inserts into the seventh end of the fourth arm;

wherein the hollow interior of the eighth end of the fourth arm is formed with a negative space;

wherein the negative space has the shape of a truncated pyramid;

wherein the base of the truncated pyramid forms the eighth end of the fourth arm;

wherein the clamp comprises forceps, a compression spring, a hinge, a threaded cap, a worm drive, an electric motor, a motorcontrol, and a motor power source;

wherein the compression spring attaches to the forceps;

wherein the hinge attaches the forceps to the threaded cap;

wherein the threaded cap attaches the hinge to the worm drive;

wherein the worm drive attaches the threaded cap to the electric motor;

wherein the electric motor is controlled by the motor control and the motor power source;

wherein the worm drive is further defined with a ninth end and a tenth end;

wherein the threaded cap is further defined with an eleventh end and a twelfth end.

2. The rigid manipulator according to claim 1

wherein the telescopic structure is an extension apparatus;

wherein the clamp forms the articulation of the rigid manipulator;

wherein the clamp grasps the targeted object;

wherein the clamp is an articulated grasping device;

wherein the remote control controls the operation of the clamp.

3. The rigid manipulator according to claim 2

wherein the position of the second arm relative to the first arm is held in position using the first detent;

wherein the first detent is a mechanical device that locks and secures the second arm to the first arm;

wherein the first detent is selected from the group consisting of a cotter pin, a G snap collar, a cam lock collar, a threaded clutch, a split collar lock, and a spring-loaded ball lock.

4. The rigid manipulator according to claim 3

wherein the position of the third arm relative to the second arm is held in position using the second detent;

wherein the second detent is a mechanical device that locks and secures the third arm to the second arm;

wherein the second detent is selected from the group consisting of a cotter pin, a G snap collar, a cam lock collar, a threaded clutch, a split collar lock, and a spring-loaded ball lock.

5. The rigid manipulator according to claim 4

wherein the position of the fourth arm relative to the third arm is held in position using the third detent;

wherein the third detent is a mechanical device that locks and secures the fourth arm to the third arm;

wherein the third detent is selected from the group consisting of a cotter pin, a G snap collar, a cam lock collar, a threaded clutch, a split collar lock, and a spring-loaded ball lock.

6. The rigid manipulator according to claim 5

wherein the forceps comprise a first blade and a second blade;

wherein the targeted object is captured between the first blade and the second blade;

wherein the first blade comprises a first toe, a first shank, and a first heel;

wherein the first shank is a shaft that attaches the first heel to the first toe;

wherein the second blade comprises a second toe, a second shank, and a second heel;

wherein the second shank is a shaft that attaches the second heel to the second toe.

7. The rigid manipulator according to claim 6

wherein the first heel is the end of the first shank that attaches to the hinge;

wherein the first toe is a prism-shaped structure formed at the end of the first shank that is distal from the first heel;

wherein the center axis of the first toe projects radially away from the center axis of the first shank;

wherein the second heel is the end of the second shank that attaches to the hinge;

wherein the second toe is a prism-shaped structure formed at the end of the second shank that is distal from the second heel;

wherein the center axis of the second toe projects radially away from the center axis of the second shank.

8. The rigid manipulator according to claim 7

wherein the compression spring separates the first blade of the forceps from the second blade of the forceps;

wherein the hinge attaches the first heel of the first blade to the second heel of the second blade such that the first blade rotates relative to the second blade;

wherein the threaded cap is a hollow capped tube;

wherein the threaded cap is formed with an interior screw thread;

wherein the threaded cap screws onto the worm drive;

wherein the worm drive is a threaded cylindrical structure;

wherein the worm drive is a rotating cylindrical structure.

9. The rigid manipulator according to claim 8

wherein the electric motor rotates the worm drive;

wherein the electric motor further comprises a rotor, a stator, and a drive shaft;

wherein the motor control is an electrical circuit associated with the electric motor;

wherein the motor control is a switching element used to provide electrical energy to the electric motor;

wherein the motor control is configurable such that the motor control determines the direction of the rotation of the electric motor;

wherein the motor control is configurable such that the direction of rotation of the electric motor is selectable through the motor control;

wherein the remote control selects the direction of rotation of the electric motor.

10. The rigid manipulator according to claim 9

wherein the remote control comprises an RC transmitter and an RC receiver;

wherein the RC transmitter is a radio frequency transmitting device;

wherein the RC transmitter installs in the first arm of the telescopic structure;

wherein the RC receiver is a radio frequency receiving device;

wherein the RC receiver installs by the electric motor.

11. The rigid manipulator according to claim 10

wherein the RC transmitter further comprises a first transmission switch, a second transmission switch, and a transmitter power source;

wherein the first transmission switch is a momentary switch;

wherein the second transmission switch is a momentary switch;

wherein the transmitter power source provides the electrical energy required to operate the RC transmitter;

wherein the RC receiver further comprises a receiver power source;

wherein the receiver power source provides the electrical energy required to operate the RC receiver.

12. The rigid manipulator according to claim 11

wherein the first transmission switch initiates the RC transmitter to send a signal to the RC receiver indicating that the electric motor should rotate in a first direction;

wherein the second transmission switch initiates the RC transmitter to send a signal to the RC receiver indicating that the electric motor should rotate in a second direction;

wherein the second direction of rotation is opposite to the first direction of rotation;

wherein the RC receiver: a) receives transmitted operating instructions from the RC transmitter; and, b) based on the received instructions initiates the operation of the motor control.

13. The rigid manipulator according to claim 12

wherein the first heel of the first blade attaches to the hinge such that the first blade rotates relative to the second blade;

wherein the second heel of the second blade attaches to the hinge such that the second blade rotates relative to the first blade;

wherein the compression spring attaches the first shank of the first blade to the second shank of the second blade;

wherein the compression spring attaches the first shank to the second shank such that as the compression spring moves towards the relaxed shape the compression spring separates the first shank from the second shank;

wherein the first blade and the second blade attach to the hinge such that the first toe and the second toe rotate towards and away from each other;

wherein the hinge attaches to the twelfth end of the threaded cap such that the movement of the threaded cap along the worm drive will draw the hinge into and out of the eighth end of the fourth arm;

wherein the threaded cap screws onto the worm drive such that the rotation of the worm drive moves the twelfth end of the threaded cap in a direction that is parallel to the center axis of the first arm;

wherein the worm drive attaches to the drive shaft of the rotor of the electric motor such that the center axes of the worm drive, the drive shaft, and the rotor are aligned to form the axis of rotation of the worm drive;

wherein the electric motor, the motor control, and the motor power source mount in the hollow interior of the fourth arm such that the rotation of the electric motor will rotate the worm drive such that the threaded cap will move in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the worm drive.

14. The rigid manipulator according to claim 13

wherein the motor power source is a battery;

wherein the transmitter power source is a commercially available battery;

wherein the receiver power source is a commercially available battery;

wherein the remote control comprises a 433 MHz relay receiver with a wireless transmitter kit.

Cited By (8)

US 12,454,378 US 12,458,210 US 12,539,624 US 12,564,312 US 12,564,973 US 12,616,358 US 12,661,776 US 12,708,252