IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,297,952
Granted Patent B2
US 12,297,952 · App. 18/317,407 · Granted May 13, 2025

Apparatuses configured to allow real-time adjustments of locking dimensions

Inventors: James J. Troy (Issaquah, WA); Daniel M. Simunovic (Titusville, FL)
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
F16M11/04B64U70/99
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,297,952
App. No.
18/317,407
Granted
May 13, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus may include: a support base; and two or more roller wheels, each adjustable in orientation, position, or orientation and position, mounted on the support base and configured to engage with an object in a passive locking configuration. The apparatus may be further configured to disengage from the object in the passive locking configuration. The apparatus may be further configured to lock the object to the apparatus in an active locking configuration. Orientations, positions, or the orientations and positions of the at least two of the two or more roller wheels may be adjustable.

Claims (40)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a support base; and

two or more roller wheels, each adjustable in orientation, position, or orientation and position, mounted on the support base and configured to engage with an object in a passive locking configuration,

wherein the orientations, the positions, or the orientations and positions of the two or more roller wheels are adjustable to change the two or more roller wheels from the passive locking configuration to the active locking configuration or from the active locking configuration to the passive locking configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two or more roller wheels are further configured to disengage from the object in the passive locking configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the two or more roller wheels are further configured to lock the object to the apparatus in an active locking configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when changing the two or more roller wheels from the passive locking configuration to the active locking configuration, a locking dimension of the end apparatus increases.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the locking dimension comprises an diameter of an outer capture circle or a diameter of an inner capture circle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when changing the two or more roller wheels from the passive locking configuration to the active locking configuration, a locking dimension of the end apparatus decreases.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when changing the two or more roller wheels from the active locking configuration to the passive locking configuration, a locking dimension of the end apparatus increases.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when changing the two or more roller wheels from the active locking configuration to the passive locking configuration, a locking dimension of the apparatus decreases.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a locking mechanism;

wherein the locking mechanism is configured to prevent disengagement of the object from the apparatus.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a support base; and

two or more roller wheels, each adjustable in orientation, position, or orientation and position, mounted on the support base, configured to engage with an object in a passive locking configuration, and further configured to lock the object to the apparatus in an active locking configuration,

wherein the orientations, the positions, or the orientations and positions of the two or more roller wheels are adjustable to change the two or more roller wheels from the passive locking configuration to the active locking configuration or from the active locking configuration to the passive locking configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the orientations, the positions, or the orientations and positions of the at least two of the two or more roller wheels are adjustable to change the two or more roller wheels from the active locking configuration to the passive locking configuration.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein adjusting the orientations, the positions, or the locations of the two or more roller wheels changes a locking dimension of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the locking dimension comprises an diameter of an outer capture circle or a diameter of an inner capture circle.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a first roller wheel of the two or more roller wheels is configured to rotate in a first geometric plane of rotation,

wherein a second roller wheel of the two or more roller wheels is configured to rotate in a second geometric plane of rotation, and

wherein the first geometric plane of rotation is parallel to the second geometric plane of rotation in the passive locking configuration, wherein the first geometric plane of rotation is parallel to the second geometric plane of rotation in the active locking configuration, or wherein the first geometric plane of rotation is parallel to the second geometric plane of rotation in the passive and active locking configurations.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a first roller wheel of the two or more roller wheels is configured to rotate in a first geometric plane of rotation,

wherein a second roller wheel of the two or more roller wheels is configured to rotate in a second geometric plane of rotation, and

wherein the first geometric plane of rotation is coincident with the second geometric plane of rotation in the passive locking configuration, wherein the first geometric plane of rotation is coincident with the second geometric plane of rotation in the active locking configuration, or wherein the first geometric plane of rotation is coincident with the second geometric plane of rotation in the passive and active locking configurations.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a support base; and

three or more roller wheels, each adjustable in orientation, position, or orientation and position, mounted on the support base and configured to engage with an object in a passive locking configuration,

wherein the orientations, the positions, or the orientations and positions of the at least three of the three or more roller wheels are adjustable to change the three or more roller wheels from the passive locking configuration to an active locking configuration or from the active locking configuration to the passive locking configuration.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the three or more roller wheels are further configured to disengage from the object in the passive locking configuration.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein adjusting the orientations, the positions, or the orientations and positions of the at least three of the three or more roller wheels changes a locking dimension of the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the locking dimension comprises an diameter of an outer capture circle or a diameter of an inner capture circle.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein a first roller wheel of the three or more roller wheels is configured to rotate in a first geometric plane of rotation,

wherein a second roller wheel of the three or more roller wheels is configured to rotate in a second geometric plane of rotation,

wherein a third roller wheel of the three or more roller wheels is configured to rotate in a third geometric plane of rotation,

wherein the first geometric plane of rotation is non-parallel to the second geometric plane of rotation,

wherein the second geometric plane of rotation is non-parallel to the third geometric plane of rotation, and

wherein the third geometric plane of rotation is non-parallel to the first geometric plane of rotation.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2023
From: TROY, JAMES J.; SIMUNOVIC, DANIEL M.
To: THE BOEING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 063645/0108 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240384827A1 · Nov 21, 2024
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