Compliant, ortho-planar, linear motion spring

US6983924B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Larry L. Howell · Orem, US
• Scott Thomson · Phillipsport, US
• Jason Alan Briscoe · Provo, US
• John J. Parise · Sunrise, US
• Shae Lorenc · Idaho Falls, US
• John B. Larsen · Provo, US
• Curtis R. Huffmire · Provo, US
• Nathan Burnside · Provo, US
• Troy Alan Gomm · Wilsonville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 25, 2001
• Grant date: Jan 10, 2006
• Expiry date: Jul 29, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S251/902
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An ortho-planar spring has a platform movably coupled to a base and being movable linearly with respect to the base along at least a portion of an axial direction perpendicular to both a base surface and a platform surface. A resilient and flexible connecting structure is connected to and between the base and platform. The connecting structure is bendable to develop (i) an axial force along the axial direction to bias the platform in a stable position with respect to the base, and (ii) non-axial forces which substantially sum to zero to preserve the orientation of the platform with respect to the base. Thus, the spring is very compact and does not have rotation between the deflecting ends. The spring may be associated with a valve opening, and a button for restricting flow through the valve opening, to bias the button at a position with respect to the valve opening.