Reconfigurable clamp and method of use thereof
US7726637B2 · kind B2 · utility
8Cited by
7References
16Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 5, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB25B5/16
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A reconfigurable clamp is provided, where the clamp includes: a clamp body including a plurality of through holes formed within the clamp body; a plurality of movable pins which slidably fit within the through holes in the clamp body; wherein the movable pins incorporate a tapered section to facilitate locking of the movable pins; and wherein the clamp is reconfigurable by movement of the pins to conform to a surface geometry of an object of arbitrary shape through contact with that object. The clamped surface is represented as a series of discrete points corresponding to the ends of the plurality of pins.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.