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US 10,300,546 B2Granted
Spherical articulating fixture
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorKirk D. Hlavaty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixture includes a base with a bottom and a rim, a clamp with an exterior in a shape of a portion of a clamp sphere and a component space that is wholly within the clamp sphere, wherein the clamp is positioned such that the clamp exterior is in contact with the rim.
Claims18
A fixture comprising:
- a base having a bottom and an elevated rim;
- and
- a clamp having a clamp exterior in a shape of a portion of a clamp sphere and a component space that is positioned wholly within the clamp sphere, the clamp comprising:
- a first side comprising:
- a first exterior having a first shape of a first portion of a first sphere;
- and
- a first interior opposite of the first exterior having a first component contact surface that partially defines the component space;
- and
- a second side comprising:
- a second exterior having a second shape of a second portion of a second sphere;
- and
- a second interior opposite of the second exterior having a second component contact surface that partially defines the component space;
- wherein:
- the clamp is positioned such that the clamp exterior is in contact with the rim;
- the first side is connectable to the second side to form an assembled clamp;
- the first sphere and the second sphere share a common radius and a common centerpoint with the clamp sphere;
- the first side is rotatably connected to the second side at a hinge;
- and
- the component space does not extend beyond the clamp sphere.
16 more elements
A method of using a fixture comprising:
- a base having a bottom and an elevated rim;
- and
- a clamp having a clamp exterior in a shape of a portion of a clamp sphere and a component space that is positioned wholly within the clamp sphere, the clamp comprising:
- a first side comprising:
- a first exterior having a first shape of a first portion of a first sphere;
- and
- a first interior opposite of the first exterior having a first component contact surface that partially defines the component space;
- and
- a second side comprising:
- a second exterior having a second shape of a second portion of a second sphere;
- and
- a second interior opposite of the second exterior having a second component contact surface that partially defines the component space;
- wherein:
- the clamp is positioned such that the clamp exterior is in contact with the rim;
- the first side is connectable to the second side to form an assembled clamp;
- the first sphere and the second sphere share a common radius and a common centerpoint with the clamp sphere;
- the first side is rotatably connected to the second side at a hinge;
- and
- the component space does not extend beyond the clamp sphere,
- the method comprising:
- placing a component in contact with the first component contact surface of the first side of the clamp;
- placing the second component contact surface of the second side of the clamp in contact with the component;
- placing the clamp exterior into contact with the elevated rim of the base such that the component is in a first orientation;
- applying a first coating to a first area of the component;
- and
- exerting force on the clamp exterior to orient the component in a second orientation.
23 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.