# US 11,029,137 B2 · Fixture pin assembly system

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- Number: US 11,029,137 B2
- Document ID: US11029137B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/358,012
- Filed: 2019-03-19
- Published: 2019-12-05
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-30
- Applicants: Scott Boerman
- Inventors: Scott Boerman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029137B2

## CPC

- F16C 1/103: {to a hole in the wall or bracket}
- G01B 5/0004: {Supports (G01B5/025 takes precedence)}
- F16B 2/10: using pivoting jaws
- F16B 2/185: {using levers}
- F16C 1/08: End connections
- G01B 5/12: internal diameters
- G05G 1/025: {actuated by sliding movement}
- F16C 1/10: Means for transmitting linear movement in a flexible sheathing, e.g. "Bowden-mechanisms" (guiding-sheathings F16C1/26)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00)

## Abstract

A fixture pin assembly for presenting a pin in a specified location and orientation to provide positioning or dimensional verification for a target part. The fixture pin assembly comprises a block, a pin, and an actuator set. The block includes a plurality of holes on a plurality of surfaces to attach directly or indirectly to mating bushings, pins, and actuation component sets. Pin and bushing act in combination to present a pin which is fixed or may allow motion in specified directions. Actuation component set provides motion control of the pin to either fix the location in longitudinal direction or allow longitudinal motion with or without springs to impart force either rearward or forward. A cable actuation system provides for remote release functionality of pin. Entire system design is configurable and interchangeable to provide cost-effective and space-effective implementation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pin assembly system comprising:
a block comprising a pin hole;
a pin comprising:
a check portion;
a shank portion;
wherein a portion of the shank portion of the pin is within the pin hole of the block;
a mounting plate directly attached to a bottom exterior surface of the block through a plurality of fasteners, the plurality of fasteners are engaged in a plurality of holes in the bottom exterior surface of the block;
a lever pivotally attached to the mounting plate, the lever configured to contact a first end of the pin upon pivoting of the lever;
a spring disposed between the bottom exterior surface of the block and the first end of the pin such that a second end of the pin is biased to rest against a top exterior surface of the block.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pin assembly system of claim 1, further comprising: a top mounting plate attached to the top exterior surface of the block through a plurality of fasteners, the plurality of fasteners are engaged in a plurality of holes in the top exterior surface of the block.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The pin assembly system of claim 1, wherein the check portion of the pin is of a cylindrical shape;
wherein the shank portion of the pin is of a cylindrical shape; and
wherein a diameter of the check portion is larger than a diameter of the shank portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The pin assembly system of claim 3, wherein the first end of the pin comprises a pushbutton attached to the shank portion with a fastener.

### Claim 5

A pin assembly system comprising:
a block comprising a pin hole;
a pin comprising:
a check portion; and
a shank portion; and
an actuation set attached to the pin;
wherein a portion of the shank portion of the pin is within the pin hole of the block;
wherein a cross section of the pin hole of the block is of a non-circular shape;
wherein a cross section of the shank portion of the pin is of a non-circular shape;
wherein a ratio of an area of the cross section of the shank portion of the pin to an area of the cross section of the pin hole of the block is in a range from 90% to 99.99% so as to form an areal precision fit so that:
a ratio of a first motion of the pin in a first direction to a second motion of the pin in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is in a range from 100 to 1000; and
a ratio of the first motion of the pin in the first direction to a third motion of the pin in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction is in a range from 100 to 1000.

### Claim 6

A pin assembly system comprising:
a block comprising a pin hole;
a pin comprising:
a check portion; and
a shank portion; and
an actuation set attached to the pin;
wherein a portion of the shank portion of the pin is within the pin hole of the block;
wherein a cross section of the pin hole of the block is of a non-circular shape;
wherein a cross section of the shank portion of the pin is of a non-circular shape;
wherein a ratio of a length of the cross section of the shank portion of the pin to a length of the cross section of the pin hole of the block is in a range from 90% to 99.99%; and
a ratio of a width of the cross section of the shank portion of the pin to a width of the cross section of the pin hole of the block is in a range from 30% to 89.99% so as to form a lengthwise precision fit so that:
a ratio of a first motion of the pin in a first direction to a second motion of the pin in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is in a range from 100 to 1000; and
a ratio of the first motion of the pin in the first direction to a third motion of the pin in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction is in a range from 2 to 50.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The pin assembly system of claim 1, further comprising:
wherein the first end of the pin includes a pushbutton;
the pin comprises a first end position in which the second end of the pin rests against the top exterior surface of the block and a second end position in which a top surface of the pushbutton contacts the bottom exterior surface of the block, the pin being movable between the first end position and the second end position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The pin assembly system of claim 7, wherein the lever is rotatable about a lever axis;
wherein the lever comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
wherein the first end of the lever is connected to a remote cable actuation system through a cable; and
wherein the second end of the lever is configured to press the pushbutton.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The pin assembly system of claim 8, wherein the cable comprises a barrel end;
wherein the barrel end of the cable is directly connected to the first end of the lever.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The pin assembly system of claim 9, wherein the first end of the lever comprises a socket to accommodate the barrel end of the cable.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The pin assembly system of claim 8, wherein a linear portion of the cable is directly connected to a pinch portion of the lever.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The pin assembly system of claim 1 further comprising a top mounting plate directly attached to the top exterior surface of the block;
wherein a longitudinal direction of the top mounting plate is aligned along a first direction or is aligned along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction using a same set of holes on the top surface of the block.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The pin assembly system of claim 1, wherein the block is of a rectangular prism shape;
wherein a side-mounting angle element is directly attached to a side surface of the block; and
wherein a first member of the side-mounting angle element is perpendicular to a second member of the side-mounting angle element.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The pin assembly system of claim 1, wherein the lever is a hand-operated lever configured to be pressed by a user to operate the pin.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The pin assembly system of claim 1, wherein the block is of a rectangular prism shape;
wherein a clamp bracket is directly attached to a side surface of the block;
wherein the clamp bracket comprises an opening for fastener attachment.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The pin assembly system of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate includes a central cavity and the spring extends through the central cavity.