Soft actuator having a texturizable gripping surface
AssigneeSoft Robotics, Inc.
InventorsJoshua Aaron Lessing, Ryan Richard Knopf, Daniel Vincent Harburg, Kevin Alcedo, Grant Thomas Sellers, Mark Chiappetta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Exemplary embodiments relate to improvements in robotic systems to reduce biological or chemical harborage points on the systems. For example, in exemplary embodiments, robotic actuators, hubs, or entire robotic systems may be configured to allow crevices along joints or near fasteners to be reduced or eliminated, hard corners to be replaced with rounded edges, certain components or harborage points to be eliminated, shapes to be reconfigured to be smoother or flat, and/or or surfaces to be reconfigurable for simpler cleaning.
Claims14
A soft actuator comprising:
- an elastomeric body that extends from a proximal end to a distal end, the elastomeric body:
- surrounding a void configured to receive an inflation fluid, and
- comprising a plurality of accordion extensions, wherein the elastomeric body is configured to curl in response to pressurization upon receiving the inflation fluid;
- and
- a gripping surface provided on the elastomeric body, the gripping surface configured to transition between a first state in which the gripping surface is textured and a second state in which the gripping surface is substantially untextured in response to a pressurization event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.