Toothed gripper with variable height teeth
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorsJason Michael Hackbarth, Ryan Fairchild Larson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention discloses a gripper comprising a gripper body with an inner surface defining a tooth plane. The gripper includes a front tooth extending from the tooth plane with a front height, a middle tooth extending from the tooth plane with a middle height, and a back tooth extending from the tooth plane with a back height. The front height is equal to the back height, while the middle height is less than either the front height or the back height. This unique gripper configuration enhances gripping efficiency and stability in various applications requiring precise handling and manipulation.
Claims19
A gripper, comprising:
- a gripper body defining an inner surface that defines a tooth plane;
- a front tooth extending from the tooth plane and defining a front height;
- a middle tooth extending from the tooth plane and defining a middle height;
- and
- a back tooth extending from the tooth plane and defining a back height, wherein the front height equals the back height and the middle height is less than either the front height or the back height,
- wherein the front height is between 0.07 inches and 0.08 inches, and the middle height is between 0.05 inches and 0.06 inches.
A gripper assembly, comprising:
- a first gripper assembly comprising a plurality of grippers, each gripper comprising a gripper body defining a tooth plane and comprising:
- a front tooth extending from the tooth plane and defining a front height;
- and
- a middle tooth extending from the tooth plane and defining a middle height;
- wherein the front height is greater than the middle height;
- and
- a second gripper assembly comprising a plurality of grippers coupled to the first gripper assembly.
A joint restraint, comprising:
- a housing;
- a gasket oriented within the housing and defining an axis;
- and
- a gripper assembly interposed between the gasket and the housing and defining an arcuate shape, the gripper assembly comprising a gripper defining a tooth plane, the gripper comprising:
- a front tooth extending from the tooth plane and defining a front height;
- and
- a middle tooth extending from the tooth plane and defining a middle height;
- wherein the front height is greater than the middle height.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.