# US 2013/0157501 A1 · Support arm > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157501 A1 - Document ID: US20130157501A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/638,384 - Filed: 2010-09-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-13 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Daisuke Ishii; Shinji Ichikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157501A1 ## CPC - F16L 3/015: using articulated- or supple-guiding elements - B25J 9/1065: {with parallelograms} - B25J 19/0016: {using springs} - F16M 11/14: with ball-joint (ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 {; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30}) - F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand - F16M 11/2092: {comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage} - F16M 11/24: changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, {e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other}(F16M11/42 takes precedence) - H01R 13/60: Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged - F16M 2200/044: for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage - F16M 2200/063: Parallelogram arms - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A support arm includes a bracket supported by a support, a bracket arranged away from the bracket, a parallel link arranged between the bracket and the bracket and coupled pivotally to the bracket and the bracket, and a self-weight compensation device producing a force that cancels a force of gravity acting on the parallel link. The parallel link has an upper shaft and a lower shaft arranged in parallel to each other with spacing, the spacing being changed with a pivoting movement of the parallel link. The upper shaft and the lower shaft are arranged offset with respect to each other in a direction of an axis on which the parallel link is pivoted. With such a structure, a support arm for which a large movable range is achieved is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support arm comprising: a first joint part supported by a base; a second joint part arranged away from said first joint part; a first parallel link arranged between said first joint part and said second joint part and coupled pivotally to said first joint part and said second joint part; and a self-weight compensation device producing a force that cancels a force of gravity acting on said first parallel link, said first parallel link having a first shaft and a second shaft arranged in parallel to each other with spacing, the spacing being changed with a pivoting movement of said first parallel link, said first shaft and said second shaft being arranged offset with respect to each other in a direction of an axis on which said first parallel link is pivoted, when said first parallel link is positioned to extend laterally from said first joint part, said first shaft being located above said second shaft, said second shaft having a thickness greater than the thickness of said first shaft, and a wiring line extending from said first joint part toward said second joint part being fixed to said second shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support arm according to claim 1, wherein a stored state of the support arm is attained when said first parallel link is positioned to rise upwardly from said first joint part, and in the stored state, said first shaft and said second shaft are arranged to overlap each other when seen from the direction of the axis on which said first parallel link is pivoted. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The support arm according to claim 2, wherein in the stored state of the support arm, said first shaft and said second shaft extend in a vertical direction from said first joint part toward said second joint. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The support arm according to claim 1, wherein said first parallel link has a plurality of said first shafts arranged offset with respect to said second shaft in the direction of the axis on which said first parallel link is pivoted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The support arm according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of said first shafts are arranged symmetrically on the both sides of said second shaft in the direction of the axis on which said first parallel link is pivoted. ### Claim 6 (canceled) ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The support arm according to claim 1, further comprising: a third joint part arranged away from said second joint part; and a second parallel link arranged between said second joint part and said third joint part and coupled pivotally to said second joint part and said third joint part, wherein said second parallel link has a third shaft and a fourth shaft arranged in parallel to each other with spacing, the spacing being changed with a pivoting movement of said second parallel link, and said third shaft and said fourth shaft are arranged offset with respect to each other in a direction of an axis on which said second parallel link is pivoted. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The support arm according to claim 8, wherein a stored state of the support arm is attained when said first parallel link is positioned to rise upwardly from said first joint part and said second parallel link is folded toward said first parallel link with said second joint part serving as a fulcrum, and in the stored state, said first shaft and said second shaft are arranged to overlap each other when seen from the direction of the axis on which said first parallel link is pivoted, and said third shaft and said fourth shaft are arranged to overlap each other when seen from the direction of the axis on which said second parallel link is pivoted. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The support arm according to claim 1, further comprising a charging connector provided to be connectable to a vehicle, and moving with the pivoting movement of said first parallel link.