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US 4,944,755 AGranted
Motorized joint
AssigneeAir Muscle Limited
InventorsJames R. Hennequin, Peter Fluck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a motorized joint which has a pair of members that are movable relative to one another about a joint. Power to actuate the joint is provided by an inflatable hose inflating to transmit the force due to the expansion thereof via a strap or other elements interconnecting the members. The motorized joint can be covered with artificial flesh which, together with the expansion of the inflatable hose, creates the realistic appearance of a muscle flexing.
Claims10
A motorized joint comprising a pair of relatively movable members;
- an elongate, inflatable element having an inextensible wall;
- means for holding apart opposing inner surfaces of the inflatable element such that a fluid passage exists within the inflatable element;
- actuating means having means for inflating the inflatable element causing it to increase in cross section;
- and means mounting the two ends of said inflatable element in a folded condition on one of the relatively movable members and acting on the other relatively movable member whereby inflation of the inflatable element causes relative movement between the relatively movable members.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.