Annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism

An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism comprising

• an annular series of longitudinally fixed flexure elements and a corresponding series of longitudinally movable flexure elements;
• said fixed flexure elements being fixed relatively together in an annular array at a confining fixed position and having a flexure position spaced longitudinally outwardly therefrom;
• each of said fixed flexure elements being constructed and arranged to flex at the flexure position thereof transversely outwardly and inwardly about the confined fixed position thereof;
• each of said movable flexure elements having an end fixed with respect to the flexure position of one of said fixed flexure elements and extending therefrom in longitudinally movable and generally transversely confined relation to a receiving portion of an adjacent fixed flexure element the outer end of which is adjacent the flexure position thereof;
• said movable flexure elements being constructed and arranged to be moved longitudinally in an outward direction with respect to the receiving portions associated therewith to extend in an arcuately flexed condition generally beyond the flexure positions of said fixed flexure elements to cause the latter to flex transversely outwardly and create an expanded condition defined by an annular series of transversely outwardly flexed fixed flexure elements interconnected by an annular series of arcuately flexed portions of said movable flexure elements;
• said movable flexure elements being constructed and arranged to be moved when in said expanded condition in a direction inwardly with respect to the receiving portions associated therewith to cause said expanded condition to progressively retract during which the annular series of transversely outwardly flexed fixed flexure elements are progressively less flexed transversely outwardly and the annular series of arcuately flexed portions of said movable flexure elements have a progressively less arcuate extent.