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US 7,464,503 B2Granted
Geared expanding structures
OwnerCharles Hobermaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A folding linkage is hereby disclosed that is comprised of four links, each link having a bevel gear on its end, where each link is in geared contact with a neighboring link, such that both links are held together by a hub element that is small relative to the two links. An alternate embodiment of the invention has links that have a spur gear on each end, whereby each gear end is engaged with a central rack (linear gear).
Claims15
A foldable loop assembly comprising at least four links, each said link having a first end with a gear for defining a rotational axis line and a second end with a gear for defining a rotational axis line;
- wherein said gear of said first end of any one of said links is rotatably engaged to said gear of said second end of another of said links in order to define four pairs of rotatably engaged gears such that said first end axis line and said second end axis line of each said pair of engaged gears lie in a single plane for any rotational positions thereof;
- wherein each pair of engaged gears defines a vector which is orthogonal in direction to the single plane in which said axis lines of said pair of engaged gears lie;
- wherein the vector defined by any of said pairs of engaged gears and the vector defined by any other pair of engaged gears together define an angle which remains constant in any folded condition of said assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.