US 8,801,068 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for engaging and handling articles of manufacture

AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company

InventorsEric Shawn Goudy, Michel Kenneth Whetstone, William Russel Clem

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Apparatus and method for engaging an article. The apparatus has a longitudinal centerline, a disengaged configuration and an activated configuration. The apparatus further includes a base portion, first and second engaging arm portions joined to the base portion, first and second moveable portion operatively associated with the first and second engaging arm portions, respectively, and one or more engaging arm bands extending between the first and second moveable portions and the first and second arm portions, wherein at least one of the arm bands bends away from the longitudinal centerline of the engaging arm when the apparatus is changed from the disengaged configuration to the activated configuration.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An apparatus for engaging an article, the apparatus having a longitudinal centerline, a disengaged configuration and an activated configuration, the apparatus comprising:

a base portion;
a first engaging arm portion joined to the base portion, the first engaging arm having a first base end portion and a first free end portion disposed along a first longitudinal centerline away from the base portion;
a first moveable portion operatively associated with the first engaging arm portion and being moveable in relation to the first free end portion generally along the first longitudinal centerline;
a second engaging arm portion joined to the base portion, the second engaging arm having a second base end portion and a second free end portion disposed along a second longitudinal centerline away from base portion;
a second moveable portion operatively associated with the second engaging arm portion and being moveable in relation to the second free end portion generally along the second longitudinal centerline;
one or more first engaging arm bands extending between the first moveable portion and the first free end portion, the bands having a first proximal end joined to the first moveable portion, a first distal end joined to the first free end portion and a first central region located between the first proximal end and the first distal end;
and
one or more second engaging arm bands extending between the second moveable portion and the second free end portion, the bands having a second proximal end joined to the second moveable portion, a second distal end joined to the second free end portion and a second central region located between the second proximal end and the second distal end,
wherein at least one of the one or more of the first engaging arm bands bends away from the first longitudinal centerline of the first engaging arm when the first moveable portion is moved toward the first free end portion from the disengaged configuration to the activated configuration.

6 more elements

A method for engaging an article, the method including the steps of:

providing an article;
providing an apparatus for engaging the article, the apparatus being provided in a disengaged configuration and having a base portion, a first engaging arm portion joined to the base portion, wherein the first engaging arm has a first end portion disposed along a first longitudinal centerline and a first moveable portion moveable in relation to the first end portion generally along the first longitudinal centerline, a second engaging arm portion joined to the base portion, wherein the second engaging arm has a second end portion disposed along a second longitudinal centerline and a second moveable portion moveable in relation to the second end portion generally along the second longitudinal centerline;
one or more first engaging arm bands extending between the first moveable portion and the first end portion, the bands having a first proximal end joined to the first moveable portion, a first distal end joined to the end portion and a first central region located between the first proximal end and the first distal end, and one or more second engaging arm bands extending between the second moveable portion and the second end portion, the bands having a second proximal end joined to the second moveable portion, a second distal end joined to the end portion and a second central region located between the second proximal end and the second distal end;
positioning the apparatus such that the first engaging arm and the second engaging arm surround at least a portion of the article;
and
activating the apparatus by moving at least the first moveable portion toward the first end portion from the disengaged configuration to an activated configuration such that at least one of the one or more of the first engaging arm bands bends away from the first longitudinal centerline of the first engaging arm and engages the article between the first engaging arm and the second engaging arm.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/929,460Filed 27 Jun 2013 · division
Priority: 18 Nov 2011
Published: US 2013/0127195 A131 Oct 2013
Granted: 12 Aug 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B25J 15/0028
Gripping heads and other end effectors: with movable, e.g. pivoting gripping jaw surfaces
B25J 15/0047
Gripping heads and other end effectors: for internally gripping hollow or recessed objects
B65G 47/908
Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials: with inflatable picking-up means
B25J
Manipulators

Family

Application13/299,627Parent of this division · filed 18 Nov 2011
US 2013/0287540 A1Pre-grant publication · published 31 Oct 2013
US 8,511,730 B2Parent of this division
US 2013/0127195 A1Published application
US 8,801,068 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.