According to one embodiment, there is taught herein a family of “branched” variants of the traditional scissor mechanism, in which each stage is formed from more than two arms, joined at their midpoints by a branched rivet. In one embodiment arms in adjacent stages are joined at their endpoints with joints that allow for rotation in a single plane. Each resulting mechanism has one degree of freedom in its motion. It deploys from a compact, collapsed state to an extended state. One embodiment is a grasping member that is mechanically coupled to a scissor mechanism so that when scissor mechanism is collapsed the grasping member is open. Then, when the scissor mechanism is extended the grasping member becomes closed.

A nano manipulator comprises a base and a clamping structure. The clamping structure comprises two nanofiber actuators located on the base and spaced from each other. Each of the two nanofiber actuators comprises a composite structure and a vanadium dioxide layer. The composite structure comprises a carbon nanotube wire and an aluminum oxide layer. The aluminum oxide layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotube wire, and the aluminum oxide layer and the carbon nanotube wire are located coaxially with each other. The vanadium dioxide layer is coated on a surface of the composite structure, and the vanadium dioxide layer and the composite structure are located non-coaxially with each other.

A nano manipulator comprises a base and a clamping structure. The clamping structure comprises two nanofiber actuators located on the base and spaced from each other. Each of the two nanofiber actuators comprises a composite structure and a vanadium dioxide layer. The composite structure comprises a carbon nanotube wire and an aluminum oxide layer. The aluminum oxide layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotube wire, and the aluminum oxide layer and the carbon nanotube wire are located coaxially with each other. The vanadium dioxide layer is coated on a surface of the composite structure, and the vanadium dioxide layer and the composite structure are located non-coaxially with each other.

A nano manipulator comprises a base and a clamping structure. The clamping structure comprises two nanofiber actuators located on the base and spaced from each other. Each of the two nanofiber actuators comprises a composite structure and a vanadium dioxide layer. The composite structure comprises a carbon nanotube wire and an aluminum oxide layer. The aluminum oxide layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotube wire, and the aluminum oxide layer and the carbon nanotube wire are located coaxially with each other. The vanadium dioxide layer is coated on a surface of the composite structure, and the vanadium dioxide layer and the composite structure are located non-coaxially with each other.

According to one embodiment, there is taught herein a family of branched variants of the traditional scissor mechanism, in which each stage is formed from more than two arms, joined at their midpoints by a branched rivet. In one embodiment arms in adjacent stages are joined at their endpoints with joints that allow for rotation in a single plane. Each resulting mechanism has one degree of freedom in its motion. It deploys from a compact, collapsed state to an extended state. One embodiment is a grasping member that is mechanically coupled to a scissor mechanism so that when scissor mechanism is collapsed the grasping member is open. Then, when the scissor mechanism is extended the grasping member becomes closed.

The present invention is a multi-functional hand tool that can be used in safely and securely retrieving and transporting fish, pet, and holding an object such as a cigarette or cigar for smoking without finger contact with the cigarette or cigar. The stretchable net of the present invention offers a user with a hoop and net of which the size can be changed by squeezing a pair of handles connected with a spring coil, thus, the user can retrieve large fish and hold the fish with a small opening by releasing the spring coil. The clip of the present invention has a jaw instead of a hoop and net. The jaw can be used to securely hold the cigarette or cigar by squeezing the handles and the user can use the clip for smoking without the user's fingers contacting the cigarette or cigar.

The present invention is a multi-functional hand tool that can be used in safely and securely retrieving and transporting fish, pet, and holding an object such as a cigarette or cigar for smoking without finger contact with the cigarette or cigar. The stretchable net of the present invention offers a user with a hoop and net of which the size can be changed by squeezing a pair of handles connected with a spring coil, thus, the user can retrieve large fish and hold the fish with a small opening by releasing the spring coil. The clip of the present invention has a jaw instead of a hoop and net. The jaw can be used to securely hold the cigarette or cigar by squeezing the handles and the user can use the clip for smoking without the user's fingers contacting the cigarette or cigar.

The invention relates to a shape-variable multiple junction point extendable structure that is configured to extend and contract by coupling a plurality of coupling structures 20. Each of the coupling structures 20 includes two rigid members 21, and a plurality of horizontal coupling parts 40 each attached to a respective one of the rigid members 21. Each of the horizontal coupling parts 40 is capable of being rotatably coupled to each other. In each of the coupling structures 20, the horizontal coupling parts 40 attached to a central part of each of the rigid members 21 are coupled to each other. In each of the coupling structures 20, each of the horizontal coupling parts 40 attached to an end part of each of the rigid members 21 is coupled to the horizontal coupling part 40 of another coupling structure 20.

The invention relates to a shape-variable multiple junction point extendable structure that is configured to extend and contract by coupling a plurality of coupling structures 20. Each of the coupling structures 20 includes two rigid members 21, and a plurality of horizontal coupling parts 40 each attached to a respective one of the rigid members 21. Each of the horizontal coupling parts 40 is capable of being rotatably coupled to each other. In each of the coupling structures 20, the horizontal coupling parts 40 attached to a central part of each of the rigid members 21 are coupled to each other. In each of the coupling structures 20, each of the horizontal coupling parts 40 attached to an end part of each of the rigid members 21 is coupled to the horizontal coupling part 40 of another coupling structure 20.

The invention relates to a shape-variable multiple junction point extendable structure that is configured to extend and contract by coupling a plurality of coupling structures 20. Each of the coupling structures 20 includes two rigid members 21, and a plurality of horizontal coupling parts 40 each attached to a respective one of the rigid members 21. Each of the horizontal coupling parts 40 is capable of being rotatably coupled to each other. In each of the coupling structures 20, the horizontal coupling parts 40 attached to a central part of each of the rigid members 21 are coupled to each other. In each of the coupling structures 20, each of the horizontal coupling parts 40 attached to an end part of each of the rigid members 21 is coupled to the horizontal coupling part 40 of another coupling structure 20.