GRIPPING DEVICE

Abstract

A gripping device comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a tip. The second arm opposes at least a portion of the first arm and has a proximal end and a distal end operable to shift toward the first arm. The tip is shiftably coupled to the distal end of the second arm so that the tip is operable to longitudinally shift between a retracted position in which the tip is relatively closer to the proximal end of the second arm and an extended position in which the tip is relatively farther from the proximal end of the second arm. The tip enables a user to engage an object and shift so that the object can be rotated while held by the gripping device.

Claims

1. A gripping device comprising: a first arm; a second arm opposing at least a portion of the first arm and having a proximal end and a distal end operable to shift toward the first arm; and a tip shiftably coupled to the distal end of the second arm so that the tip is operable to longitudinally shift between a retracted position in which the tip is relatively closer to the proximal end of the second arm and an extended position in which the tip is relatively farther from the proximal end of the second arm.

2. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the second arm includes a slot, and the tip comprises a protruding member that extends into the slot of the distal end of the second arm.

3. The gripping device of claim 2, wherein the tip includes a tab that maintains the protruding member within the slot.

4. The gripping device of claim 3, wherein the distal end of the second arm includes an outer surface, the protruding member extends through the slot to the outer surface, and the tab includes a bottom surface that faces the outer surface of the distal end of the second arm and a top surface opposite to the bottom surface that faces away from the outer surface of the distal end of the second arm.

5. The gripping device of claim 4, wherein the top surface of the tab comprises a gripping structure.

6. The gripping device of claim 5, wherein the gripping structure comprises a concave surface.

7. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein the second arm is biased toward a position at a distance from the first arm.

8. The gripping device of claim 7, wherein the first arm includes a proximal end attached to the proximal end of the second arm.

9. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein the tip is a second tip, and the first arm comprises a proximal end and a distal end, further comprising a first tip shiftably coupled to the distal end of the first arm so that the first tip is operable to longitudinally shift between a retracted position in which the first tip is relatively closer to the proximal end of the first arm and an extended position in which the first tip is relatively farther from the proximal end of the first arm.

10. A gripping device comprising: a first arm having a proximal end and a distal end; a second arm having a proximal end fixed relative to the proximal end of the first arm and a distal end spaced apart from and opposing the distal end of the first arm, the distal end of the second arm being operable to shift toward the distal end of the first arm; a first tip shiftably coupled to the distal end of the first arm so that the first tip is operable to longitudinally shift between a retracted position in which the first tip is relatively closer to the proximal end of the first arm and an extended position in which the first tip is relatively farther from the proximal end of the first arm; and a second tip shiftably coupled to the distal end of the second arm so that the second tip is operable to longitudinally shift between a retracted position in which the second tip is relatively closer to the proximal end of the second arm and an extended position in which the second tip is relatively farther from the proximal end of the second arm.

11. The gripping device of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the first arm includes a slot, and the first tip comprises a protruding member that extends into the slot of the distal end of the first arm and a tab that maintains the protruding member within the slot.

12. The gripping device of claim 11, wherein the distal end of the second arm includes a slot, and the second tip comprises a protruding member that extends into the slot of the distal end of the second arm and a tab that maintains the protruding member of the second tip within the slot of the distal end of the second arm.

13. The gripping device of claim 12, wherein the tab of the first tip includes an inner surface facing a direction toward the second arm and an outer surface facing away from the inner surface and including a gripping structure.

14. The gripping device of claim 13, wherein the gripping structure comprises a concave surface.

15. The gripping device of claim 14, wherein the tab of the second tip includes an inner surface facing a direction toward the first arm and an outer surface facing away from the inner surface of the second tip and including a gripping structure.

16. A gripping device comprising: a first arm having a proximal end and a distal end; a second arm opposing the first arm, the distal end of the first arm being operable to shift toward the second arm; a third arm opposing the second arm; and a tip shiftably coupled to the distal end of the first arm so that the tip is operable to longitudinally shift between a retracted position in which the tip is relatively closer to the proximal end of the first arm and an extended position in which the tip is relatively farther from the proximal end of the first arm.

17. The gripping device of claim 16, further comprising a fourth arm opposing the second arm and spaced laterally from the third arm to define a slot through which the first arm can pass toward the second arm.

18. The gripping device of claim 16, wherein the first arm is biased toward a first position at which the distal end of the first arm is at a first distance from the second arm, the third arm includes a proximal end proximate to the proximal end of the first arm and a distal end, the third arm is biased toward a second position at which the distal end of the third arm is at a second distance from the second arm, and the second distance is shorter than the first distance.

19. The gripping device of claim 18, wherein the second arm includes an inner surface facing the first arm and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, further comprising a protruding member extending from the third arm past the outer surface of the second arm.

20. The gripping device of claim 19, wherein the first arm is biased at a first threshold force, and the third arm is biased at a second threshold force that is greater than the first threshold force.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gripping device constructed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the gripping device of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side exploded view of the gripping device of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 4A is a side view of the gripping device of FIG. 1 with its tips at an engaged position;

[0016] FIG. 4B is a side view of the gripping device of FIG. 1 with its tips at an open position;

[0017] FIG. 4C is a side view of the gripping device of FIG. 1 with an upper tip in an extended position and a lower tip in a retracted position;

[0018] FIG. 4D is a side view of the gripping device of FIG. 1 with an upper tip in a retracted position and a lower tip in an extended position;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a gripping device constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the gripping device of FIG. 5 engaging an object at a first position;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the gripping device of FIG. 5 engaging the object at the first position;

[0022] FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the gripping device of FIG. 5 with another arm engaging the object at the first position;

[0023] FIG. 9A is a side view of the gripping device of FIG. 5 with one or more of the arms disengaging the object;

[0024] FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the gripping device of FIG. 5 with one or more of the arms disengaging the object;

[0025] FIG. 10A is a side perspective view of the gripping device of FIG. 5 with one or more of the arms rotating the object to a second position;

[0026] FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the gripping device of FIG. 5 with one or more of the arms rotating the object to a second position;

[0027] FIG. 11 is an elevated exploded view of the gripping device of FIG. 5; and

[0028] FIG. 12 is lowered exploded view of the gripping device of FIG. 5.

[0029] The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0030] The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0031] In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

[0032] Turning to FIG. 1, a gripping device 10 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The illustrated gripping device 10 operates similar to a pair of tweezers biased in an open position but can operate in other manners without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the gripping device 10 may be biased in a closed, gripping position. The gripping device 10 is operable to engage an object 12 and rotate the object 12 while maintain the grip on the object 12. The gripping device 10 comprises a pair of opposing arms 14, 16 and a pair of corresponding tips 18, 20 movably attached to the opposing arms 14, 16.

[0033] Turning to FIG. 2, the opposing arms 14, 16 each comprise a proximal end 22, 24, a distal end 26, 28, and slots 30, 32 for receiving portions of the tips 18, 20. The opposing arms 14, 16 may be connected to one another at their proximal ends 22, 24 and may be shaped so that their distal ends 26, 28 are biased at spaced apart positions relative to one another to present a gap between them. The opposing arms 14, 16 may be made of resilient material, such as metal, plastic, or the like. However, the opposing arms 14, 16 may be biased so that the distal ends 26, 28 are at any position, including proximal to one another, or in contact with one another, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, while the depicted arms 14, 16 are biased via their shape and resiliency, they may be biased any number of ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, a biasing element, such as a spring or the like, may be used to bias the arms 14, 16.

[0034] The slots 30, 32 are formed longitudinally between the proximal ends 22, 24 and the distal ends 26, 28. The slots 30, 32 may be formed so that they extend from outer surfaces 34, 36 to inner surfaces 38, 40 of the arms 14, 16.

[0035] Turning to FIG. 3, the tips 18, 20 are movably connected to the distal ends 26, 28 of the arms 14, 16 and longitudinally shiftable relative to the distal ends 26, 28 between retracted positions in which the tips 18, 20 are relatively closer to the distal ends 26, 28 and extended positions in which the tips 18, 20 are relatively farther from the distal ends 26, 28. The tips 18, 20 comprise jaw portions 42, 44, attachments portions 46, 48, and tabs 50, 52. The tips 18, 20 may be made of resilient material, such as metal, plastic, or the like. In one or more embodiments, the tips 18, 20 are made of different material than the opposing arms 14, 16. The jaw portions 42, 44 grip the object and extend past the distal ends 26, 28 of the arms 14, 16 to which they are respectively attached.

[0036] The attachment portions 46, 48 include protruding members 54, 56, or other protrusions/connecting structures, that extend into the slots (depicted in FIG. 2) of their respective arms 14, 16 and connect the attachment portions 46, 48 to the tabs 50, 52. The protruding members 54, 56 are operable to move within the slots 30, 32. As shown, the protruding members 54, 56 may be elongated connecting structures with widths that are substantially similar to the widths of the slots and lengths that are shorter than the lengths of the slots. The tabs 50, 52 and attachment portions 46, 48 may be wider than the widths of the slots to keep the protruding members 54, 56 within the slots 30, 32. In some embodiments, the height of the protruding members 54, 56 may be substantially the same as the thickness of the arms 14, 16. The tabs 50, 52 may include concave gripping surfaces 58, 60 which help a user securely hold and slide the tabs 50, 52.

[0037] Turning to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the arms 14, 16 may be shiftable relative to one another and biased in the position depicted in FIG. 4B. As shown in FIG. 4A, when forces (indicated by the arrows) are applied to the gripping surfaces 58, 60 of the tips 18, 20, the tabs 50, 52 press against the distal ends 26, 28 of the arms 14, 16 so that the gripping device 10 is in its squeezing or engaging position for holding an object.

[0038] Turning to FIGS. 4C and 4D, when pressure is applied to the gripping surfaces 58, 60 in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal lengths of the arms 14, 16 (indicated by the arrows), the tips 18, 20 shift relative to the arms 14, 16. The tips 18, 20 may be operable to shift so that their jaw portions 42, 44 are relatively farther away from the distal ends 26, 28 of the arms 14, 16. The tips 18, 20 may be operable to also shift so that their jaw portions 42, 44 are relatively closer to the distal ends 26, 28 of the arms 14, 16. Further, each tip 18, 20 is configured to shift independently of the other tip 18, 20.

[0039] A gripping device 10A constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5-12. The gripping device 10A may comprise substantially similar components as gripping device 10; thus, the components of gripping device 10A that correspond to similar components in gripping device 10 have an ‘A’ appended to their reference numerals. The principal difference between gripping device 10A and gripping device 10 is that the gripping device 10A comprises third and fourth arms 17A, 19A biased in a closed position relative to arm 16A to enable an object 12A to be gripped between the second arm 16A and the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A and rotated by arm 14A.

[0040] Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6, the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A may be laterally spaced apart from one another so that the first arm 14A can move between them. The tab 52A is attached to the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A instead of arm 16A so that the tab 52A is operable to push the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A from their closed positions. The tab 52A may include a pair of protruding members 56A, 57A that extend through slots 32A, 33A of arm 16A and attach to the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A.

[0041] Turning to FIG. 7, the object 12A may be gripped between the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A and the arm 16A. The object 12A may be gripped due to the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A being biased toward the second arm 16A. As shown in FIG. 8, the tabs 50A, 52A may be squeezed (as indicated by the arrows) so that the first arm 14A, which is biased away from the second arm 16A, is pushed toward arms 16A, 17A, 19A so that the tip 18A (shown in FIG. 7) engages the object 12A. The force that biases arm 14A and arm 16A apart from one another may be relatively weaker than the force that biases the second arm 16A and the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A toward one another. When the tabs 50A, 52A are squeezed with sufficient force, the tab 52A overcomes the force biasing the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A toward the second arm 16A so that the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A shift away from the object 12A, and the object 12A is gripped by the second arm 16A and the tip 18A of the first arm 14A, as depicted in FIGS. 9A and 9B. Turning to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the tab 50A may be pressed longitudinally relative to the arm 14A (as indicated by the arrow) so that the tip 18A rotates the object 12A. The squeezing force on the tabs 50A, 52A may be released so that the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A and the second arm 16A re-engage the object 12A at its new orientation due to the biasing force pulling the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A and arm 16A together.

[0042] Turning to FIGS. 11 and 12, exploded views of the gripping device 10A are depicted. As shown, the tip 18A is shiftably connected to the distal end 26A of the first arm 14A. The tip 18A includes the protruding member 54A (depicted in FIG. 12) that extends through the slot 30A of the first arm 14A and connects to the tab 50A. The third and fourth arms 17A, 19A define a slot 59A through which the first arm 14A and the tip 18A can shift. The second arm 16A includes an inner surface 62A facing the first arm 14A and an outer surface 64A (depicted in FIG. 12) opposite the inner surface 62A. The tab 52A is positioned on the outer surface 64A side of the second arm 16A (as depicted in FIGS. 5-10B), and the protruding members 56A, 57A extend from the tab 52A through the slots 32A, 33A and past the inner surface 62A to the third and fourth arms 17A, 19A.

Additional Considerations

[0043] In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

[0044] Although the present application sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth in any subsequent regular utility patent application. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical. Numerous alternative embodiments may be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.

[0045] Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein.

[0046] As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0047] The patent claims at the end of this patent application are not intended to be construed under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless traditional means-plus-function language is expressly recited, such as “means for” or “step for” language being explicitly recited in the claim (s).

[0048] Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.