Patent ID: 7435032
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: B64G,E05D,E05Y,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A resilient joint for rotating an attached member, comprising: a flexure comprised of a resilient material; the flexure having a neutral shape; the flexure being attached to a structural node and also to a rigid member; a restorative moment being created in the flexure when the flexure is deformed from the neutral shape with the restorative moment tending to return the flexure to the neutral shape; the node and the member having mating surfaces that are spaced apart when the flexure is in the neutral shape and abut when the flexure is deformed by being bent to a maximum angle; the flexure being attached inside a node cavity in the node with the node cavity having a first shaped surface and the flexure also being attached inside a member cavity in the member with the member cavity having a second shaped surface; the flexure abutting both the first and second shaped surfaces when the flexure is bent to the maximum angle; the member being in a neutral member position when the flexure is in the neutral shape and in a compact position when the flexure is bent to the maximum angle; and fastening means for holding the member in the compact position when the fastening means is engaged, whereby: the member is restrained from returning to the neutral member position when the fastening means is engaged, and returns to the neutral member position when the fastening means is disengaged.