Claims
- 1. A joint member for interconnecting a first member to a second member, said joint member comprising:
an input member; an output member; a first group of at least three generally-planar beam members fixedly coupled to said input member, each of said first group of at least three generally planar beam members being positioned generally parallel to another of said first group of at least three generally planar beam members; a second group of at least three generally-planar beam members fixedly coupled to said output member, each of said second group of at least three generally planar beam members being positioned generally parallel to another of said second group of at least three generally planar beam members; and a first pair of connecting members coupling said first group of said at least three generally planar beam members with said second group of said at least three generally planar beam members.
- 2. The joint member according to claim 1, further comprising:
a third group of at least three generally-planar beam members fixedly coupled to said input member, each of said third group of at least three generally planar beam members being positioned generally parallel to another of said third group of at least three generally planar beam members; a fourth group of at least three generally-planar beam members fixedly coupled to said output member, each of said fourth group of at least three generally planar beam members being positioned generally parallel to another of said fourth group of at least three generally planar beam members; and a second pair of connecting members coupling said third group of said at least three generally planar beam members with said fourth group of said at least three generally planar beam members.
- 3. The joint member according to claim 2 wherein said third and fourth groups of at least three generally planar beam members are generally arranged orthogonal to said first and second groups of at least three generally planar beam members.
- 4. The joint member according to claim 1 wherein a ratio of an axial stiffness of the joint member to a lateral stiffness of the joint member is greater than about 40:1.
- 5. The joint member according to claim 4 wherein said ratio of axial stiffness of the joint member to lateral stiffness of the joint member is greater than about 70:1.
- 6. The joint member according to claim 1 wherein said input member and said output member are coaxial.
- 7. A joint member for interconnecting a first member to a second member, said joint member comprising:
an input member; an output member; a generally U-shaped member coupled to one of said input member and said output member; and a beam member coupled to the other of said input member and said output member at generally a midpoint thereof, said beam member having opposing ends fixedly coupled to opposing ends of said generally U-shaped member.
- 8. The joint member according to claim 7 wherein said beam member comprises:
a pair of planar members joined along a longitudinal axis thereof.
- 9. The joint member according to claim 7 wherein a ratio of a bending stiffness of the joint member to a torsional stiffness of the joint member is greater than about 25:1.
- 10. The joint member according to claim 7 wherein a ratio of an axial stiffness of the joint member to a torsional stiffness of the joint member is greater than about 10,000:1.
- 11. A joint member for interconnecting a first member to a second member, said joint member comprising:
an input member; an output member; a first group of at least three beam members coupled to and extending radially outwardly from said input member; a second group of at least three beam members coupled to and extending radially outwardly from said output member; and at least three connecting members each fixedly coupling one of said first group of at least three beam members to a corresponding one of said second group of at least three beam members.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/379,492, filed on May 9, 2002. The disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT
[0002] This invention was made with Government support under NSF Grant No. EEC95-92125 awarded by the NSF Engineering Research Center. The Government has certain rights in this invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60379492 |
May 2002 |
US |