`
`EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES EX. 1112
`Edwards Lifesciences v. Boston Scientific Scimed
`U.S. Patent No. 6,915,560
`
`
`
`
`
`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international
`applications under the PCI‘.
`
`MR
`MW
`NE
`NL
`N0
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`R0
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SI
`SK
`SN
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`Tl‘
`UA
`US
`UZ
`VN
`
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Niga
`Ncdierlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Fedaation
`Sudan
`Sweden .
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Quad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`United States of Amaica
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Nam
`
`‘
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`Page 2 of 26
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`
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`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgystan
`Democratic People's Republic
`of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakhstan
`'
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`Mali
`Mongolia
`
`Austria
`Australia
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Belarus
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`Cote d'Ivoire
`Cameroon
`Oiina
`Czechoslovakia
`Czech Republic
`Germany
`Denmark
`Spain
`finland
`
`AT
`AU
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BG
`In
`BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`Cl
`CM
`CN
`CS
`CZ
`DE
`DK
`IE
`Fl
`FR
`GA
`
`GB
`GE
`GN
`GR
`EU
`[E
`11'
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`KR
`xz
`LI
`LK
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`ML
`MN
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`Page 2 of 26
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`W0 94/14573
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`PCT/GB93/02658
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`ADJUSTABLE APERTURE APPARATUS
`
`This invention relates to an iris-type arrangement for
`
`providing an adjustable diameter aperture, suitable for use
`
`in tools and the like.
`
`Adjustable spanners comprising a handle and two gripping
`
`jaws, one of which is fixed relative to the handle and the
`
`other of which is moveable relative to the fixed jaw are well
`
`known for loosening or tightening hexagonal—headed nuts or
`
`bolts.
`
`The provision of a moveable jaw allows a single
`
`spanner to be used with a variety of sizes of nuts or bolt
`
`heads.
`
`The provision of an adjusting mechanism also allows
`
`the spanner to be used on metric or imperial size nuts or
`
`bolts.
`
`A disadvantage of such a spanner lies in the spanner
`
`being able to grip a nut or bolt along only two edges
`
`thereof.
`
`In use, it is a common experience for the spanner
`
`to slip off the nut or bolt head.
`
`It is known that superior
`
`is obtained by the use of a ring
`grip on the nut or bolt
`spanner or socket wrench, which grips the nut or bolt on all
`
`edges. However, a separate such spanner or socket is
`
`required for every size of nut or bolt edge. This results in
`
`the need for a large tool set in order to ensure the
`
`availability of a suitably sized socket for every
`
`eventuality. This is even more the case if it is desired to
`
`provide sockets for both metric and imperial sized nuts and
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`bolts.
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`Accordingly,
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`there is a need for an adjustable ring spanner.
`
`or socket wrench.
`
`Such a tool would provide greater
`
`efficiency and improved flexibility of use.
`
`According to the present
`
`invention,
`
`there is provided an
`
`arrangement comprising a plurality of moveable members
`
`defining a polygonal aperture, wherein individual moveable
`
`members are-arranged so that by movement of all
`
`the
`
`the aperture is continuously
`moveable members in concert
`adjustable over a range between a maximum aperture and a
`
`minimum aperture.
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`Preferably, at least one of the moveable members
`
`comprises
`
`an identical prism,
`
`the two similar, equal and parallel
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`faces of which are trapezia and the four edges of which are
`
`parallelograms.
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`Preferably the trapezium faces of the prisms lie in a plane
`
`perpendicular to the axis of the aperture.
`
`Typically,
`
`the moveable members are arranged to completely
`
`enclose the aperture thereby defining a closed aperture.
`
`Preferably the moveable members define a regular polygonal
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`aperture. Preferably,
`
`there are six such moveable members to
`
`provide a hexagonal aperture.
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`Alternatively,
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`the arrangement of moveable members may be
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`discontinuous around the aperture,
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`thereby defining an open
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`aperture, being an aperture having an opening along at
`
`least
`
`one edge of the polygon.
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`Preferably,
`
`the moveable members are laterally retained
`
`within the arrangement by means_of a retaining wall.
`
`Preferably,
`
`the moveable members are restrained from
`
`substantial movement along the axis of the aperture by being
`provided with a channel
`in one or more of their edges,
`the
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`channel being locatable over a rail extending inwardly from
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`the retaining wall.
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`The moveable members then slide between
`
`their maximum and minimum aperture positions along a path
`
`defined by the retaining wall.
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`Alternatively or additionally,
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`the arrangement may be
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`provided with parallel first and second cover means to
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`restrain the moveable members from movement along the axis of
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`the aperture. One of the cover means may include a rotatable
`
`element.
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`One or preferably all of the moveable members may
`
`then be provided with a projection on one face thereof,
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`the
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`projection locating in an elongate aperture provided in the
`
`rotatable element. Rotation of the element causes linear
`
`motion of the moveable member and thus variation in the
`
`aperture dimensions.
`
`The aperture of the arrangement may be varied by means of an
`
`external
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`force applied to one or all moveable members.
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`The arrangement may be provided formed as an integral
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`component of a spanner, or as an attachment being removably
`
`detachable to a separate handle, several such attachments
`
`being available each having a different range of apertures
`
`from another, such as in a socket set.
`
`The arrangement for providing adjustability is also
`
`applicable to many other similar operations where a variable
`
`orifice is needed, such as chucks for drills or lathes, or
`
`valves.
`
`The edge of each member defining the aperture may be provided
`
`with a cutting surface such that a device embodying an
`
`arrangement
`
`in accordance with the present
`
`invention may be
`
`used to cut an object such as a wire or branch of a tree
`
`placed in the aperture.
`
`The face of a number of the moveable members may further be
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`provided with a projection extending outwardly along the axis
`
`of the aperture to provide alternative means for gripping a
`
`workpiece.
`
`The projection may further be provided with a
`
`cutting surface or edge for use as a variable diameter
`
`cutting tool.
`
`The above and other aspects of the present
`
`invention will now
`
`be illustrated in further detail by way of example only with
`
`reference to the accompanying drawings,
`
`in which:—
`
`Figure 1
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`illustrates in plan view a first embodiment
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`in
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`accordance with the present
`
`invention,
`
`in the form of a ring
`
`spanner, at maximum aperture;
`
`Figure 2 i11ustrates the embodiment of Figure 1 at an
`
`intermediate aperture;
`
`Figure 3 is a section a1ong the 1ine.III-III of Figure
`
`1;
`
`Figure 4 i11ustrates.in plan view a second embodiment
`accordance with the present
`invention in the form of an open
`
`in
`
`ended spanner, at maximum aperture;
`
`Figure 5 i11ustrates the embodiment of Figure 4 at an
`
`intermediate aperture;
`
`Figure 6 is a sectional view of a third embodiment
`
`in
`
`accordance with the present
`
`invention in the form of a chuck
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`suitab1e for use in a dri11 or a 1athe;
`
`Figure 7 is an end view of the chuck shown in Figure 6
`
`at maximum aperture;
`
`Figure 8 is an end view of the chuck of Figure 6 at an
`
`intermediate aperture;
`
`Figure 9 is an end view of a fourth embodiment
`
`in
`
`accordance with the present
`
`invention in the form of an
`
`adjustable socket at maximum aperture;
`
`Figure 10 is an end view of the embodiment of Figure 9
`
`at an intermediate aperture;
`
`Figure 11
`
`is a sectional view aiong the 1ine XI—XI of
`
`Figure 9;
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`Figure 12 is a section a1ong 1ine XII—XII of Figure 11;
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`Figure 13 is an end view of a modification of the
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`embodiment of Figure 9 in accordance with the present
`
`invention at maximum aperture; and
`
`Figure 14 is a sectional view along line XIV-XIV of
`
`Figure 13.
`
`A first embodiment
`
`in accordance with the present
`
`invention
`
`is illustrated in Figures 1 to.3 in_the form of a ring
`
`spanner comprising a spanner head shown generally at 10 and
`
`a handle 11. Moveable members in the form of jaw members 12
`
`comprising prisms having trapezium faces 13 define a
`
`polygonal aperture 14.
`
`A peripheral wall 15 serves to retain
`
`the moveable members laterally (with reference to the plane
`
`of the drawing Figure 1) within the spanner head 10. A linear
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`inner face 20 to the wall 15 is provided,
`
`forming a linear
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`‘track along which the jaw members 12 may slide.
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`Each
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`trapezium-faced prism has two parallel edges 21,22, edge 22
`
`being longer than edge 21, and two non-parallel edges 23,24.
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`Both non-parallel edges 23,24 form an angle 9 with edge 22.
`
`In defining a closed hexagonal aperture 14, six prism—shaped
`
`jaw members 12 are used to completely enclose the aperture
`
`and angle 0 is 60°.
`
`The jaw members 12 are retained within
`
`the wall 15 such that a portion of the longer edge 22 of each
`
`jaw member 12 forms the perimeter of the aperture 14.
`
`As can
`
`be seen from the progression from Figure 1
`
`to Figure 2,
`
`the
`
`movement of each jaw member 12 is constrained by the wall 15
`
`such that one non- parallel edge 24 slides along a face 20 of
`
`wall 15 whilst the other non—parallel edge 23 slides along
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`face 22 of an adjacent
`
`jaw member 12. Movement of one member
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`12 causes movement of the adjacent
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`jaw member and thus the
`
`movement of all members 12.
`
`To constrain axial movement of
`
`the jaw members 12 along the axis of the aperture 14,
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`in the
`
`preferred embodiment shown,
`
`the peripheral wall 15 is
`
`provided with a T—shaped cross-section such that a rail 30
`
`(shown by the dashed line) projects inwardly from the inner
`
`face 20 of wall 15. Rail 30.engages in a channel
`
`31 provided
`
`in edges 21 and 24 of each jaw member 12.
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`The dimension of aperture 14 is varied,
`
`in the embodiment
`
`illustrated in Figures 1
`
`to 3, by means of a conventional per
`
`se micrometer screw gauge-type mechanism. Rotational motion
`of handle 11
`is converted into linear motion in a direction
`
`shown by arrow A in Figure 1, of linear element 32.
`
`As
`
`shown,
`
`the linearly moving element 32 terminates with one of
`
`the jaw members
`
`(12A)
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`formed integrally therewith, such that
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`the linear motion of element 32 and thus of jaw member 12A
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`causes each of the other jaw members to slide along the path
`
`defined by each face 20 of the wall 15. This concerted
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`movement of all
`
`jaw members causes the aperture 14 to
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`uniformly reduce in size. Rotation of the handle in the
`
`opposite direction causes face 23 of member 12A to act
`
`against face 22 of jaw member 12F which thus acts against the
`
`other jaw members in the reverse direction thereby enlarging
`
`aperture 14. Alternative drive mechanisms will be apparent
`
`to those skilled in the art, for example a worm screw
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`mechanism as used in a conventional per se adjustable spanner
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`may be equally suitable.
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`In an alternative embodiment (not shown) covers may be
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`applied to each face of the head 10 of the spanner to
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`restrain the prisms from movement along the axis of the
`
`aperture either in addition to or as an alternative to rail
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`30 of the peripheral wall 15.
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`One or both such covers may be
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`formed integrally with.walls_15s however preferably one of
`
`the covers is removably secured to the arrangement
`
`to allow
`
`for the periodic application of a lubricant to the moving
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`surfaces of the apparatus. Additionally, one or both covers
`
`may include a rotatable element, one or more of the jaw
`
`members 12 then being provided with a projection extending
`
`from one or both faces 13 and locatable in an radially
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`elongate aperture in the rotatable element. Rotation of the
`
`element causes linear motion of the jaw members and thus a
`
`variation in the diameter of the aperture.
`
`Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a further embodiment
`
`in accordance
`
`with the present
`
`invention wherein the arrangement of
`
`moveable members is discontinuous around the aperture thereby
`
`defining an open aperture and providing an open spanner
`
`having an opening 46.
`
`The arrangement operates in
`
`substantially the same manner a described above. Rotation of
`
`handle 40 causes linear motion of element 41,
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`the forward
`
`edge of which corresponds generally to the long parallel edge
`
`22 of the jaw member
`
`in the embodiment described above.
`
`Element 41 acts against the adjacent non—parallel edge of
`
`adjacent
`
`jaw member 42A which thus acts on jaw member 428 and
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`thus 42C to reduce the diameter of the aperture.
`
`Jaw member
`
`42C is biased towards its maximum aperture position such that
`
`when the direction of rotation of handle 40 is reversed and
`
`element 41 moves in the direction shown by arrow B in Figure
`
`5,
`
`the biasing of jaw member 42C causes jaw members 42A and
`
`423 to return to their maximum aperture positions by sliding
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`along the inner face 43 of.peripheraJ wall 44. Many biasing
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`means will be apparent to those skilled in the art,
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`for
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`example a spring or an elastic element will be suitable.
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`In
`
`the embodiment shown, element 41 terminates in a generally
`
`claw-shaped form comprising a prism-like portion forming one
`
`face of the aperture, and a tooth—like projection 45
`
`extending therefrom providing a further aperture face to
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`Contact a nut or bolt positioned in the aperture of the
`
`spanner. Projection 45 may be omitted although such a spanner
`
`would then not grip a hexagonal nut or bolt on five sides as
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`is advantageously provided for by projection 45.
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`The embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 is particularly
`
`suitable, by a provision of a cutting surface to the aperture
`
`defining edges of the jaw members 42 and the claw—shaped
`
`element 41,
`
`for use in cutting objects placed in the
`
`aperture.
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`For example, pruning shears, secateurs and wire
`
`cutters may be made with slight modification as appropriate
`
`to the embodiment described above.
`
`Figures 6 to 8 illustrate the application of the present
`
`invention to a chuck, more specifically, a chuck for a drill.
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`The jaws of a chuck 50 are formed by jaw members 51.
`
`The jaw
`
`members 51 move in an ana1ogous manner to the movement of the
`
`jaw members 12 described in respect of the embodiment of
`
`Figures 1
`
`to 3.
`
`A key 52 locates in an aperture provided in
`
`a side wa11 53 of the chuck and engages a rack provided on
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`‘rear face on one of the jaw members 51.
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`As with a
`
`conventiona1 driT1 chuck, a number of such apertures may be
`
`provided each communicating with a different jaw member.
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`Rotation of the key 52 causes Tinear motion of that jaw
`
`member a1ong the path defined by the side wa11 of the chuck
`
`and thus, as described above, movement of aT1 jaw members 51.
`
`Jaw members 51 are retained by and slide a1ong raiTs 55
`
`provided in the side wa1Ts 53 of the chuck. AdditionaT1y a
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`cover may be provided (not shown).
`
`Thus from the point of
`
`view of the user,
`
`the chuck operates in a conventional
`
`manner.
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`The chuck is mountab1e on the arbor of the driTT or
`
`Tathe by means of screw thread 54 provided in the rear waT1
`
`of the chuck 50.
`
`Figure 9 iTTustrates a modification to the spanner head
`
`i11ustrated in Figures 1
`
`to 3 above wherein the jaw members
`
`60 have an L—shaped cross-section thus forming a stepped
`
`aperture comprising an outer aperture 61 of Targer diameter
`
`to that of an inner aperture 62.
`
`That portion of the jaw
`
`member 60 forming the Targer outer aperture 61
`
`is provided
`
`with an extension 63 extending outward1y from an edge of the
`
`jaw member 60 such that it projects over the step of an
`adjacent prism thereby providing a continuous periphery to
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`the larger outer aperture 61. This modification has two main
`
`advantages. Firstly a spanner with such a feature can close
`
`onto a larger nut than is otherwise the case and secondly, as
`
`only the larger outer aperture 61
`
`is used to contact the
`
`workpiece, damage to the sliding edges of the jaw members 60
`
`is avoided.
`
`Although suitable for use in any of the embodiments described
`
`above,
`
`the stepped jaw principle is particularly suitable for
`
`embodiments designed to replace conventional socket sets.
`
`Such a mechanism for operating the jaws is illustrated more
`
`clearly in Figure 11.
`
`The conventional square section driver
`
`on the lever (not shown)
`
`locates in an aperture 64 in the
`
`rear end of the body 65 of the socket shown generally at 70.
`
`The body 65 of the socket extends towards the front of the
`
`socket and forms the peripheral wall
`
`71 along the inside face
`
`of which the jaw members 60 slide.
`
`As described above,
`
`jaw
`
`members 60 slide along a rail 72 projecting inwardly from the
`
`peripheral walls 71. At
`
`least one, preferably all,
`
`jaw
`
`members 60 are provided with a projection 73 extending
`
`outwardly from the rear face thereof.
`
`Each projection 73
`
`passes through an axially elongate aperture 74 in the body 65
`
`of the socket,
`
`the aperture 74 being coplanar with the
`
`stepped aperture.
`
`The projection 73 then locates in a
`
`radially elongate aperture 75 provided in a collar-76
`
`rotatably mounted around the body 65 of the socket.
`
`The
`
`collar 76 is rotatably mounted on the body 65 of the socket
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`70 by means of a screw thread.
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`In use,
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`the size of thej
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`aperture is varied by rotation of collar 76 about the body 65
`
`of the socket. Rotation of the collar 76 forces rotational
`
`movement of projection 73 which as the jaw members 60 are
`
`constrained to move linearly, causes jaw members 60 to slide
`
`along peripheral wall
`
`71 of the socket 70 as projections 73
`
`also move radially outwardly along elongate aperture 75.
`
`In
`
`the embodiment shown, collan 76-has.a two piece structure
`
`comprising a front collar element 80 having the elongate
`
`aperture 75 through which projection 73 locates; and a rear
`
`collar element 81.
`
`Each element
`
`is screw threaded onto the
`
`body of the socket
`
`in the same sense - with a left or right
`
`handed screw thread.
`
`The two collar elements are rotated
`
`together to adjust the aperture 61
`
`to the appropriate size,
`
`Rear collar element 81 can then be further rotated in the
`
`same direction to lock front element 80 and thus the aperture
`
`at the chosen size. Alternatively,
`
`rear collar element 81
`
`may be reverse rotated, cooperating portions 82 provided on
`
`both elements thus engaging each other and again acting to
`
`lock the aperture at the chosen size.
`
`If the square section
`
`driver onto which aperture 64 is located forms a part of a
`
`ratchet mechanism it will be necessary for the operator to
`
`grip the peripheral wall 71 whilst rotating collar 76 to
`
`adjust the diameter of the aperture.
`
`The further embodiment shown in Figures 13 and 14 is again
`
`illustrated in the form of a socket but is suitable for
`
`incorporation into a spanner.
`
`The arrangement
`
`is generally
`
`the same as Figs. 9 to 12 but with the addition of a stud 90
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`13
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`to the front face of each jaw member.
`
`As with the stepped
`
`jaw principle,
`
`the use of subs 90 allow a larger nut or bolt
`
`to be turned and protects the sliding surfaces from damage by
`
`the workpiece. Moreover,
`
`the'studs 90 provide that the
`
`workpiece,
`
`for example a hexagonal nut,
`
`is contacted only
`
`along its edges.
`
`Thus damage to the corners of the nut
`
`is
`
`avoided.
`
`The adjustable aperture apparatus described above is suitable
`
`for incorporation into many applications where the gripping
`
`or holding of a workpiece or other tool
`
`is required or where
`
`a crushing action is required, for example as nut crackers.
`
`By way of example,
`
`the apparatus can be used in drill chucks,
`
`ring spanners, open ended spanners, socket spanners, mole
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`wrenches, pipe wrenches,
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`laboratory retort clamps and bench
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`vices.
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`The arrangement may also be used in the field of
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`robotics to replace the conventional single axis pinching
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`action of a robotic arm with a two axis gripping action.
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`The face of the moveable members may be provided with a
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`grinding surface such as diamond or titanium nitride.
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`Alternatively such a surface may be provided on the front
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`edge of studs 90, or the studs may be provided with a cutting
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`edge.
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`Such devices are suitable for grinding or milling
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`workpieces.
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`A single tool
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`is thus suitable, by adjustment of
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`the aperture, for milling a wide range of surface sizes.
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`The closed aperture is also highly suitable for inclusion as‘
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`the hitch in a ball and hitch joint as is conventionally used
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`for attaching a trailer or caravan to a car.‘ As such a hitch
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`completely encloses the stem below the ball of the joint a
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`considerably more secure coupling can be provided.
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`The arrangement
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`is equally.appljcable with suitable
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`modifications by those skilled in the art to use in valves or
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`as a replacement for the conventional
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`leaf iris on a camera,
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`in which case the apparatus could be used to provide both the
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`aperture and shutter control.
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`By suitable modification the
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`arrangement can be used in the field of architecture as for
`example adjustable window shutters, and in the chemical
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`engineering and pipeline distribution fields as for example
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`an in-pipe adjustable diameter grinding machine.
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`The
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`grinding machine cleans the inside of the pipe.
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`CLAIMS:
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`PCT/GB93/02658
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`15
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`1;
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`An arrangement comprising a plurality of moveable
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`members defining a polygonal aperture, wherein the aperture
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`is continuously adjustable over a range between a minimum and
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`a maximum aperture,
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`individual members being arranged to move
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`between their maximum and minimum aperture positions with a
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`linear motion, with all
`
`the moveable members acting in
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`concert .
`
`2.
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`An arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the
`
`moveable members are arranged to completely enclose the
`
`aperture thereby defining a closed polygonal aperture and at
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`least a number of the moveable members each comprises an
`
`identical prism the two similar, equal and parallel faces of
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`which are trapezia and the four edges of which are
`
`parallelograms.
`
`3.
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`An arrangement according to Claim 2'wherein the
`
`trapezium faces of the prisms lie in a plane perpendicular to
`
`the axis of the aperture.
`
`4,
`
`An arrangement according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein
`
`there are six moveable members defining an hexagonal
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`aperture.
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`5.
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`An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein the
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`arrangement of moveable members is discontinuous around the
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`aperture,
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`thereby defining an open aperture.
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`6.
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`An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1
`
`to 5
`
`wherein the moveable members are.laterally retained within
`
`the arrangement by a retaining wall.
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`7.
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`An arrangement according to Claim 6 wherein the inner
`
`face of the retaining wall
`
`is provided with an inwardly
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`projecting guide rail and each moveable member
`
`is provided
`
`with a channel on at
`
`least one edge thereof engaging the
`
`guide rail.
`
`8.
`
`An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein
`
`the aperture of the arrangement is varied by means of an
`
`external
`
`force applied to one of the moveable members.
`
`9.
`
`An arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1
`
`to 8
`
`wherein the arrangement
`
`forms a spanner.
`
`10.
`
`An arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1
`
`to 4 or
`
`6 to 8 wherein the arrangement forms a chuck for a drill or
`
`lathe.
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`—
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`PCT/GB93/02658
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`30
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`31
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`Fig 3
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`Page 19 of 26
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`WO 94/14573
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`PCT/GB93I02658
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`Page 20 of 26
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`W0 94/14573
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`PCT/GB93l02658
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`.wbF
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`9
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`Fig 10
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`_SUB5T1TUTE SHEET
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`Page 22 of 26
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`Page 22 of 26
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`W0 94/14573
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`PCT/GB93l02658
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`~ Fig 12
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`Fig 13
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`V-' -
`43?.-\____’l.
`\-3
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`g
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`Fig 14
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`
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`lnten
`
`ial Application No
`
`PCT/GB 93/02658
`
`I A. CLASSH-'lCA'[‘[ON OF SUBJECT MATTER
`IPC 5
`B25B13/44
`B25B13/18
`
`B23B31/12'
`
`According to lntemauonal Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and [PC
`8. FIELDS SEARCHED
`
`Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols)
`IPC 5
`B25B B23B
`
`Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched
`
`Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practical, search terms used)
`
`C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`
`Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages
`
`Relevant to claim No.
`
`FR,A,1 332 313 (B.R.ZANARDELLI) 4 June
`1963
`
`see claims; figures
`
`DE,C,879 192 (R.T.ELSEN) 2 October 1952
`see page 2,
`line 120 - page 3,
`line 18;’
`figure 6
`
`US,A,1 432 713 (W.W.MARSHALL) 17 October
`1922
`see page 1,
`figures 1,2
`
`line 13 - line 21; claim;
`
`FR,A,623 485 (J.VAILLANT) 21 March 1927
`see claims; figures
`
`f/'-
`
`E Further documents are listed in the continuation of box C.
`' Special categories of cited documents :
`
`'A' document defining the general state of the art which is not
`considered to be of particular relevance
`‘E’ earlier document but published on or after the international
`filing date
`‘I.‘ document which may throw doubts on priority clairn(s) or
`which is cited to establish the publication date of another
`citation or other special reason (as specified)
`'0‘ document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibiuon or
`other means
`
`‘P’ document published prior to the international filing date but
`later than the priority date claimed
`
`Date of the actual completion of the international search
`
`5 April 1994
`
`Name and mailing address of the ISA
`European Patent Office, P.B. 5818 Patcntlaan 2
`Ni. - 2280 HV Rijswijk
`Tel. (+ 3l-70) 340-2040, TX. 31 651 epo nl,
`Faic (+ 3l-70) 340-3016
`
`Form PCT/ISA,/210 (second sheet) (July I992)
`
`E Patent farriily members are listed in annex.
`
`'1" later document published alter the international filing date
`or priority date and not in conflict with the application but
`cited to understand die principle or theory underlying the
`invention
`
`‘X’ document of particular relevance; the claimed invention
`cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to
`involve an inventive step when the document is taken alone
`‘Y’ document of particular relevance; the claimed invention
`cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the
`document is combined with one or more other such docu-
`in
`e art.
`meats, such combination being obvious to a person skilled
`'81‘ document member of the same patent family
`
`Date of mailing of the international search report
`‘I 9.
`ill}. 9‘!
`
`Authorized officer
`
`Majerus, H
`
`page
`
`r 2
`
`1
`
`°
`
`Page 24 of 26
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`Page 24 of 26
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`
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`
`
`Inter
`
`nal Application No
`
`PCT/GB 93/02658
`
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`C.(Continuation) DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`
`Citation ofdocument, with indication, where appropriate. ofthe relevantpassages
`
`
`
`US,A,4 454 657 (M YASUMI) 19 June 1984
`see column 5, 1ine 48 - 1ine 57; figures
`2,3,10
`
`US,A,3 141 363 (L.J.FERRY) 21 July 1964
`see figures 4,6
`
`
`
`
`Form PCT/ISA,-‘2lD (conunuauon of second sheet) (July I992)
`
`page 2 of 2
`
`Page 25 of 26
`
`Page 25 of 26
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`
`
`
`
`
`Intcx
`
`nal Application No
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL" SEARCH REPORT
`_
`.
`mformauon on patcnt farmly members
`
`
`
`Patent document
`cited in search report
`
`FR-A-1332313
`
`Publication
`date
`
`Patent family
`member(s)
`
`Publication
`date
`
`
`
`
`
`Form PCT/ISA/210 (patent family annex) (July I992)
`
`Page 26 of 26
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`Page 26 of 26