Joseph P Kenahan

US Patent:

20130206957, Aug 15, 2013

Filed:

Feb 14, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/767840

Inventors:

Andrew E. Kalman - San Francisco CA, US
Eli David Bashevkin - Bennington VT, US
Joseph Patrick Kenahan - Riverside IL, US
Brian T. Mahlstedt - Redwood City CA, US
Brian Thomas Manning - Marquette MI, US

International Classification:

F16M 1/00

US Classification:

248660

Abstract:

A positioning system is provided for orienting a payload. In some embodiments, the system may continuously orient the payload relative to another object without twisting connections of the payload. The positioning system may be provided with a base, a rotating member, a pivoting member, an anti-twist member, and a coupling apparatus. The rotating member may be rotably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis. The pivoting member may be pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis. The anti-twist member may be rotably mounted to the pivoting member. The coupling apparatus may rotationally couple the anti-twist member to the base such that the rotational orientation of the anti-twist member relative to the base remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base.

US Patent:

20160176547, Jun 23, 2016

Filed:

Jul 21, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/805064

Inventors:

Andrew E. KALMAN - San Francisco CA, US
Eli David BASHEVKIN - Bennington VT, US
Joseph Patrick KENAHAN - Riverside IL, US
Brian T. MAHLSTEDT - Redwood City CA, US
Brian Thomas MANNING - Marquette MI, US

International Classification:

B64G 1/64
F16D 3/10
B64G 1/44
F16D 3/18
B64G 1/10

Abstract:

A positioning system is provided for orienting a payload. In some embodiments, the system may continuously orient the payload relative to another object without twisting connections of the payload. The positioning system may be provided with a base, a rotating member, a pivoting member, an anti-twist member, and a coupling apparatus. The rotating member may be rotably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis. The pivoting member may be pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis. The anti-twist member may be rotably mounted to the pivoting member. The coupling apparatus may rotationally couple the anti-twist member to the base such that the rotational orientation of the anti-twist member relative to the base remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base.