Actuator

Abstract

An actuator mechanism is defined by a lever arm that is integrally connected to resilient spring members. The lever arm is movable between first and second positions and is normally biased into the first position in which the actuator may engage an adjacent member, for example to provide a fluid-tight sealing relationship of to lock the adjacent member in a stationary position relative to the lever arm. Movement of the lever arm into the second position releases the engagement with the adjacent member. In one embodiment the actuator is defined by a pair of overlapping, oppositely oriented slots cut into a monolithic member to define both the lever arm and the spring members. The lever arm rocks in a teeter-toter fashion when actuated and both ends of the lever arm can be utilized to perform work.

1 . An actuator comprising: 
 a first body having a U shaped slot cut therethrough to define a lever arm having an actuating portion and a lifting portion, said lever arm movable between a resting position and a lifting position;    a second body defining a fulcrum;    the first body attached to the second body in a position such when the lever arm is moved from the resting position to the lifting position the lever arm pivots on the fulcrum to cause the lifting portion to lift.    
     
     
         2 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the U shaped slot further defines a pair of spring arms integrally connected to the lever arm on opposite sides thereof, and wherein the spring arms normally urge the lever arm into the resting position.  
     
     
         3 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the U shaped slot defines an open end and a closed end, the first body comprises a plate having a first end adjacent the closed end and a second end adjacent the open end, and the first end of the plate is attached to the second body.  
     
     
         4 . The actuator of  claim 3  wherein the actuating portion is the portion of the lever arm located interiorly of the closed end of the U shaped slot.  
     
     
         5 . The actuator of  claim 4  wherein the second body further comprises an opening located in a position such that the actuating portion of the lever arm is movable into the opening.  
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 5  wherein the opening includes and edge portion that defines the fulcrum.  
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 3  wherein the plate further comprises first and second spring arms defined by the U shaped slot and located outwardly of said U shaped slot, said spring arms integrally connected to said lever arm at the open end of the slot.  
     
     
         8 . The actuator of  claim 1  wherein the U shaped slot defines an open end and a closed end, the first body comprises a plate having a first end adjacent the closed end and a second end adjacent the open end, and the lever arm is attached to the second body.  
     
     
         9 . The actuator of  claim 8  wherein the first end of the plate defines the actuating portion.  
     
     
         10 . The actuator of  claim 9  wherein the second body further comprises an opening located in a position such that the actuating portion is movable into the opening.  
     
     
         11 . The actuator of  claim 10  wherein the opening includes an edge portion that defines the fulcrum.  
     
     
         12 . The actuator of  claim 8  wherein the plate further comprises first and second spring arms defined by the U shaped slot and located outwardly of said U shaped slot on opposite lateral sides thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The actuator of  claim 3  further comprising a first opening in the second body located in a position such that the lever arm is movable in a first direction into the first opening; and whereby moving the lever arm into the first opening in the first direction causes the second end of the plate to move in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.  
     
     
         14 . The actuator of  claim 13  wherein the first opening includes an edge portion that defines the fulcrum.  
     
     
         15 . The actuator of  claim 13  further comprising a second opening in the second body located in a position such that the second end of the plate is movable into the second opening in the first direction, and whereby moving the second end of the plate into the second opening in the first direction causes the lever arm to move in the second direction.  
     
     
         16 . The actuator of  claim 15  wherein the second opening includes an edge portion that defines a fulcrum.  
     
     
         17 . An actuating mechanism comprising a first body of resilient material having a continuous slot cut therethrough, the slot being substantially U shaped and defined by two opposed elongate slot portions interconnected at one end by a base slot portion and the slot having a closed end at the base slot portion and an open end opposite the closed end; wherein the material bounded by the slot defines a lever arm and the material exteriorly of the elongate slot portions defines first and second spring arms.  
     
     
         18 . The actuating mechanism of  claim 17  wherein the first body defines an actuating portion and a lifting portion so that force applied to the actuating portion in a first direction causes the lifting portion to move in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.  
     
     
         19 . The actuating mechanism of  claim 18  wherein the first body is attached to a second body defining a fulcrum, the lever arm defines the actuating portion, and the first body is attached to the second in a position such that when the lever arm is moved in the first direction toward the second body the lever arm pivots on the fulcrum and the lifting portion moves in the second direction.  
     
     
         20 . The actuating mechanism of  claim 19  including an opening formed in the second body in a position such that the lever arm is movable into the opening when the lever arm is moved in the first direction.  
     
     
         21 . The actuating mechanism of  claim 20  wherein an edge of the opening defines the fulcrum.  
     
     
         22 . The actuating mechanism of  claim 21  wherein the first body comprises a plate member having a first end adjacent the closed end of the slot and a second end adjacent the open end of the slot, and wherein the first body is attached to the second body at the first end thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The actuating mechanism of  claim 21  wherein the first body comprises a plate member having a first end adjacent the closed end of the slot and a second end adjacent the open end of the slot, and wherein the lever arm is attached to the second body.  
     
     
         24 . The actuating mechanism of  claim 18  wherein the first body comprises a plate member having a first end adjacent the closed end of the slot and a second end adjacent the open end of the slot, and the first body is attached to a second body defining a fulcrum so that the first end of the plate member defines the actuating portion and the second end of the plate member defines the lifting portion, and the first body is attached to the second in a position such that when the first end of the plate member is moved in the first direction toward the second body the second end of the plate member moves in the second direction.  
     
     
         25 . The actuating mechanism of  claim 24  wherein the lever arm is attached to the second body at the closed end of the slot.  
     
     
         26 . An actuator comprising: 
 a plate of resilient material;    a pair of slots cut through the plate from an edge of the plate and extending into and terminating in an interior portion of the plate, said slots cooperatively defining a lever arm having an actuating portion between the slots, a first spring arm outwardly of one slot, a second spring arm outwardly of the second slot.    
     
     
         27 . The actuator of  claim 26  wherein each spring arm is attached to a second body.  
     
     
         28 . The actuator of  claim 27  wherein the second body includes an opening in a position such that the actuating portion is movable into the opening.  
     
     
         29 . The actuator of  claim 28  wherein the opening includes an edge portion underlying the lever arm intermediate along its length to define a fulcrum.  
     
     
         30 . The actuator of  claim 29  wherein the plate is substantially planar.  
     
     
         31 . The actuator of  claim 27  wherein the lever arm includes a serpentine portion such that a downwardly bent section of the lever arm abuts the second body and the actuating portion of the lever arm is spaced apart from the second body.  
     
     
         32 . The actuator of  claim 31  in which the downwardly bent section defines a fulcrum.