Apparatus and method for engaging and handling articles of manufacture

Abstract

Apparatus and method for engaging an article. The apparatus has a base portion, an end portion disposed adjacent the base portion. The end portion is moveable in relation to the base portion generally along the longitudinal centerline. One or more bands are joined to and extend between the base portion and the end portion. At least one of the bands bends away from the longitudinal centerline when the end portion is moved toward the base portion from the disengaged configuration to the activated configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for engaging an article, the apparatus having a longitudinal centerline, a disengaged configuration with a disengaged cross-section and an activated configuration with an activated cross-section, the apparatus comprising:
 a base portion;   an end portion disposed adjacent the base portion along the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus, the end portion being moveable in relation to the base portion generally along the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus; and   at least a first flexible band and a separate second flexible band extending between the base portion and the end portion, the first and second bands each having a first end joined to the base portion, a second end joined to the end portion and a central region located between the first end and the second end, wherein the first band is joined to the base portion at a first location in a longitudinal direction and the second band is joined to the base portion at a second location in the longitudinal direction and the first location and the second location are different, and   wherein at least one of the two or more band bends away from the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus when the end portion is moved toward the base portion from the disengaged configuration to the activated configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible band and the second flexible band each has a length and the length and the length of the first flexible band and the length of the second flexible band is different. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible band is joined to the end portion at a first location in a longitudinal direction and the second flexible band is joined to the end portion at a second location in the longitudinal direction and the first location and the second location are different. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the central region of the first flexible band is disposed at least partially longitudinally separated from the central region of the second flexible band. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  having six or more flexible bands joined to each of the base portion and the end portion and extending between the base portion and the end portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  having a first series of three flexible bands and a second series of three flexible bands, wherein the first series of three flexible bands is joined to the end portion at a first location in a longitudinal direction and the second series of three flexible bands is joined to the end portion at a second location in the longitudinal direction and the first location and the second location are different. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first series of three flexible bands is joined to the base portion at a third location in a longitudinal direction and the second series of three flexible bands is joined to the base portion at a fourth location in the longitudinal direction and the third location and the fourth location are different from each other. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the distal end of at least one of the first or second flexible bands is disposed in a first recess in the end portion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein at least a portion of the proximal end of at least one of the first or second flexible bands is disposed in a second recess in the base portion. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second flexible bands have a thickness and at least one of the first and second flexible bands includes one or more slits that extend partially through its thickness. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second flexible bands includes a portion that is hardened, weakened, roughened, smoothened, coated or otherwise modified. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the end portion has a free region disposed away from the base portion that is at least partially tapered to have a free region cross-section that is smaller than the maximum cross-section of the end portion. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a shaft extending from the end portion to the base portion, the shaft having a distal end joined to the end portion and a proximal end slideably disposed at least partly through an opening in the base portion. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the shaft has a cross-section that is non-circular. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a spring operatively associated with the end portion, the spring adapted to return the end portion to its disengaged configuration after it has been moved to its activated configuration or to return the end to its activated configuration after it has been moved to its disengaged configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A method for engaging an article having an opening, the method including the steps of:
 providing an article with an opening therein;   providing an apparatus for engaging an article, the apparatus being provided in a disengaged configuration and having a longitudinal centerline, a base portion, an end portion disposed adjacent the base portion along the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus wherein the end portion is moveable in relation to the base portion generally along the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus, and a first flexible band and a second flexible band extending between the base portion and the end portion wherein the first flexible band has a first end joined to the base portion at a first location and a second end joined to the end portion at a second location and a central region located between the first end and the second end and the second flexible band has a third end joined to the base portion at a third location and a fourth end joined to the end portion at a fourth location and a central region located between the first end and the second end, wherein the first and third locations are separated from each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus;   positioning at least a portion of the apparatus into the opening of the article while the apparatus is in the disengaged configuration; and   activating the apparatus by moving the end portion is moved toward the base portion such that at least the central portion of first and second flexible bands bend away from the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus and engages the article.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the base has an opening therein, and the apparatus has a shaft extending from the end portion to the base portion, wherein the shaft has a distal end joined to the end portion and a proximal end slideably disposed at least partly through the opening in the base portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the article to be engaged is a tube, bottle, box or other package. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  including the further step of moving the article from a first position to a second position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  including the further step of disengaging the engaging apparatus by moving the end portion away from the base portion so as to move at least the central portion of the bands that bent away from the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus when activated back toward the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus.