{
  "patent_number": "US 12736122",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Removable Protective Cap for Robot Arm Parts",
  "original_title": "Cap for a robot arm",
  "summary": "This patent describes a cap designed to be easily attached and removed from a robot arm element, using a clever system of interlocking shapes and a flexible part to hold it securely.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent describes a cap that can be quickly connected to and disconnected from a specific part of a robot arm. This cap attaches to the outer surface of a robot arm element, which has a housing with both an outer and inner surface. The connection works by fitting an 'upper cavity' on the cap over an 'upper protrusion' on the arm, and at least one 'first lower cavity' on the cap over a 'first lower protrusion' on the arm. Once these parts are aligned, a 'flexible suspension element' locks the protrusions into their cavities, keeping the cap firmly in place. For example, this cap could cover a sensitive sensor or a joint on an industrial robot arm, protecting it from dust or impacts while allowing for easy removal when maintenance is needed.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover caps that are permanently attached, such as by welding or strong adhesives.",
    "Does not cover caps that require tools like screws, bolts, or clips for attachment and removal.",
    "Does not cover caps that use magnetic forces or simple friction to stay connected.",
    "Does not cover caps designed for non-robot arm applications, like covers for static machinery.",
    "Does not cover caps that integrate active electronic components, beyond their specific attachment mechanism."
  ],
  "filed": "2023-06-13",
  "granted": "2026-09-15",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": null,
  "holder_url": null,
  "inventors": [],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "robotics",
    "mechanical",
    "manufacturing",
    "automation",
    "consumer_electronics"
  ],
  "abstract": "The invention relates to as a cap removably connectable to a robot arm element, the robot arm element comprises a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface. The cap is removably connectable to the outer surface via an upper cavity connectable to an upper protrusion and via at least a first lower cavity connectable to a first lower protrusion. When the cap is connected to the robot arm element, the upper protrusion is fixed in an engaged position in the upper cavity and the first lower protrusion is fixed in an engaged position in the at least first lower cavity by a flexible suspension element.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12736122/cap-for-a-robot-arm",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12736122/cap-for-a-robot-arm/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12736122",
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}