A novel compliant mechanism for converting reciprocating translation into enclosing curved paths

This paper introduces a novel contact-aided compliant mechanism that uses intermittent contacts to convert a single translatory reciprocating input into two output curves, which intersect to enclose a two dimensional region. Contact interactions endow contact-aided compliant mechanisms with enhanced kinematic and kinetostatic capabilities. The mechanism described in this paper is designed to undergo large deformations repeatedly, without yielding by avoiding flexural joints and by using contacts to obtain the desired deformation. A single-material, joint-free and planar design makes the mechanism easy and economical to fabricate at the macro or micro scales. The design is validated experimentally by manufacturing and testing macro scale prototypes. Two potential applications that motivated this mechanism are also noted.