US 12,145,750 B2
Space debris engagement and deorbit system
Nathaniel C. Barnes, Irvine, CA (US)
Assigned to L'Garde, Inc., Tustin, CA (US)
Filed by L'Garde, Inc., Tustin, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/209,960.
Application 18/209,960 is a continuation of application No. 17/468,472, filed on Sep. 7, 2021, granted, now 11,713,141.
Application 17/468,472 is a continuation of application No. 16/277,944, granted, now 11,142,349, issued on Oct. 12, 2021, previously published as PCT/US2019/018346, filed on Feb. 15, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/631,297, filed on Feb. 15, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0025568 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. B64G 1/40 (2006.01); B64G 1/22 (2006.01); B64G 1/62 (2006.01); B64G 1/64 (2006.01); B65H 75/42 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/407 (2013.01) [B64G 1/222 (2013.01); B64G 1/62 (2013.01); B64G 1/646 (2013.01); B65H 75/425 (2013.01); B64G 1/2227 (2023.08); B65H 2701/371 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An engagement device, comprising:
a first tape spring;
a second tape spring;
a structure defining a surface supported by the first tape spring and the second tape spring; and
one or more actuators to extend the first tape spring and the second tape spring from a stored configuration to a deployed configuration, wherein the stored configuration is configured with the first tape spring and the second tape spring are at least partially rolled and the deployed configuration with the first tape spring and the second tape spring are at least partially extended,
a hub, wherein the first tape spring and the second tape spring extend outwardly from the hub, wherein the surface is coupled to the first tape spring toward an end of the first tape spring away from the hub in the deployed configuration, and the surface is coupled to the second tape spring toward an end of the second tape spring away from the hub in the deployed configuration.