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Electrically releasable hook and loop fastener

  • US 20050163964A1
  • Filed: 04/03/2003
  • Published: 07/28/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An electrically releasable hook and loop fastener assembly (10) comprising:

  • a loop fastener half-portion (12) having a loop fastener base (16) with a plurality of loop elements (18) extending therefrom;

    a hook fastener half-portion (14) having a hook fastener base (20) with a plurality of hook elements (21) extending therefrom;

    said hook elements having a fixed end (22) mounted to said hook fastener base and a free end (23), remote from said fixed end, defining a hook shape (24);

    said hook elements being dimensioned to mechanically engage said loop elements when said loop fastener half-portion and said hook fastener half portion are pressed into contact with each other;

    said hook elements comprising a first length of flexible material (28) and a second length of flexible, electrically responsive and electrically conductive shape-memory material (27) of the type that changes from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to electrical current flow therethrough;

    means (32, 33) associated with at least said hook fastener half portion for applying an electrical potential difference between said fixed end and said free end of said hook elements; and

    , said length of shape-memory material being positioned to substantially straighten said hook shape in response to change in shape of said shape memory material upon application of an electrical potential difference between the ends thereof.

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