Cargo container including an active material based releasable fastener system
First Claim
1. A cargo container, comprising:
- a cargo container surface comprising a hook portion comprising a support, and a plurality of hook elements attached to the support, wherein the plurality of hook elements comprise an active material; and
an activation device coupled to the plurality of hook elements, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an activation signal to the plurality of hook elements to change a shape orientation, a yield strength property, a flexural modulus property, or a combination thereof to reduce a shear force and/or a pull-off force when the hook portion is engaged with a loop portion.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An active material based releasable fastener system for a vehicle carrier generally comprises a loop portion and a hook portion. A selected one of the hook portion or the loop portion is disposed on a surface of the carrier whereas an other selected one of the hook portion and the loop portion is disposed on a contact surface on which the carrier is disposed. When the loop portion and the hook portion are pressed together they interlock to form a releasable engagement being relatively resistant to shear and pull forces and weak in peel strength forces. The hook portion comprises a plurality of hook elements comprised of an active material. An activation signal applied to the active material causes a change in shape orientation, flexural modulus property, or a combination thereof to the hook elements that effectively reduces the shear and/or pull off forces in the releasable engagement. Disengagement of the releasable fastener system provides separation of the hook elements from the loop material under controlled conditions. In an alternative embodiment, each respective surface comprises a composite of the hook portion and the loop portion. Also disclosed is a process of operating the releasable fastener system for vehicle carriers.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A cargo container, comprising:
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a cargo container surface comprising a hook portion comprising a support, and a plurality of hook elements attached to the support, wherein the plurality of hook elements comprise an active material; and
an activation device coupled to the plurality of hook elements, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an activation signal to the plurality of hook elements to change a shape orientation, a yield strength property, a flexural modulus property, or a combination thereof to reduce a shear force and/or a pull-off force when the hook portion is engaged with a loop portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In combination, a vehicle and a cargo container, comprising:
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the vehicle comprising a contact surface having a selected one of a loop portion or a hook portion disposed thereon, wherein the loop portion comprises a loop material, and wherein the hook portion comprises a plurality of hook elements attached to the surface, wherein the plurality of hook elements comprise an active material;
the cargo container a surface having an other of the selected one of the loop portion or the hook portion disposed thereon, and an activation device coupled to the plurality of hook elements, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an activation signal to the plurality of hook elements to change a shape orientation, a yield strength property, a flexural modulus property, or a combination thereof to reduce a shear force and/or a pull-off force when the hook portion is engaged with the loop portion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A process for securing and releasing a cargo container to and from a vehicle, the process comprising:
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providing the vehicle with a contact surface, wherein the contact surface comprises a loop material;
contacting the cargo container with the contact surface, wherein the cargo container comprises a plurality of hook elements formed of an active material, wherein contacting the cargo container comprises pressing the plurality of hook elements to the loop material to form a releasable engagement;
selectively introducing an activation signal to the plurality of hook elements, wherein the activation signal is effective to change a shape orientation, a flexural modulus property, or the combination thereof to the plurality of hook elements; and
reducing shear and/or pull off forces in the releasable engagement. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. In combination, a vehicle and a cargo container, comprising:
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the vehicle comprising a contact surface having a first engageable portion disposed thereon, wherein the first engageable portion comprises a plurality of hook elements or a loop material or a composite of the hook elements and the loop material, wherein the plurality of hook elements comprise an active material;
the cargo container a surface having a second engageable portion, wherein the second engageable portion comprises the plurality of hook elements or the loop material or the composite of the hook elements and the loop material; and
an activation device coupled to the plurality of hook elements, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an activation signal to the plurality of hook elements to change a shape orientation, a yield strength property, a flexural modulus property, or a combination thereof to reduce a shear force and/or a pull-off force when the first engageable portion is engaged with the second engageable portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification