Active material adaptive object holders

• US 20080272259A1
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Kramarczyk, Mark A., Mankame, Nilesh D., Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Namuduri, Chandra S., Alexander, Paul W., Glaser, Rainer A., Karuppaswamy, Senthil N., Zavattieri, Pablo D., Khoury, James Y.
• Granted Patent: US 8,870,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/105 for receptables of different size or shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/108 with resilient holding elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/12 of receptacles for cigarettes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/02 in separate luggage compartment B60R7/005 takes precedence

Abstract

In an embodiment, a device comprises an active material. Activation of the active material causes deformation within the device to conform to and/or retain an object without engaging the object below a surface of the object. In another embodiment, contact with an object causes deformation within the device to conform to and/or retain the object. In yet another embodiment, an object holder can comprise: a recess, a cover disposed over the recess, and a switch configured to cause the active material to retain a deformed shape in the recess. The cover comprises an active material. The active material is configured to deform into the recess when contacted with an object.

Claims

1. An object holder, comprising.

a recess;

a cover disposed over the recess, wherein the cover comprises an active material, wherein the active material is configured to deform into the recess when contacted with an object; and

a switch configured to cause the active material to retain a deformed shape in the recess.

2. The object holder of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a weight activated switch and a sensor, and wherein causing the active material to retain a deformed shape comprises an action selected from the group consisting of heating the active material, and signaling a controller.

3. The object holder of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises concentric rings of shape memory alloy.

4. The object holder of claim 3, wherein the cover further comprises shape memory polymer that has a lower transformation temperature than the shape memory alloy.

5. The object holder of claim 1, wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting of MR fluid and ER fluid, and wherein the active material is located in an interior portion of the cover.

6. The object holder of claim 1, wherein the active material is in the form of a coil configured such that, with no object, the active material is wound forming a surface across the recess, and when pushed by an object, the active material deforms into the cavity to form a holder having a diameter substantially equivalent to an outer diameter of the object.

7. The object holder of claim 1, wherein the active material is further configured to conform to the shape of the object.

8. The object holder of claim 1, further comprising an attachment base configured to releasably secure the object holder to a surface.

9. The object holder of claim 8, wherein the attachment base is a smart attachment base comprising an active material.

10. The object holder of claim 9, wherein the active material is an active hook attachment area configured to releasably attach to a loop receiving area on the surface.

11. An object holder, comprising:

a recess;

a holding portion disposed in the recess and comprising an active material, wherein the active material is configured to, when contacted with an object, receive the object and deform to the shape of the object; and

a switch configured to retain the active material in the deformed shape until the object is removed.

12. The object holder of claim 11, wherein the holding portion comprises stiff regions connected together with the active material.

13. The object holder of claim 12, wherein the active material comprises SMP.

14. The object holder of claim 12, wherein the holder further comprises an SMA wire located through the holder and extending toward an end of the holder.

15. An object holder, comprising:

a recess;

a liner disposed in the recess, wherein the liner comprises an active material; and

a switch configured to initiate a transformation in of an active material when an object is disposed in the recess.

16. The object holder of claim 15, wherein the active material comprises SMA that forms a plurality of protrusions and can be activated to flatten the protrusions.

17. The object holder of claim 15, wherein the active material comprises SMP that forms a plurality of protrusions, and wherein when heated, the protrusions soften, allowing the insertion of an object, and upon cooling, the SMP hardens to retain the object.

18. The object holder of claim 15, wherein the switch is configured to change a temperature of the active material.

19. An object holder, comprising:

an extension comprising active material and/or a sensor, wherein the extension is configured such that when an object contacts the extension or a second sensor, the active material is activated to cover a portion of and to push against the object when in a deployed position.

20. The object holder of claim 19, wherein the extension comprises a spool of the active material that is configured to move between a wrapped configuration to an unwrapped configuration when activated.

21. The object holder of claim 19, wherein the active material comprises an array of fingers that are capable of retaining the object when activated.

22. The object holder of claim 21, wherein each finger further comprises multiple links connected with joints, with the active material in the form of a wire extending along the finger toward and end of the finger such that the finger is configured to bend.

24. The object holder of claim 19, wherein the extension comprises a mechanical portion that can be driven by the active material.

23. The object holder of claim 237 further comprising a spool, wherein the finger is wrapped around the spool in a stowed position, and extends from the spool, in the deployed position

25. An object holder, comprising:

a recess configured to receive and create a positive hold on an object; and

a smart attachment base comprising an active material and configured to releasably secure holder to a surface.

26. The object holder of claim 25, wherein the smart attachment base further comprises a hook elements configured to releasably attach to a loops on the surface.

27. A device comprising an active material, wherein activation of the active material causes deformation within the device to conform to and/or retain an object without engaging the object below a surface of the object.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein deactivation of the active material and/or activation of another active material, fixes the deformation within the device.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein deactivation of the active material and/or activation of another active material reverses the deformation.

30. A device comprising an active material, wherein contact with an object causes deformation within the device to conform to and/or retain the object.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein deactivation of the active material and/or activation of another active material, fixes the deformation within the device.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein deactivation of the active material and/or activation of another active material reverses the deformation.