Active materials based approaches to latch snug down and articles containing the same
First Claim
1. A locking arrangement including a locking device in combination with a suspended body for locking the suspended body to a supporting body, comprising:
- a striker disposed on the suspended body; and
a rotatable latch disposed on the supporting body having a first finger and a second finger, each of the fingers having a respective convex side and a respective concave side opposite the convex side;
wherein the concave side of the first finger faces the convex side of the second finger;
the striker being positioned to initially contact the concave side of the second finger upon closure of the suspended body relative to the supporting body and effect rotation of the rotatable latch such that the first finger forms a mechanical interlock with the striker;
wherein the latch is in operative communication with an active material based actuator that comprises an active material;
wherein the fingers are rigid and the rotatable latch includes a rigid segment and a flexible segment, wherein the flexible segment is disposed between the fingers and the rigid segment such that the rotatable latch bends at the flexible segment in response to application of a force to the rotatable latch;
wherein the active material based actuator is adapted to rotate the first finger and exert a force against the striker in response to an applied activation signal to the active material and effect further closure of the locking device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a locking device comprising a striker; and a latch in operative communication with an actuator that comprises an active material; wherein the latch is adapted to engage the striker in direct proportion to an applied activation signal. Disclosed herein too is a method for assisting a final closing motion of a suspended body with respect to a supporting body comprising moving the suspended body to within a defined distance from the supporting body; and activating a locking device, wherein the locking device comprises a striker; a latch in operative communication with an actuator that comprises an active material; wherein the latch is adapted to engage the striker in direct proportion to an applied activation signal.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A locking arrangement including a locking device in combination with a suspended body for locking the suspended body to a supporting body, comprising:
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a striker disposed on the suspended body; and a rotatable latch disposed on the supporting body having a first finger and a second finger, each of the fingers having a respective convex side and a respective concave side opposite the convex side; wherein the concave side of the first finger faces the convex side of the second finger; the striker being positioned to initially contact the concave side of the second finger upon closure of the suspended body relative to the supporting body and effect rotation of the rotatable latch such that the first finger forms a mechanical interlock with the striker; wherein the latch is in operative communication with an active material based actuator that comprises an active material; wherein the fingers are rigid and the rotatable latch includes a rigid segment and a flexible segment, wherein the flexible segment is disposed between the fingers and the rigid segment such that the rotatable latch bends at the flexible segment in response to application of a force to the rotatable latch; wherein the active material based actuator is adapted to rotate the first finger and exert a force against the striker in response to an applied activation signal to the active material and effect further closure of the locking device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for assisting a final closing motion of a suspended body with respect to a supporting body comprising:
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moving the suspended body to within a defined distance from the supporting body and contacting a striker to provide a mechanical interlock between the suspended body and the striker, wherein the striker is fixedly attached to the supporting body; and applying an activation signal to an active material of an active material actuator to bend a rotatable latch at a flexible segment that interconnects at least one finger of the rotatable latch and a rigid segment of the rotatable latch to move the at least one fingers of the rotatable latch relative to the rigid segment such that the at least one finger exerts a force against the striker, thereby moving the suspended body to a final closed position from the defined distance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A locking arrangement including a locking device in combination with a suspended body for locking the suspended body to a supporting body, comprising:
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a rotatable latch disposed on the supporting body with the rotatable latch having first and second fingers, a striker disposed on the suspended body with the striker being positioned to initially contact the second finger upon closure of the suspended body relative to the supporting body and effect rotation of the rotatable latch such that the first finger forms a mechanical interlock with the striker; the rotatable latch including a rigid segment and a flexible segment with the flexible segment connecting the rigid segment and the fingers such that the fingers are rotatable relative to the rigid segment; and an active material based actuator that comprises an active material operatively connected to at least one of the upper and lower fingers to move the fingers relative to the rigid segment and exert a force against the striker in response to an applied activation signal and effect further closure of the locking device.
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16. A locking arrangement including a locking device in combination with a suspended body for locking the suspended body to a supporting body, comprising:
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a striker disposed on the suspended body; and a rotatable latch disposed on the supporting body having a first finger and a second finger, each of the fingers having a respective convex side and a respective concave side opposite the convex side; wherein the concave side of the first finger faces the convex side of the second finger; the striker being positioned to initially contact the second finger upon closure of the suspended body relative to the supporting body and effect rotation of the rotatable latch such that the first finger forms a mechanical interlock with the striker; wherein the latch is in operative communication with an active material based actuator that comprises an active material; wherein the active material based actuator is adapted to rotate the first finger and exert a force against the striker in response to an applied activation signal to the active material and effect further closure of the locking device; wherein the rotatable latch is coupled to a movable sub-assembly that comprises a biasing spring and a secondary actuator, wherein the sub-assembly is operative to reduce a distance between the suspended body and the supporting body.
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Specification