Compartment access system with active material component and method for controlling access to an interior compartment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A compartment access system comprising:
- a frame partially defining an interior compartment;
a closure operatively connected to and movable with respect to said frame and further defining said compartment; and
at least one active material component operatively connected to said closure and configured for remotely triggered activation to actuate and thereby affect access to said compartment,wherein activation by applying energy directly to said active material component changes a dimension of the active material component to move said closure with respect to said frame to one of an open position and a substantially closed position of said closure to respectfully allow and prevent access to said compartment.
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Abstract
Accessing interior compartments for storage or other purposes is improved by the use of one or more active material components. Activating one or more active material components carries out one or more of the following functions: opening or closing the compartment (which may include cinching a closure) and/or latching or unlatching a closure from a frame. Activation may result from a remote trigger signal. A method is provided for controlling access to an interior compartment that may be carried out by a controller operatively connected to various active material components that unlatch the closure from the frame, close the closure and cinch the closure to the frame, respectively.
66 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A compartment access system comprising:
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a frame partially defining an interior compartment; a closure operatively connected to and movable with respect to said frame and further defining said compartment; and at least one active material component operatively connected to said closure and configured for remotely triggered activation to actuate and thereby affect access to said compartment, wherein activation by applying energy directly to said active material component changes a dimension of the active material component to move said closure with respect to said frame to one of an open position and a substantially closed position of said closure to respectfully allow and prevent access to said compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A storage container comprising:
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a frame partially defining an interior compartment; a closure operatively connected to and movable with respect to said frame and further defining said compartment; and at least one active material component operatively connected to said closure and configured to move said closure with respect to said frame when activated by an activation signal to thereby affect access to said compartment. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification