Active material based holding fixtures

• US 8,485,581 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: McKnight, Geoffrey P., Henry, Christopher P., Alexander, Paul W., Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROMAIN, PINEL E
• Application Number:
  US12/904,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20120091744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 296/100.03, 296/100.07, 296/100.04, 296/100.06, 296/100.16, 296/24.3, 296/37.1, 296/24.34, 296/1.09, 296/24.46, 296/37.8, 248/311.12, 220/666
• US Class Current: 296/24.34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0077 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners

Abstract

A holding fixture operable to secure differing pluralities of positioned objects having differing geometric shapes, sizes, and/or dimensions, including an active material element configured to selectively enable, cause, or retain the securing engagement and/or return the fixture to a ready state when not in use.

Claims

1. A holding fixture adapted for securing differing pluralities of objects having differing geometric shapes, sizes, and/or dimensions, said fixture comprising:

a base;

a holding mechanism fixedly coupled to the base, defining an engagement surface, and including an active material element operable to undergo a reversible change in fundamental property when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, so as to be activated or deactivated, respectively;

said active material element being drivenly coupled to the surface and configured, when activated or deactivated, to further enable or cause the surface to reconfigure,

said surface and element being cooperatively configured to secure an engaged at least one of the objects, as a result of enabling or causing the surface to reconfigure, and return to a ready state when said engaged at least one of the objects is removed,

wherein the mechanism includes a plurality of reconfigurable projections formed at least in part by or drivenly coupled to the element and cooperatively defining the surface, and the object is secured through engagement with at least two of said plurality of projections,

wherein each projection defines a sidewall, and presents a flexible rigidity in a lateral direction, the change increases the rigidity, and the surface is defined by the sidewall.

2. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active material element is selected from the group consisting essentially of shape memory polymers, shape memory alloys, electro-active polymers and gels, piezoelectrics, electrorheological and magnetorheological fluids.

3. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanism defines an internal space and presents a disengaged configuration, and the change further enables the mechanism to increase in volume so as to at least partially enclose the space, and achieve a securing configuration when one of the objects is positioned within the space, further fixes the mechanism in the securing configuration, and further enables or causes the mechanism to return to the disengaged configuration.

4. The fixture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mechanism further includes at least one sensor operable to detect the presence of said one of the objects in the space, and communicatively coupled to the element, so as to cause the change when the presence is detected.

5. The fixture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mechanism further includes at least one comb comprising a plurality of fingers drivenly coupled to the element, and the change causes the fingers to translate in unison, so as to reconfigure the surface and apply a holding force to said engaged one of the objects.

6. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein each projection defines a longitudinally axial direction, includes a structural wall defining a resistance to compression in the axial direction, and the element composes the wall, such that the change modifies the resistance.

7. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein each projection includes a compressible outer casing, and the element is a spring disposed within the casing.

8. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein each projection presents a loop, hoop, single tube, or multi-tube configuration.

9. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein each projection includes an electrode operable to produce the signal.

10. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein each projection is formed of rigid segments connected by articulated joints, each joint defines a first resistance to bending, and the change modifies the resistance.

11. The fixture as claimed in claim 10, wherein the projections are interconnected at the joints, and define a three-dimensional structure having interstitial spaces.

12. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element composes a bi-stable mechanism, and the change causes the projection to shift between at least first and second positions.

13. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanism defines an internal space and the element includes an electrorheological, magnetorheological, or shear thinning fluid disposed in the space.

14. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes an expandable bladder defining the surface, a reservoir fluidly coupled to the bladder, a fluid translatably disposed between the reservoir and bladder, and a valve intermediate and selectively operable to fluidly decouple the reservoir and bladder, and the element is drivenly coupled to the valve, such that the change causes the valve to selectively decouple the reservoir and bladder.

15. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes a conformable cover defining the surface.

16. The fixture as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cover comprises the element, so as to be shape fixing or actively deformed.

17. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is flexible.

18. The fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base composes a center console, armrest, or dashboard of a vehicle.

19. A holding fixture adapted for securing differing pluralities of objects having differing geometric shapes, sizes, and/or dimensions, said fixture comprising:

a base;

a holding mechanism fixedly coupled to the base, defining an engagement surface, and including an active material element operable to undergo a reversible change in fundamental property when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, so as to be activated or deactivated, respectively;

said active material element being drivenly coupled to the surface and configured, when activated or deactivated, to further enable or cause the surface to reconfigure,

said surface and element being cooperatively configured to secure an engaged at least one of the objects, as a result of enabling or causing the surface to reconfigure, and return to a ready state when said engaged at least one of the objects is removed,

wherein the mechanism includes a gear drivenly coupled to at least one projection, the element includes a shape memory alloy wire drivenly coupled to the gear, and the change causes the gear to rotate and said at least one projection to shift between at least first and second positions.