Active material adaptive object holders

• US 8,870,144 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• 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 LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Zavattieri, Pablo D., Kramarczyk, Mark A., Browne, Alan L., Khoury, James Y., Johnson, Nancy L., Namuduri, Chandra S., Karuppaswamy, Senthil N., Mankame, Nilesh D., Glaser, Rainer A., Alexander, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Todd M
• Application Number:
  US11/744,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20080272259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,734 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 292/435, 295/92, 29/1, 337/14, 337/34, 116/216, 269/47, 296/24.34, 296/37.8
• 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 configured for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a recess;

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

a controller, wherein, when in use in the vehicle, the controller is configured to cause the active material to reversibly hold and retain the object.

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. The object holder of claim 1, wherein the active material is configured to conform in some manner to a size and shape of the object.

6. The object holder of claim 1, further comprising a switch configured to allow the active material to revert to a non-deformed shape.

7. The object holder of claim 1, wherein the active material is configured to reversibly deform.

8. An object holder configured for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a recess;

a holding portion disposed at 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 a shape of the object; and

a switch, wherein, when in use in the vehicle, the switch is configured to retain the active material in the deformed shape until the object is removed.

9. The object holder of claim 8, wherein the holding portion comprises stiff regions connected together with the active material.

10. The object holder of claim 8, wherein the active material comprises SMP.

11. The object holder of claim 8, wherein the holder further comprises an SMA wire located through the holder and extending toward an end of the holder.

12. An object holder configured for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a recess

an element comprising an active material, wherein the active material is configured to reversibly, physically, deform; and

a means for deforming the active material to hold and retain an object when the active material is contacted by the object;

wherein, when the holder is in use in the vehicle, the active material holds and retains the object.