The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 2021
Filed:
Jan. 10, 2019
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Miga Technologies, Llc, Silverton, OR (US);
Brian J. Pinkelman, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Umesh N. Gandhi, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Ryohei Tsuruta, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Mark A. Gummin, Silverton, OR (US);
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Miga Technologies, LLC, Silverton, OR (US);
Abstract
A shape memory alloy (SMA) controlled hinge assembly is provided, including assemblies and combinations for adjusting a shape or position of an occupant support component, such as a vehicle seat support component or other seating component. The assembly includes an occupant support component and a hinge assembly configured to adjust a shape or position of at least a portion of the occupant support component. The hinge assembly includes a stationary plate and a movable plate rotatable relative to the base plate about a fixed axis of rotation. The hinge assembly includes a shape memory alloy wire coupling the stationary plate with the movable plate. An actuator is provided and configured to transform the phase of the shape memory alloy wire. In various aspects, the occupant support component is selected from one of a seat bottom; a seatback; a seat bolster; a seat head rest, and the like.