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:
Feb. 07, 2023
Filed:
Jun. 08, 2022
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Wonhee Michael Kim, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Diann Brei, Milford, MI (US);
Jonathan E. Luntz, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Laura Alejandra Giner Munoz, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Koray Benli, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Adeline Emily Wihardja, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Evan Millison, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An incrementally assembled skin-constrained inflatable bellows system includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, and a bellows attached to and separating the top end cap and the bottom end cap and configured to hold pressurized fluid between the top and bottom end caps. The system further includes a nozzle configured to allow fluid to enter and exit the bellows, and an inextensible skin attached to each of the top end cap, the bottom end cap, and to the bellows. The top end cap assumes a first position when the bellows is inflated via the nozzle and, when the top end cap is adjusted from the first position to a second position, the skin is configured to maintain the top end cap in the second position and constrains the bellows into a predefined rigid three-dimensional shape.