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:
Apr. 07, 2026
Filed:
Oct. 03, 2024
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Koray Benli, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Yuyang Song, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Umesh N. Gandhi, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Shinnosuke Shimokawa, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
A system can include a base and an outer layer defining an outer surface. An actuator can be positioned between the base and outer layer. The actuator can include a body that is inflatable and has a bellows configuration. The actuator is movable between an activated configuration and non-activated configuration by selective inflation or deflation of the body. The actuator being operatively positioned to cause the outer surface to morph when in an activated configuration.