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. 19, 2008
Filed:
Jul. 15, 2004
Diann Brei, Milford, MI (US);
John Redmond, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Nathan A. Wilmot, Waterford, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Gary L. Jones, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Diann Brei, Milford, MI (US);
John Redmond, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Nathan A. Wilmot, Waterford, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Gary L. Jones, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A latch for engaging and disengaging two opposing surfaces includes a pin disposed on one surface and a gate disposed on an opposite surface; an active material in operative communication with the pin or the gate; an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an engagement or a disengagement of the pin or the gate from the other of the pin or the gate; and a spring in operative communication with the pin or the gate, wherein the spring is configured to provide a force opposite to a force provided by the active material, wherein the activated active material is effective to overcome the force provided by the spring