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. 01, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2005
William Barvosa-carter, Ventura, CA (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Guillermo A. Herrera, Winnetka, CA (US);
Geoffrey P. MC Knight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Alan J. Jacobsen, Pacific Palisades, CA (US);
Cameron Massey, Hawthorne, CA (US);
William Barvosa-Carter, Ventura, CA (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Guillermo A. Herrera, Winnetka, CA (US);
Geoffrey P. Mc Knight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Alan J. Jacobsen, Pacific Palisades, CA (US);
Cameron Massey, Hawthorne, CA (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A reversible energy absorbing assembly including a cellular lattice comprising a shape memory material disposed within an expandable interior region of the assembly, wherein the shape memory material is adapted to expand from a first configuration to an expanded configuration in response to fluid communication with a fluid source. Once expanded, the assembly effectively absorbs kinetic energy of an object upon impact with the assembly. The shape memory material can be thermally activated to restore the first configuration of the energy absorbing assembly. Methods of operating the energy absorbing assembly are also disclosed.