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. 21, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 28, 2011
John A. Cafeo, Farmington, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Gary L. Jones, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
John A. Cafeo, Farmington, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Gary L. Jones, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
Disclosed herein are active material based closure hinge assemblies, latch assemblies, and alignment methods. In one embodiment, a closure assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a first hinge portion having one end attached to a closure, a second hinge portion attached to the first hinge portion having one end attached to a vehicle body, and an active material configured to provide the first hinge portion with up to six degrees of freedom relative to second hinge portion upon receipt of an activation signal and less than or equal to two degrees of freedom in the absence of the activation signal.