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:
Dec. 31, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2012
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Ukpai I. Ukpai, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Mark A. Kramarczyk, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Gary L. Jones, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
John C. Ulicny, Oxford, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Ukpai I. Ukpai, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Mark A. Kramarczyk, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Gary L. Jones, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
John C. Ulicny, Oxford, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A device for concealing a seam between a first abutting surface of a first article and a second abutting surface of a second article, the device includes a seam concealment body fixedly attached to a selected one or both of the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface, wherein the seam concealment body comprises an active material, wherein the active material is configured to transition between a first stiffness and a second stiffness upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the transition permits movement of a selected one or both of the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface such that the seam concealment body deforms with the movement of the surface to maintain concealment of the seam.