# US 11,299,084 B2 · Selectively rigidizable membrane > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,084 B2 - Document ID: US11299084B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/654,292 - Filed: 2019-10-16 - Published: 2021-04-22 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-16 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC; The Regents of the University of Michigan - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC; Regents of the University of Michigan - Inventors: Paul W. Alexander; Wonhee M. Kim; Jonathan E. Luntz; Diann Brei; Koray Benli; Sarah M. Sober; Laura Alejandra Giner Munoz; Nancy L. Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299084B2 ## CPC - B60P 7/06: Securing of load (vehicle retainers B60P3/073) - B60P 7/04: by tarpaulins or like flexible members - B60P 7/0876: {using restraining net or tarpaulin in contact with the load} - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract A selectively rigidizable membrane for cargo management comprises a vacuum bladder, and a first architectural layer and a second architectural layer, each of the first and second architectural layers including a plurality of tiles interconnected by flexural elements, each of the tiles of the first and second architectural layers including at least one constraining element extending therefrom, wherein, when atmospheric pressure is present within the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are slidably moveable relative to one another and the membrane is flexible, and further wherein, when negative pressure is applied to the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are forced into engagement with one another, the constraining elements of the first and second architectural layers providing mechanical interference and preventing sliding movement of the first and second architectural layers relative to one another, causing the membrane to become substantially rigid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A selectively rigidizable membrane for cargo management, comprising: a vacuum bladder; and a first architectural layer and a second architectural layer, each of the first and second architectural layers including a plurality of tiles interconnected by flexural elements; wherein, when atmospheric pressure is present within the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are slidably moveable relative to one another and the membrane is flexible; and further wherein, when negative pressure is applied to the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are forced into engagement with one another, frictional engagement of the first and second architectural layers preventing sliding movement of the first and second architectural layers relative to one another, causing the membrane to become substantially rigid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 1, wherein each of the tiles of the first and second architectural layers includes at least one constraining element extending therefrom, further wherein, when negative pressure is applied to the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are forced into engagement with one another, and the constraining elements of the first and second architectural layers provide mechanical interference and prevent sliding movement of the first and second architectural layers relative to one another, causing the membrane to become substantially rigid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 1, wherein the membrane includes at least two zones, the tiles of the first and second architectural layers within a first zone adapted to provide defined flexibility characteristics and the tiles of the first and second architectural layers within a second zone adapted to provide defined flexibility characteristics different from the first zone, the first and second zones being independently rigidizable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 3, wherein the tiles of the first and second architectural layers within the first zone are shaped and sized differently than the tiles of the first and second architectural layers within the second zone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 1, wherein the tiles of the first and second architectural layers are adapted to provide defined fold lines for the membrane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 1, wherein the vacuum bladder includes a first airtight layer and a second airtight layer, the first and second airtight layers being sealed to one another around along a perimeter, the first and second architectural layers being positioned between the first and second airtight layers within the perimeter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 6, wherein the tiles of the first architectural layer are mounted onto an inner surface of the first airtight layer of the vacuum bladder and the tiles of the second architectural layer are mounted onto an inner surface of the second airtight layer of the vacuum bladder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 6, wherein the first architectural layer includes a first intermediate layer, the tiles of the first architectural layer mounted onto the first intermediate layer and the second architectural layer includes a second intermediate layer, the tiles of the second architectural layer mounted onto the second intermediate layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 8, wherein the flexural elements comprise portions of the first and second intermediate layers that extend between the tiles mounted onto the first and second intermediate layers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 8, wherein the first and second intermediate layers each include a plurality of spaced holes formed therein, the tiles of the first and second architectural layers including a base, at least one constraining element extending therefrom and a securing ring adapted to snap onto the at least one constraining element, further wherein the at least one constraining element of each tile extends through one of the holes formed within one of the first and second intermediate layers and the securing ring snaps onto the tile to secure the tile onto the intermediate layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 8, wherein the tiles of the first and second architectural layers are formed onto the first and second intermediate layers by additive manufacturing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 1, wherein the flexibility of the membrane can be varied by varying the negative pressure that is applied to the vacuum bladder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 1, further including a tertiary layer positioned between the first and second architectural layers, the tertiary layer adapted to aid sliding movement of the first and second architectural layers relative to one another when negative pressure is not applied to the vacuum bladder. ### Claim 14 A selectively rigidizable membrane for cargo management, comprising: a vacuum bladder, the vacuum bladder including a first airtight layer and a second airtight layer, the first and second airtight layers being sealed to one another along a perimeter, the first and second architectural layers being positioned between the first and second airtight layers within the perimeter; first and second architectural layers positioned between the first and second airtight layers within the perimeter of the vacuum bladder, each of the first and second architectural layers including a plurality of tiles interconnected by flexural elements, each of the tiles of the first and second architectural layers including at least one constraining element extending therefrom; a tertiary layer positioned between the first and second architectural layers, the tertiary layer adapted to aid sliding movement of the first and second architectural layers relative to one another when negative pressure is not applied to the vacuum bladder; and a port adapted to allow pressure to be applied to the interior of the vacuum bladder; wherein, when atmospheric pressure is present within the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are slidably moveable relative to one another and the membrane is flexible, and when negative pressure is applied to the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are forced into engagement with one another, the constraining elements of the first and second architectural layers providing mechanical interference and preventing sliding movement of the first and second architectural layers relative to one another, causing the membrane to become substantially rigid, the rigidity of the membrane being selectively variable depending on the level of negative pressure applied to the interior of the vacuum bladder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 14, wherein the membrane includes a plurality of independently rigidizable zones, the tiles of the first and second architectural layers within each zone having dimensional features adapted to provide defined flexibility characteristics, wherein the flexibility characteristics of each zone vary based on the dimensional features of the tiles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 14, wherein the tiles of the first and second architectural layers are adapted to provide defined fold lines for the membrane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 14, wherein the tiles of the first architectural layer are mounted onto an inner surface of the first airtight layer of the vacuum bladder and the tiles of the second architectural layer are mounted onto an inner surface of the second airtight layer of the vacuum bladder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 14, wherein the first architectural layer includes a first intermediate layer, the tiles of the first architectural layer mounted onto the first intermediate layer and the second architectural layer includes a second intermediate layer, the tiles of the second architectural layer mounted onto the second intermediate layer, the flexural elements of the first and second architectural layers comprising portions of the first and second intermediate layers that extend between the tiles mounted thereon. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 14, wherein the first and second intermediate layers each include a plurality of spaced holes formed therein, the tiles of the first and second architectural layers including a base, the at least one constraining element extending therefrom and a securing ring adapted to snap onto the at least one constraining element, further wherein the at least one constraining element of each tile extends through one of the holes formed within one of the first and second intermediate layers and the securing ring snaps onto the tile to secure the tile onto the intermediate layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The selectively rigidizable membrane of claim 14, wherein the tiles of the first and second architectural layers are formed onto the first and second intermediate layers by additive manufacturing.