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US 11,891,843 B2Granted
Locking device comprising a shape memory element
AssigneeFaurecia Interieur Industrie
InventorOlivier Le Borgne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking device that includes: a locking element, movable between a locked position and an unlocked position and being forced to its locked position, a pin, and an actuator of the pin, the pin being configured to move the locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position when the actuator is actuated by changing the shape of a shape memory element. The pin is movable between: an extended position, in which it moves the locking element from its locked position to its unlocked position, and a retracted position, in which it releases the movement of the locking element to its locked position.
Claims12
A locking device for a movable part of a trim element of a vehicle, comprising:
- a locking element, movable along a direction of movement between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking element being biased towards the locked position,
- a pin, and
- an actuator for actuating the pin comprising a shape memory element, the pin being configured to move the locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position when the actuator is actuated by changing the shape of the shape memory element,
- wherein the pin is movable relative to the locking element along a push direction between:
- an extended position, in which the pin bears on the locking element and moves said locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position when the actuator is actuated, and
- a retracted position, in which the pin authorizes the movement of the locking element towards the locked position, the pin being moved to the retracted position when the locking element is in the unlocked position,
- wherein the actuator is movable along the direction of movement between an actuating position in which the pin is in the extended position and moves the locking element between the locked position and the unlocked position, and an intermediate position in which the pin is in the extended position and the locking element is in the unlocked position,
- the actuator further being movable along the direction of movement between the intermediate position and a release position, the pin moving from the extended position to the retracted position when the actuator moves from the intermediate position to the release position while the locking element is in the unlocked position.
5 more elements
A locking device for a movable part of a trim element of a vehicle, comprising:
- a locking element, movable along a direction of movement between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking element being biased towards the locked position,
- a pin, and
- an actuator for actuating the pin comprising a shape memory element, the pin being configured to move the locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position when the actuator is actuated by changing the shape of the shape memory element,
- wherein the pin is movable relative to the locking element along a push direction between:
- an extended position, in which the pin bears on the locking element and moves said locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position when the actuator is actuated, and
- a retracted position, in which the pin authorizes the movement of the locking element towards the locked position, the pin being moved to the retracted position when the locking element is in the unlocked position;
- wherein the actuator comprises an actuating support providing a support for the pin and having a housing extending along the push direction;
- wherein the pin is movable within the housing between the extended position and the retracted position;
- wherein the shape memory element is connected to the actuating support and extends in an extension direction parallel to the direction of movement of the locking element;
- wherein the pin is configured to move linearly along the push direction between the extended position and the retracted position, and wherein the push direction is not parallel to the direction of movement between the locked position and the unlocked position;
- and
- wherein the shape memory element is configured to move the support along the direction of movement by modification of the shape of the shape memory element to:
- displace the locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position while the pin is in the extended position;
- once the locking element is in the unlocked position, move the pin from the extended position to the retracted position, the displacement of the pin in the retracted position making the displacement of the locking element free from the unlocked position to the locked position.
11 more elements
A locking device for a movable part of a trim element of a vehicle, comprising:
- a locking element, movable along a direction of movement between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking element being biased towards the locked position,
- a pin, and
- an actuator for actuating the pin comprising a shape memory element, the pin being configured to move the locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position when the actuator is actuated by changing the shape of the shape memory element,
- wherein the pin is movable relative to the locking element along a push direction between:
- an extended position, in which the pin bears on the locking element and moves said locking element from the locked position to the unlocked position when the actuator is actuated, and
- a retracted position, in which the pin authorizes the movement of the locking element towards the locked position, the pin being moved to the retracted position when the locking element is in the unlocked position;
- wherein the pin is configured to move linearly along the push direction between the extended position and the retracted position, and wherein the push direction is not parallel to the direction of movement between the locked position and the unlocked position;
- and
- wherein, in the retracted position, the pin is mechanically uncoupled from the locking element while being still in contact with the locking element, resting on a lateral side of the locking element.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.