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US 12,612,731 B2Granted
Structures with tunable stiffness
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsYifan Wang, Chiara Daraio, Douglas C Hofmann, Liuchi Li, Jose E Andrade
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structure having a tunable modulus of bending (flexibility) composed of interlocking geometric particles arranged such that an external pressure/force causes them to jam together, increasing the stiffness of the overall structure. Methods for creating the external pressure can include the use of an envelope around the structure that can be evacuated of air.
Claims14
An apparatus comprising:
- a structure composed of a plurality of sheets layered on each other, each sheet comprising interlocking particles having intertwined geometries;
- and
- a means to apply external pressure to the structure such that the interlocking particles become jammed and increase the stiffness of the structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.