Hook and loop artificial muscles
AssigneeLintec of America, Inc.
InventorMarcio Dias Lima
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a separable artificial muscle fastener includes: securing one or more muscle loops of an artificial muscle fiber to a substrate such that at least a portion of the one or more muscle loops extends out from the substrate; annealing the artificial muscle fiber to retain the one or more muscle loops; and cutting and removing a portion of the one or more muscle loops to transform the one or more muscle loops into one or more muscle hooks. When the one or more muscle hooks are engaged with one or more holders, actuating the one or more muscle hooks disengages the one or more muscle hooks from the one or more holders.
Claims20
A method for manufacturing a separable artificial muscle fastener, the method comprising:
- securing one or more muscle loops of an artificial muscle fiber to a substrate such that at least a portion of the one or more muscle loops extends out from the substrate,
- annealing the artificial muscle fiber to retain the one or more muscle loops;
- and
- cutting and removing a portion of the one or more muscle loops to transform the one or more muscle loops into respective one or more muscle hooks, such that when the one or more muscle hooks are engaged with one or more holders, actuating the one or more muscle hooks disengages the one or more muscle hooks from the one or more holders.
A separable artificial muscle fastener comprising:
- a first member comprising:
- a first substrate;
- and
- one or more muscle hooks made of an artificial muscle fiber,
- wherein the one or more muscle hooks are secured to the first substrate, and
- wherein the one or more muscle hooks extend out from the first substrate,
- a second member comprising:
- a second substrate;
- and
- one or more holders secured to the second substrate,
- wherein, upon an actuation of the one or more muscle hooks, the one or more muscle hooks disengage from the one or more holders.
A rotational artificial muscle fastener comprising:
- a first member comprising:
- an artificial muscle fiber,
- wherein, upon an actuation of the artificial muscle fiber, the artificial muscle fiber rotates around a central axis of the artificial muscle fiber, and
- wherein the central axis is along a length of the artificial muscle fiber,
- one or more hooks fastened radially to the artificial muscle fiber,
- a second member comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- one or more holders secured to the substrate,
- wherein, upon the actuation, the artificial muscle fiber rotates and moves the one or more hooks with respect to the one or more holders.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.