Active materials based approaches to latch snug down and articles containing the same

A locking arrangement including a locking device in combination with a suspended body for locking the suspended body to a supporting body, comprising:

• a rotatable latch disposed on the supporting body with the rotatable latch having first and second fingers,
• a striker disposed on the suspended body with the striker being positioned to initially contact the second finger upon closure of the suspended body relative to the supporting body and effect rotation of the rotatable latch such that the first finger forms a mechanical interlock with the striker;
• the rotatable latch including a rigid segment and a flexible segment with the flexible segment connecting the rigid segment and the fingers such that the fingers are rotatable relative to the rigid segment;
• and
• an active material based actuator that comprises an active material operatively connected to at least one of the upper and lower fingers to move the fingers relative to the rigid segment and exert a force against the striker in response to an applied activation signal and effect further closure of the locking device.

A locking arrangement including a locking device in combination with a suspended body for locking the suspended body to a supporting body, comprising:

• a striker disposed on the suspended body;
• and
• a rotatable latch disposed on the supporting body having a first finger and a second finger, each of the fingers having a respective convex side and a respective concave side opposite the convex side;
• wherein the concave side of the first finger faces the convex side of the second finger;
• the striker being positioned to initially contact the second finger upon closure of the suspended body relative to the supporting body and effect rotation of the rotatable latch such that the first finger forms a mechanical interlock with the striker;
• wherein the latch is in operative communication with an active material based actuator that comprises an active material;
• wherein the active material based actuator is adapted to rotate the first finger and exert a force against the striker in response to an applied activation signal to the active material and effect further closure of the locking device;
• wherein the rotatable latch is coupled to a movable sub-assembly that comprises a biasing spring and a secondary actuator, wherein the sub-assembly is operative to reduce a distance between the suspended body and the supporting body.