Active material enabled self-presenting handles
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsAlan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-presenting handle assembly, comprising a handle portion in operative communication with an axle rotatably mounted in a housing of a rigid support, and an active material in operative communication with the axle or the handle portion, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to provide rotation of the axle in a first direction and move the handle in the first direction from a first position to a second position.
Claims12
A self-presenting handle assembly, comprising:
- a handle portion operatively connected with an axle rotatably mounted in a housing of a rigid support;
- and
- an active material in operatively connected with the axle or the handle portion, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to provide rotation of the axle in a first direction and move the handle in the first direction from a stowed position to a presented position;
- a return mechanism operatively connected with the axle or the handle portion configured to provide rotation of the axle in a second direction counter to the first direction upon discontinuation of the activation signal, wherein rotation of the axle is effective to move the handle portion from the presented position to the stowed position;
- and
- an activation device communicatively coupled to the material and operable to selectively generate the signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.