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US 8,794,885 B2Granted
Active lashing materials and eyelets
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsAlan L. Browne, Nilesh D. Mankame, Nancy L. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A securing assembly adapted for promoting a more secure relationship through active material actuation, facilitating lashing, attenuating tension, reducing slack, and/or facilitating unlashing, include selectively or passively modified lashing material and/or eyelets comprising active material elements.
Claims9
A securing assembly comprising:
- a lashing material including:
- a non-active member having a constant lashing diameter;
- an active material element drivenly coupled and longitudinally connected to the non-active member, the active material element having a normal diameter greater than the lashing diameter and an activated diameter less than the normal diameter;
- and
- a compressible core enveloped by the active material element, the compressible core being an elastomeric material, a natural rubber, or a fluid gel;
- wherein the active material element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, electroactive polymers, and baroplastics;
- and
- at least one eyelet having a fixed geometry that defines an inside diameter that precludes the active material element and the compressible core from being pulled therethrough when the active material element has the normal diameter and that enables the active material element and the compressible core to be pulled therethrough when the active material element has the activated diameter.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.