Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Selectively rigidizable membrane
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Application No.: US16654292Application Date: 2019-10-16
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Publication No.: US11299084B2Publication Date: 2022-04-12
- Inventor: Paul W. Alexander , Wonhee M. Kim , Jonathan E. Luntz , Diann Brei , Koray Benli , Sarah M. Sober , Laura Alejandra Giner Munoz , Nancy L. Johnson
- Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC , Regents of the University of Michigan
- Applicant Address: US MI Detroit; US MI Ann Arbor
- Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC,Regents of the University of Michigan
- Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC,Regents of the University of Michigan
- Current Assignee Address: US MI Detroit; US MI Ann Arbor
- Agency: Vivacqua Crane PLLC
- Main IPC: B60P7/06
- IPC: B60P7/06 ; B60P7/04 ; B33Y80/00

Abstract:
A selectively rigidizable membrane for cargo management comprises a vacuum bladder, and a first architectural layer and a second architectural layer, each of the first and second architectural layers including a plurality of tiles interconnected by flexural elements, each of the tiles of the first and second architectural layers including at least one constraining element extending therefrom, wherein, when atmospheric pressure is present within the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are slidably moveable relative to one another and the membrane is flexible, and further wherein, when negative pressure is applied to the vacuum bladder, the first and second architectural layers are forced into engagement with one another, the constraining elements of the first and second architectural layers providing mechanical interference and preventing sliding movement of the first and second architectural layers relative to one another, causing the membrane to become substantially rigid.
Public/Granted literature
- US20210114507A1 SELECTIVELY RIGIDIZABLE MEMBRANE Public/Granted day:2021-04-22
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