| Controllable surface area fabric -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Controllable surface area fabricUSPTO Application #: 20070042660Title: Controllable surface area fabric Abstract: A fabric (1) with an adjustable surface area, contour, and/or adjustable portion includes interwoven textiles fibers, at least one shape memory alloy fiber (40) woven among the textile fibers that alters the surface are of the fabric upon receiving current, and a means for passing current (100) though the at least one shape memory alloy fiber (40). (end of abstract) Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards - Briarcliff Manor, NY, US Inventor: Aaron Waxler USPTO Applicaton #: 20070042660 - Class: 442181000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Fabric (woven, Knitted, Or Nonwoven Textile Or Cloth, Etc.), Woven Fabric (i.e., Woven Strand Or Strip Material) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070042660. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] Fabrics are formed of textile fibers. Fabrics can be stretchable and often include elastic components or fibers that allow them to stretch and return to form. The surface area of a fabric is usually fixed. To reduce the surface area of a fabric, it is usually folded, bent, or bundled. To increase the surface area of a fabric, it usually must be stretched over a surface or pulled against some other form of resistance. Often a fabric will not return to its original surface area after a certain number of stretches. [0002] Fabrics can also be stretchable and often include elastic components or fibers, such as Spandex, that allow them to stretch and return to form. The surface area of a fabric is usually fixed. Generally, fabrics are sewn into a pattern to create garments. Garments are manufactured and/or mass-produced in a variety of sizes or shapes. Often, the same style of garment is produced in multiple sizes to accommodate various sized wearers. [0003] The contour of a fabric is usually fixed in either a specific pattern or by embedded contour supports, such as wire frames. To adjust the surface contour of a fabric, it is usually folded, bent, or bundled over a frame. Often a fabric will not return to its original surface area after a certain number of contour alterations. Additionally, it is difficult to adjust the contour of such a fabric in a repeatable way. [0004] Fabrics including conductive fibers are commonly known in the art. Such fabrics include fibers interwoven with textile fibers to create circuits. Current can be selectively passed to an area on such fabric using a switch and a power source. FIG. 1 depicts a garment 2 that includes conductive fibers. Garment 2 has three current paths 3, 3', 3'' that are made up of conductive fibers through which current can be passed from power source 4. Garment 2 also includes a switch 5 that the wearer of the garment can select which current path he or she chooses. For example, a user can attach a portable electronic device, such as a cellular telephone or portable radio, to garment 2 at clip 6. When the wearer sets switch 5 to power the electronic device, current passes from power source 4 through current path 3'' to clip 6 and into the attached device. The conductive fibers that make up current paths 3, 3', and 3'' can also be selected to have a high resistance. Consequently, they act as resistors and release electrical energy as heat. Current paths 3, 3', and 3'' can be used to heat garment 2 in selected areas. However, these fabrics are not used to selectively control the surface area of garment 2. [0005] Muscle Wires are thin, highly processed strands of a shape memory alloy (SMA) that can assume radically different forms or "phases" at distinct temperatures. They are predominantly used in the aerospace industry, in the automation of manufacturing processes, and by hobbyists and robotics experimenters worldwide. [0006] Muscle Wires are easily stretched by a small force at room temperature. However, when conducting an electric current, the wire heats and changes to a much harder form that returns to the "unstretched" shape--the wire shortens in length with a usable amount of force, then when cooled, they relax again, ready for reactivation. Large wires are stronger than small ones, and strength varies with diameter. Some of the smallest wires can lift 20 grams up against gravity and the largest can raise up to 2,000 grams (over 4.4 pounds). The amount needed to stretch a wire when cool is about 1/6 the force exerted by the wire when heated. Muscle Wires can be stretched by up to eight percent of their length and will recover fully, but only for a few cycles. For additional strength, two or more wires can be used in parallel. This gives you as much strength as needed, while maintaining the fast cycle times of smaller wires. [0007] Muscle Wires can run for millions of cycles with very consistent and reliable performance. Muscle wire utilizes SMA technologies. Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) are composites that undergo a shape change when heated or cooled. Nitinol, a SMA combination of nickel and titanium, can be processed into various forms and is an alternative for obtaining motion from electrical current Typically motors or solenoids would be used, but there are many cases when SMAs are advantageous because of their mechanical simplicity, high strength to weight ratio, low sound output, and precise control. The shape memory effect is repeatable and can typically result in up to 8% strain recovery. Muscle wires can be as small as 150 microns in diameter and can be round or square/rectangular. [0008] Published U.S. patent application Ser. No. US 2002/0061692, herein incorporated by reference, describes a flat fabric including shape memory metal either attached (i.e., stitched) to the fabric's surface or enveloped by two or more layers of fabric. The shape memory metal wirers are selectively heated to deform and straighten upon cooling. The flat fabric is formed to circumscribe a person's appendage. The body part (e.g., an arm) freely enters the fabric when the metal wires are cool. Upon generating the current, the shape memory metal wires deform to selectively apply a pressure to the person's appendage. US 2002/0061692 does not include fabrics that do not circumscribe an appendage and fabrics that are formed of shape memory alloy wires. [0009] Accordingly, it would be desirable for a flexible fabric to include a means for selectively controlling its surface area, adjusting the shape of the garment, and/or selectively controlling the garment's surface contour that does not suffer from the prior art limitations. [0010] The invention solves the problems associated with the prior art. In one aspect a fabric with an adjustable surface area includes interwoven textile fibers; at least one shape memory alloy fiber woven among the textile fibers that alters a surface area, a contour, or an adjustable portion of the fabric upon receiving current; and means for passing current though the at least one shape memory alloy fiber. [0011] In one embodiment, the at least one shape memory alloy fiber is circular, elliptical, or rectangular in cross-section. In another embodiment, the at least one shape memory alloy fiber is woven in a sinusoidal or fishbone pattern in the fabric. [0012] In another embodiment, the at least one shape memory alloy fiber changes from a straightened position to a bent position upon receiving current In yet another embodiment, the at least one shape memory alloy fiber changes from a straightened position to a bent position in the plane of the fabric upon receiving current. In another embodiment, a first portion of the at least one shape memory alloy fiber changes from a straight position to a first bent position upon receiving current and a second portion of the at least one shape memory alloy fiber change from a straight position to a second bent position upon receiving current. [0013] In another embodiment, the bent position includes bending between three and eight percent of the length of the at least one shape memory alloy fiber. [0014] In another embodiment, the at least one shape memory alloy has an insulating layer. [0015] In another embodiment, the interwoven textile fibers include at least one elastic material. [0016] In one embodiment, the means for passing current through the at least one shape memory alloy fiber includes a current regulator for altering the current passed through the at least one shape memory alloy fiber. In another embodiment, the selected maximum is less than eight percent of the entire length of the at least one shape memory alloy fiber. [0017] In one embodiment, the at least one shape memory alloy fiber is attached to at least one of the interwoven textile fibers. [0018] In another embodiment the surface area of the fabric is incrementally adjustable. [0019] In another aspect, a method of producing a fabric with an adjustable surface area includes the steps of: weaving textile fibers together with at least one shape memory alloy fiber; connecting the at least one shape memory alloy fiber to a means for passing current through the at least one shape memory alloy fiber; and controlling the current passing through the at least one shape memory alloy fiber such that a surface area, a contour, or an adjustable portion of the fabric is adjusted. [0020] The invention provides many advantages, some of which are elucidated with reference to the embodiments below. [0021] FIG. 1 depicts a prior art garment that includes conductive fibers; [0022] FIG. 2A depicts a fabric with an adjustable surface area including at least one shape memory alloy fiber in a bent position according to the invention; [0023] FIG. 2B depicts a fabric with an adjustable surface area including at least two shape memory alloy fibers in a bent position according to the invention; [0024] FIG. 2C depicts an alternate embodiment of a fabric with an adjustable surface area including at least one shape memory alloy according to the invention; Continue reading... Full patent description for Controllable surface area fabric Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Controllable surface area fabric patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Controllable surface area fabric or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Fiber mat and process for making same Next Patent Application: Mineral fibre-based insulating panel, production method thereof and use of same Industry Class: Fabric (woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.) ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Controllable surface area fabric patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.13061 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , |
||
