US 12,434,844 B2
Shape memory polymer integrated cushion upholstery using artificial muscles technology
Chirag Krishnamurthy, Karnataka (IN); Sourabh Vijaya Manae, Bengaluru (IN); and Gururaja Nekkar, Bangalore (IN)
Assigned to B/E Aerospace, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed by B/E Aerospace, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed on Jun. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/210,425.
Claims priority of application No. 202311018942 (IN), filed on Mar. 21, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0317404 A1, Sep. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. F03G 7/06 (2006.01); B60N 2/58 (2006.01); B60N 2/60 (2006.01); B64D 11/06 (2006.01); F03G 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 11/0647 (2014.12) [B60N 2/60 (2013.01); B60N 2/6081 (2013.01); F03G 7/0121 (2021.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An upholstery comprising:
a cushion; and
a dress cover; wherein the dress cover encloses at least a portion of the cushion; wherein the dress cover comprises a first yarn and a second yarn; wherein the first yarn and the second yarn are woven together; wherein the first yarn is in warp; wherein the second yarn is in weft;
wherein the dress cover compresses the cushion when there is no voltage applied across the first yarn and the second yarn; wherein the first yarn and the second yarn are each configured to change in length upon receiving a voltage differential; wherein the change in length of the first yarn and the second yarn causes the dress cover to bulge; wherein the bulge of the dress cover allows the cushion to expand thereby changing a stiffness of the cushion; wherein the first yarn and the second yarn are each configured to return to an original length when the voltage differential is removed.