Patent ID: 8979430
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: A01G,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A moisture responsive device comprising: a moisture responsive element comprising at least a moisture responsive first layer formation of a first material in association with a second layer formation of a second less moisture responsive material, wherein the first material has a greater tendency to absorb moisture and to increase in volume as a result more than the second material, and wherein the second material is resiliently deformable and the first and second layer formations are mechanically arranged together so that such differential change in volume of the first layer formation with respect to the second layer formation causes mechanical deformation of both of the first and second layer formations between a less curved state and a more curved state; and an actuation member in mechanical association with the moisture responsive element so that the deformation of both of the first and second layer formations in the presence of moisture between the less curved state and the more curved state causes the actuation member mechanically to change between at least a first conformational state and a second conformational state and thereby cause the actuation member to change between at least a first functional state and a second functional state.