Patent ID: 9096012
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: B29C,B44C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An engineered system for selectively modifying a texture of an exposed surface, said system comprising: a reversibly reconfigurable structure defining the exposed surface and including a surface opposed thereto and physically engaged therewith; an intermediate layer operatively connected to the opposed surface; one or more discrete mechanisms shiftable between forms, physically engaged with the intermediate layer, and operable to mechanically reconfigure at least a portion of the intermediate layer, when shifting forms, so as to cooperatively modify the texture of the exposed surface, wherein each of the mechanisms includes a hollow cell including an at least partially enclosed core defined by a continuous lateral wall; and an actuator operatively coupled to each of the mechanisms and operable to selectively activate and deactivate each of the mechanisms, so as to cause each of the mechanisms to shift between forms, and reconfigure the portion of the intermediate layer.