Patent ID: 7029056

Claim:
In combination with a vehicle and a closure, one or more lockdown regions disposed between the closure and the vehicle body, the one or more lockdown regions comprising: a device comprising an active material disposed in operative communication with the closure and the vehicle body, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a magnetic shape memory material, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials, wherein the one or more lockdown regions comprises a plurality of hook elements formed of the active material in a releasable pressing engagement with a loop material, wherein the hook elements are disposed on a selected one of the closure or the vehicle body, and the loop material is disposed on the other one of the closure or the vehicle body; and an activation device coupled to the active material, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an activation signal to the active material and effectuate a change in a dimension, a shape, and/or a flexural modulus property of the active material, wherein the change in the dimension, a shape, and/or flexural modulus of the active material locks down or releases the closure from the vehicle.