Patent ID: 7770959

Claim:
A door system comprising: a structural member; a door being movably mounted with respect to the structural member; an actuator including an active material being configured to undergo a change in at least one attribute in response to an activation signal; said active material being operatively connected to the door such that said change in at least one attribute causes the door to move relative to the structural member; wherein said change in at least one attribute includes a change in shape; wherein said change in shape causes a force; and wherein said actuator is configured to transmit the force to the door thereby to move the door; wherein said active material reverses pseudo-plastic strain in response to the activation signal thereby to change in shape; a pinion gear being rotatably mounted with respect to one of the door and the structural member; a member at least partially defining a gear in meshing engagement with the pinion gear and being rigidly mounted with respect to the other of the door and the structural member; and a pulley mounted with respect to the pinion gear for rotation therewith; wherein said change in at least one attribute causes the pulley to rotate.