Patent ID: 8209976

Claim:
A release mechanism for releasing a load, comprising: at least one actuator comprising a shape memory (SM) comprising member, a deformable member mechanically coupled to said SM member which deforms upon a shape change of said SM member triggered by a phase transition of said SM member, and a retaining element mechanically coupled to said deformable member, wherein said retaining element moves upon said shape change; a rotatable mechanism comprising at least one restraining feature for restraining rotational movement of said retaining element before said shape change, and at least one spring that provides at least one locked spring-loaded position when said retaining element is in said restraining feature and at least one released position that is reached when said retaining element is in a position beyond said restraining feature, said rotatable mechanism having an open portion including at least one load-bearing protrusion extending into open portion, and a hitch for mechanically coupling to said load, wherein said hitch is inserted in said open portion, said hitch being supported on said load bearing protrusion when said rotatable mechanism is in said locked spring-loaded position; wherein upon said shape change said retaining element moves to said position beyond said restraining feature so that said rotatable mechanism rotates toward said released position to move said load bearing protrusion sufficiently to release said hitch and said load.