Patent ID: 7625019

Claim:
A lock device comprising: a body; a controlled element which is mounted on the body for linear sliding between an operating and a non-operating position in a first direction; a flexible shape memory element which is actuated to displace the controlled element from the operating position to the non-operating position by extending or shortening a length thereof; means for heating the shape memory element, so as to cause passage thereof from an extended configuration to a shortened configuration due to shrinkage of the shape memory element and thus displace the controlled element from the operating position to the non-operating position, the shape memory element having a first end anchored with respect to the body, a second end connected to the controlled element and a third end anchored with respect to the body, the first end and the third end of the shape memory element being connected to the means for heating; a first transmission element and a second transmission element both coupled to the body for linear sliding in said first direction, the first transmission element provided so as to contact the shape memory element at a point between the first end and the second end thereof and the second transmission element provided so as to contact the shape memory element at a point between the second end and the third end thereof; and a connection element for mechanically connecting the first and second transmission elements to the controlled element, wherein the first and second transmission elements are movable so as to shift with respect to the body in said first direction, during passage of the shape memory element from the extended configuration to the shortened configuration, wherein a portion of the shape memory element that extends between said first end and the first transmission element forms a first portion, a portion of the shape memory element that extends between the first transmission element and the controlled element forms a second portion, a portion of the shape memory element that extends between the controlled element and the second transmission element forms a third portion and a portion of the shape memory element that extends between the second transmission element and said third end forms a fourth portion, wherein during passage from the extended configuration to the shortened configuration, the shape memory element generates a traction on the first and second transmission elements to cause the shift thereof in the first direction which in turn causes displacement of the controlled element via the connection element.