Patent ID: 7258347

Claim:
An active seal assembly, comprising: at least one seal body formed of an elastic material integrated with a seal base to define at least one finger projection; a selected one of a wire and a strip partially embedded within the seal body having an end that exits the seal body, wherein the partially embedded selected one of the wire and the strip is positioned within the seal body such that a shape of the seal body changes in response to a force exerted on the selected one of the wire and the strip; an active material in operative communication with the end of the selected one of the wire and the strip, wherein the active material is effective to undergo a change in at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein the change in the at least one attribute exerts the force on the selected one of the wire and the strip; an activation device in operative communication with the active material adapted to provide the activation signal; and a controller in operative communication with the activation device.