Patent ID: 8853916

Claim:
A reconfigurable bi-stable device, comprising: an elastically deformable panel laterally disposed between and connected to one or more mounting members directly or indirectly connected to opposing ends of the panel, said panel maintained under compressive force along at least one vector extending between said opposing ends, said compressive force deforming the panel into a one of two stable deformed positions; said device disposed such that the panel is movable between each of the two stable deformed positions by application of manual force to one of two opposing faces of the panel; and a first shape memory alloy wire connected at a first end to a face of the panel and connected at a second end to the mounting member(s), said first shape memory alloy wire having a short remembered length and a long deformed length such that, upon heating, it moves the panel from a second one of the two stable deformed positions to a first one of the two stable deformed positions.