Patent attributes
Door elements having FinRay structures are described herein. An example door element described herein is movable between a closed position in which the element extends across a doorway to at least partially block the doorway, and an open position where at least a portion of the element moves to a non-blocking position relative to the doorway. The door element includes a first flexible side element to transmit tensile forces and has a proximal end and a distal end. The door element includes a second flexible side element to resist compressive forces and has a proximal end and a distal end. The first and second side elements are coupled to each other at their distal ends. The element includes a plurality of connecting ribs flexibly coupled to the first and second side elements to transmit tensile forces between the first and second side elements. An actuator applies a longitudinal tensile force to the proximal end of the first side element, where the resulting deformation of the second side element is transmitted to the first side element by the connecting ribs in movement of the door element to the open position.
