Patents by Inventor Sameh H. Tawfick

Sameh H. Tawfick has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11136693
    Abstract: A fiber-based device having a reconfigurable geometry comprises an array of hair-like fibers spaced apart on a substrate, where each hair-like fiber comprises a free end extending away from the substrate and a secured end attached to the substrate. The array has a first bundled configuration where the free ends of the hair-like fibers are drawn together into a bundle having a first cross-sectional shape, and a second bundled configuration where the free ends of the hair-like fibers are drawn together into a bundle having a second cross-sectional shape. The array is reconfigurable from the first bundled configuration to the second bundled configuration by exposure to a liquid and then removal of the liquid at a predetermined rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventors: Sameh H. Tawfick, Dongwoo Shin
  • Patent number: 11060512
    Abstract: An elongate fiber artificial muscle includes or consists of an elongate carbon or glass fiber and at least a partial coating of a polymer, and preferably a full shell coating to form a core-shell arrangement, that is volumetrically responsive to thermal changes or to moisture changes. Additional elongate fiber artificial muscles of the invention include a plurality of elongate carbon or glass fibers that are infiltrated between the fibers with a polymer that is volumetrically responsive to thermal changes or to moisture changes. In a fabrication method, the rheology (flow characteristic) of a polymer precursor is adjusted with solvent so it is less viscous. A fiber or plurality of fibers (pre-twisted or untwisted), such as a tow is dipped in the polymer precursor. The fiber or fibers is then pulled out of the polymer precursor and hung to allow polymer to distribute and then cured and can be twisted to coil prior to curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Sameh H. Tawfick, Caterina Lamuta
  • Publication number: 20200088174
    Abstract: An elongate fiber artificial muscle includes or consists of an elongate carbon or glass fiber and at least a partial coating of a polymer, and preferably a full shell coating to form a core-shell arrangement, that is volumetrically responsive to thermal changes or to moisture changes. Additional elongate fiber artificial muscles of the invention include a plurality of elongate carbon or glass fibers that are infiltrated between the fibers with a polymer that is volumetrically responsive to thermal changes or to moisture changes. In a fabrication method, the rheology (flow characteristic) of a polymer precursor is adjusted with solvent so it is less viscous. A fiber or plurality of fibers (pre-twisted or untwisted), such as a tow is dipped in the polymer precursor. The fiber or fibers is then pulled out of the polymer precursor and hung to allow polymer to distribute and then cured and can be twisted to coil prior to curing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Sameh H. Tawfick, Caterina Lamuta
  • Publication number: 20190093259
    Abstract: A fiber-based device having a reconfigurable geometry comprises an array of hair-like fibers spaced apart on a substrate, where each hair-like fiber comprises a free end extending away from the substrate and a secured end attached to the substrate. The array has a first bundled configuration where the free ends of the hair-like fibers are drawn together into a bundle having a first cross-sectional shape, and a second bundled configuration where the free ends of the hair-like fibers are drawn together into a bundle having a second cross-sectional shape. The array is reconfigurable from the first bundled configuration to the second bundled configuration by exposure to a liquid and then removal of the liquid at a predetermined rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Sameh H. Tawfick, Dongwoo Shin