Importance

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Abstract

An extendable and retractable lift strut includes a support tube, a guide rod fixedly attached at the support tube, an extension tube that is extendable and retractable relative to the support tube and guide rod, and a biasing element that biases or urges the extension tube towards an extended position relative to the support tube. The biasing element may be a compression spring having a coiled wire formed of a shape memory alloy material. The biasing element provides a substantially constant biasing force over substantially the entire range of extension and retraction of the extension tube relative to the support tube. A locking mechanism may be disposed in the extension tube and may be selectively actuatable to lock relative to the guide rod to limit movement of the extension tube relative to the support tube.

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First Claim