초록 ▼

A structure capable of being expanded and retracted. The structure includes a pair of cells each including a plurality of leg elements which are pivotally joined at one end to form an apex point and which are pivotally joined at their opposite ends from the apex point connection to the corresponding

A structure capable of being expanded and retracted. The structure includes a pair of cells each including a plurality of leg elements which are pivotally joined at one end to form an apex point and which are pivotally joined at their opposite ends from the apex point connection to the corresponding leg element from the other cell to form a plurality of common base points. The structure also includes a plurality of hinged elements connected between adjacent common base points to thereby form a common base and the hinged elements each have a pair of sections that are connected at a hinge point approximately midway between the adjacent common base points to which the other end of each section is connected. The structure further includes an actuator means having its ends pivotally attached to the apex points and a means associated with the actuator means for biasing the apex points to which the actuator means is attached towards and away from each other whereby the leg elements pivot about the apex points and the base points, the sections of the hinged elements pivot about the base points and the hinge points to thereby expand or retract the structure, respectively.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A structure capable of being expanded and retracted comprising: (a) a pair of cells; (b) said cells each including a plurality of leg elements which are pivotally joined at one end to form an apex point and which are pivotally joined at their ends opposite from the apex point connection, to t

1. A structure capable of being expanded and retracted comprising: (a) a pair of cells; (b) said cells each including a plurality of leg elements which are pivotally joined at one end to form an apex point and which are pivotally joined at their ends opposite from the apex point connection, to the corresponding leg element from said other cell to form a plurality of common base points, said leg elements comprising means for sustaining compressive loads; (c) a plurality of tensional, hinged, elements connected between adjacent common base points to thereby form a common base; (d) said hinged elements each having a pair of sections that are connected at a hinge point approximately midway between said adjacent common base points to which said other end of each section is connected, said hinged elements comprising means for forming a linear configuration sustaining tensional loads and for folding into a compacted configuration upon the application of compressive loads; (e) an actuator means having its ends pivotally attached to said apex points; and (f) biasing means associated with said actuator means for biasing said apex points, to which said actuator means is attached, towards and away from each other whereby said leg elements pivot about said apex points and said base points, said sections of said hinged elements pivot about said base points and said hinge points to thereby expand or retract said structure, respectively; (g) wherein said actuator means further comprises means for expanding said structure from a compacted to an expanded configuration by drawing said apex points toward each other and for applying compressive loads upon said leg elements for displaying said ends of said leg elements opposite said apex points mutually outwardly against constraining, tensional forces exerted by said hinged elements. 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said structures oriented in a substantially similar manner are connected together to form a larger structure that is capable of being expanded and retracted in a similar manner to said structure. 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein siad cells each include four leg elements and four hinged elements such that said cells are generally pyramidal in shape and are generally mirror images of each other. 4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes a capable means for connecting said apex points, a motor driven cable reel system capable of winding said cable means to inwardly bias said apex points for erecting said structure, and a plurality of spring elements that are adapted to cause said leg elements to exert an outward bias against said apex points to cause said structure to retract. 5. A method for assembling a large structure formed from a plurality of smaller structures where each of said smaller structures includes a pair of cells each having a plurality of leg elements that are pivotally joined at one end to form an apex point and which are pivotally joined at their opposite ends to the corresponding leg element from said other cell to form a plurality of common base points, a plurality of hinged elements connected between adjacent common base points to thereby form a common base where said hinged elements each have a pair of sections that are connected at a hinge point approximately midway between said adjacent common base points to which said other end of each section is connected, an actuator means having its end pivotally attached to said apex points, and means associated with said actuator means for biasing said apex points to which said actuator means is attached towards and away from each other whereby said leg elements pivot about said apex points and said base points, said sections of said hinged elements pivot about said base points and said hinge points to thereby expand or retract said structure, respectively, and that is capable of being expanded and retracted such that said larger structure can be similarly expanded and retracted, comprising: (a) longitudinally separating said smaller structures; (b) simultaneously tensioning each of said smaller structures along this longitudinal direction of expansion sufficiently to ensure that said sections of said hinged elements have formed a continuous element and that said hinge points are no longer broken; (c) simultaneously activating said actuator means for each of said smaller structures to bias the ends of said actuator means inwardly towards each other to thereby bias said apex points towards one another; and (d) adjusting and locking said actuator means to ensure that the inwardly directed bias is maintained on each of said individual smaller structures. 6. A deployable structure capable of being expanded and contracted, comprising: (a) a pair of cells each including a plurality of leg elements pivotally joined at one end to form an apex and pivotally joined at their opposite ends to a corresponding leg element from said other cell to form a plurality of common base points, the leg elements comprising means for sustaining compressive loads, (b) a plurality of tension structures each connected between a respective pair of adjacent common base points to thereby form a common base, said tensional structures comprising means for sustaining tensional loads, forming a substantially linear configuration under tensional loads, and adapted to collapse into a non-linear configuration upon the application of compressive loads; (c) actuating means connected between said apex points for drawing said apex points toward each other and for applying compressive forces upon said leg elements for urging said leg elements outwardly, thereby applying tensional forces to said tensional structures. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said tensional structures comprise foldable, hinged elements connected between adjacent common base points to thereby form a common base, each having a pair of sections connected at a hinge point approximately midway between said common base points. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said plurality of leg elements of each cell comprise four rigid, elongated members, and wherein said cells comprise respective pyramidal structures upon deployment. 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said actuator means connected between said apex points comprises actuator means for applying tensional forces for drawing said apex points toward each other, for deploying and maintaining deployment of said deployable structure, and for releasing said tensional forces for compaction of said deployable structure. 10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means connected between said apex points further comprises means for urging said apex points in mutually opposite directions for compaction of said deployable structure.