초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a deployable, continuously extendible and collapsible, closed or open ended, free standing or supported spatial structure comprising an array of spaced apart adjacent layers or tiers of pivotally connected criss-crossed bars with the bars in each layer being connecte

The present invention relates to a deployable, continuously extendible and collapsible, closed or open ended, free standing or supported spatial structure comprising an array of spaced apart adjacent layers or tiers of pivotally connected criss-crossed bars with the bars in each layer being connected to each other in rows and columns and with rods coupling the layers together.

대표청구항 ▼

A spatial structure expandible and contractible to an infinite number of rectilinear or curvilinear positions between fully extended and fully contracted positions comprising: (a) a first finite number of rows of expandible and contractible units thereby establishing a first row and a last row there

A spatial structure expandible and contractible to an infinite number of rectilinear or curvilinear positions between fully extended and fully contracted positions comprising: (a) a first finite number of rows of expandible and contractible units thereby establishing a first row and a last row thereof; (b) a second finite number of columns of said units thereby establishing a first column and a last column thereof; (c) a third finite number of tiers comprising said rows and columns of interconnected expandible and contractible units; (d) each row comprising a first multiplicity of units extending in a first direction; (e) each unit comprising a pair of criss crossed bar means; (f) first coupling means pivotally connecting said bar means to each other at a central portion thereof for scissors-like movement of said bar means; (g) second coupling means pivotally connecting the end portion of each bar means of a pair thereof to one end portion of each bar means of an adjacent pair thereof in tandem to thereby provide the pivotally connected row of scissors-like units extending in said first direction; (h) each column comprising a second multiplicity of said units extending in a second direction different from said first direction; (i) third coupling means pivotally connecting the end portion of each bar of a pair to one end portion of each bar of an adjacent pair thereof in tandem to thereby provide the column of pivotally connected, scissors-like units extending in said second direction. (j) a finite number of tiers, each tier comprising a third multiplicity of said units connected to each other as recited in a. and b., said finite number of tiers extending in a direction different from said first and second directions; (k) a plurality of rod means each having first and second opposite ends, said rod means being oriented in said third direction, and (l) fourth coupling means pivotally connecting the respective opposite ends of each of said rod means to the bar means in respective adjacent tiers to thereby position each tier in spaced apart relation from each other tier in said third direction.