IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0233729
(2002-09-03)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
11 인용 특허 :
91 |
초록
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A foldable member including a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration and a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration. The second section is longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structur
A foldable member including a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration and a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration. The second section is longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration. A hinged connection between the first and second structural sections allows the first structural section to be folded against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat.
대표청구항
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1. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said first structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said first structural section; a se
1. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said first structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said first structural section; a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, the second structural section longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration, said second structural section also including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said second structural section; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat. 2. The foldable member of claim 1 in which the stiffeners of the first section are hingedly attached to the stiffeners of the second structural section.3. The foldable member of claim 1 in which the first structural section includes a foldable tube interconnecting the spaced stiffeners of the first structural section and the second structural section includes a foldable tube interconnecting the spaced stiffeners of the second structural section.4. The foldable member of claim 3 in which both foldable tubes have a wall thickness t1, the stiffeners have a thickness t2, and t1<<t2.5. The foldable member of claim 1 in which the first structural section includes a plurality of flexible struts interconnecting the spaced stiffeners of the first structural section and the second structural section also includes a plurality of flexible struts interconnecting the spaced stiffeners of the second structural section.6. The foldable member of claim 1 in which, when the first and second structural sections are folded flat, the stiffeners are interstitially arranged.7. The foldable member of claim 1 in which the stiffeners of the first section are attached to the stiffeners of the second section by discrete hinges all of which fold in the same direction where the two structural sections are folded flat.8. The foldable member of claim 1 in which the number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally of the first structural section are integral with the first section, and the number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally of the second structural section are integral with the second section.9. The foldable member of claim 1 in which the first and second structural sections are circumferentially continuous.10. The foldable member of claim 1 further including means for locking the first structural section in its open configuration with respect to the second structural section in its open configuration.11. The foldable member of claim 1 further including means for biasing the first section to be longitudinally aligned with the second section.12. The foldable member of claim 1 in which both sections are foldable flat by compressing opposite sides of the sections together.13. The foldable member of claim 1 in which both sections are foldable flat by unfurling them.14. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said first structural section; a second structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said second structural section and axially aligned with the longitudinally extending spaced stiffeners of the first section; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section. 15. The foldable member of claim 14 in which the hinged connection includes a discrete hinge between the proximal end of each stiffener of the first structural section and the proximal end of each axially aligned stiffener of the second structural section.16. The foldable member of claim 14 in which the first structural section includes material interconnecting the longitudinally extending stiffeners thereof, said material biased to have an open configuration, the second structural section also including material interconnecting the longitudinally extending stiffeners thereof, said material also biased to have an open configuration.17. The foldable member of claim 16 in which said material and said stiffeners are integral.18. The foldable member of claim 16 in which said material and said stiffeners are made of composite material.19. The foldable member of claim 16 in which the material has a wall thickness t1, the stiffeners have a thickness t2, and t1<<t2.20. The foldable member of claim 16 in which said material forms a foldable tube.21. The foldable member of claim 16 in which said material forms a plurality of flexible struts.22. The foldable member of claim 16 in which said material forms an unfurlable tube.23. The foldable member of claim 14 in which the first and second structural sections are circumferentially continuous.24. The foldable member of claim 14 in which the first structural section includes a plurality of flexible struts interconnecting the stiffeners of the first structural section and the second structural section also includes a plurality of struts interconnecting stiffeners of the second structural section.25. The foldable member of claim 14 further including means for locking the first structural section in its open configuration with respect to the second structural section in its open configuration.26. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section including spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said first structural section, the first structural section biased into an open configuration but unfurlable into a flat configuration; a second structural section also including spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said second structural section, the second structural section biased into an open configuration but unfurlable into a flat configuration; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections such that when they are both unfurled they can be folded together about each other. 27. The foldable member of claim 26 in which the hinged connection includes a pliable hinge interconnecting the proximal end of the first section to the proximal end of the second section.28. The foldable member of claim 26 in which the hinged connection includes discrete hinges each interconnecting a stiffener of the first section to a stiffener of the second section.29. The foldable member of clair 26 in which the first section forms a tube and the second section forms a tube.30. The foldable member of claim 29 in which the stiffeners are integral with the tubes.31. The foldable member of claim 29 in which both tubes have a wall thickness t1, the stiffeners have a thickness t2, and t1<<t2.32. A collapsible truss structure comprising at least one foldable member including:a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said first structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said first structural section; a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, the second section longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration, said second structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said second structural section; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat. 33. A collapsible truss structure comprising at least one foldable member including:a first structural section including a number of stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said first structural section; a second structural section including a number of stiffeners extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said second structural section and axially aligned with the longitudinally extending stiffeners of the first section; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section. 34. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said first structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally and a plurality of flexible struts interconnecting the spaced stiffeners; a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said second structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally and a plurality of flexible struts interconnecting the spaced stiffeners, the second section longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat. 35. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said first structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally; a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said second structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally, the second section longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded fiat, wherein the stiffeners are interstitially arranged when the first and second structural sections are folded flat. 36. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section including a number of longitudinally extending stiffeners, and material forming a plurality of flexible struts interconnecting said longitudinally extending stiffeners of the first structural section, said material biased to have an open configuration; a second structural section including a number of longitudinally extending stiffeners axially aligned with the longitudinally extending stiffeners of the first section, and material forming a plurality of flexible struts interconnecting said longitudinally extending stiffeners of the second structural section, said material biased to have an open configuration; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section. 37. The foldable member of claim 36 in which said material forms a foldable tube.38. The foldable member of claim 36 in which said material forms an unfurlable tube.39. The foldable member of claim 36 in which said material and said stiffeners are integral.40. The foldable member of claim 36 in which said material and said stiffeners are made of composite material.41. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section including a number of longitudinally extending stiffeners and a plurality of flexible struts interconnecting the stiffeners of the first structural section; a second structural section including a number of longitudinally extending stiffeners and a plurality of flexible struts interconnecting the stiffeners of the first structural section, said second structural section axially aligned with the longitudinally extending stiffeners of the first section; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section. 42. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section including a number of longitudinally extending stiffeners, with material interconnecting said longitudinally extending stiffeners of the first structural section, said material biased to have an open configuration and having a thickness t1<< than the thickness of the stiffeners t2; a second structural section including a number of longitudinally extending stiffeners axially aligned with the longitudinally extending stiffeners of the first section, with material interconnecting said longitudinally extending stiffeners of the second structural section, said material biased to have an open configuration and having a thickness t1<< than the thickness of the stiffeners t2; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section. 43. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section including spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally, the first structural section biased into an open configuration but unfurlable into a flat configuration; a second structural section also including spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally, the second section biased into an open configuration but unfurlable into a flat configuration; and a pliable hinged connection between the first and second structural sections such that when they are both unfurled they can be folded together about each other, the pliable hinge interconnecting the proximal end of the first section to the proximal end of the second section. 44. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said first structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally and beyond an edge of said first structural section; a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, the second structural section longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration, said second structural section also including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally and beyond an edge of said second structural section; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat. 45. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said first structural section including at least one spaced stiffener extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said first structural section; a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, the second structural section longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration, said second structural section also including at least one spaced stiffener extending longitudinally along the entire or substantially the entire length of said second structural section; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat. 46. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said first structural section including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the length of said first structural section, said spaced stiffeners configured to increase stiffness and strength of the first structural section; a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, the second structural section longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration, said second structural section also including a number of spaced stiffeners extending longitudinally along the length of said second structural section, said spaced stiffeners configured to increase stiffness and strength of the second structural section; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat. 47. A foldable member comprising:a first structural section foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, said first structural section including a number of spaced lengthy stiffeners extending longitudinally along a majority of the length of said first structural section; a second structural section also foldable flat and biased to have an open configuration, the second structural section longitudinally aligned with the first structural section when both structural sections are in the open configuration, said second structural section also including a number of spaced lengthy stiffeners extending longitudinally along a majority of the length of said second structural section; and a hinged connection between the first and second structural sections for folding the first structural section against the second structural section when both structural sections are folded flat.
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