초록 ▼

A deployable structural assembly is provided along with associated deployment mechanisms and associated methods of forming and deploying the structural assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the structural assembly includes a plurality of structural side elements formed from furlable truss structure

A deployable structural assembly is provided along with associated deployment mechanisms and associated methods of forming and deploying the structural assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the structural assembly includes a plurality of structural side elements formed from furlable truss structures. The truss structures may include spaced apart longitudinal members, members extending substantially transversely between the longitudinal members, and diagonal members extending between the longitudinal members at an acute angle relative thereto. A plurality of interlocking elements are located along the edges of the longitudinal members and are configured to engage interlocking elements of an adjacent structural side element. In one embodiment the truss structures may be formed to include at least one material layer having the longitudinal members, the cross-members and the diagonals formed as an integral structure. In another exemplary embodiment one or more of the structural side elements may include electronic components integrated therewith.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus including a deployable structural assembly comprising:at least three structural side elements, each of the at least three structural side elements formed from at least one sheet of material and comprising a furlable truss structure, each furlable truss structure c

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus including a deployable structural assembly comprising:at least three structural side elements, each of the at least three structural side elements formed from at least one sheet of material and comprising a furlable truss structure, each furlable truss structure comprising:a first longitudinal member;a second longitudinal member spaced apart from the first longitudinal member;a plurality of cross-members, each cross-member of the plurality extending substantially transversely between and coupled with the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member;a plurality of diagonal members, each of the plurality of diagonal members extending between and being coupled with the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member and each diagonal member of the plurality extending at an angle relative to an adjacent cross-member of the plurality of cross-members;a first plurality of interlocking elements formed in the first longitudinal member; anda second plurality of interlocking elements formed in the second longitudinal member, at least one interlocking element of the second plurality of interlocking elements comprising an opening formed therein;wherein a portion of at least one interlocking element of the first plurality of interlocking elements of one of the at least three structural side elements is configured to releasably engage within the opening formed in the at least one interlocking element of the second plurality of interlocking elements of an adjacent structural side element of the at least three structural side elements.