Folding deployable panel structure having roll-up retaining spring for stowage

Claim 1

A deployable panel structure comprising: a support; a deployment mechanism on said support including a deployment boom mounting a cross-member at its outer end and means for moving said boom longitudinally between a retracted position wherein said cross-member is located adjacent said support and an extended position wherein said boom projects beyond one side of said support; a folding panel supported by said boom including a number of rectangular panel sections hinged edge-to-edge along parallel hinge lines normal to said boom; the ends of said panel being hinged to said support and cross-member, respectively, along hinge lines parallel to said first mentioned hinge lines, such that said panel is retractable with said boom to a folded configuration wherein said panel sections are disposed in confronting face-to-face relation against said support, and said panel is extendable with said boom to a deployed configuration wherein said panel sections are disposed substantially in a common plane containing said boom; means slidably supporting said panel sections on said boom in such a way as to permit folding and unfolding rotation of said sections relative to said boom during extension anD retraction; at least one panel retaining roll-up spring at each side of said cross-member having an outer end fixed to said support along the hinged edges of said panel sections in the folded configuration of said panel in a manner such that each spring may be unrolled flat across the outermost panel section to said boom cross-member; said springs comprising elastic bands which are preformed to roll up in the directions of their fixed outer ends to retracted positions wherein said springs clear said panel for deployment with said boom; and coacting retaining means on said cross-member and the inner ends of said springs for retaining said springs in their unrolled configurations when said boom is retracted to hold the folded panel sections firmly against said support and releasing said springs to roll up to their retracted positions upon initial extension movement of said boom.