US3811633A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tubular extendable structure
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1972-10-20
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Granted: 1974-05-21
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Expires: 1992-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible tubular extendable structure comprising four walls wherein two oppositely disposed walls are formed by a pair of elongated ribbons, all of which are joined along their longitudinal edges forming a plurality of cusps allowing the structure to be folded flat and wound into a coil having the width thereof approximately equal to the diameter of the structure in an extendable mode. Four of the cusps are provided with means to permit positive control when the structure is being extended.
Inventors
- 👤 A Cummings
- 👤 G Freeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:14
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L11/00; F16L11/04; F16L11/12; F16L11/121; B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/16; B29C53/20; B65; B65H; B65H75/00; B65H75/02; B65H75/34; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/131; Y10T428/1314; Y10T428/1317
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A collapsible tubular extendable structure to be stored in a coiled manner comprising: a first pair of oppositely disposed elongated walls, each wall being preformed to expand along the longitudinal axis of said tubular structure when unrestrained from a flattened condition, and capable of being rolled into a coil about an axis generally transverse to its longitudinal axis in a substantially flattened condition; and a second pair of oppositely disposed elongated walls having their respective longitudinal edges bonded to respective adjacent longitudinal edges of said first pair of walls to form said tubular structure, each of said second walls being preformed to expand transversely when unrestrained and each wall being capable of folding to a flattened condition contiguous to said first pair of walls when said structure is rolled into said coil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A collapsible tubular extendable structure to be stored in a coiled manner comprising: a first pair of oppositely disposed elongated walls, each wall being preformed to expand along the longitudinal axis of said tubular structure when unrestrained from a flattened condition, and capable of being rolled into a coil about an axis generally transverse to its longitudinal axis in a substantially flattened condition; and a second pair of oppositely disposed elongated walls having their respective longitudinal edges bonded to respective adjacent longitudinal edges of said first pair of walls to form said tubular structure, each of said second walls being preformed to expand transversely when unrestrained and each wall being capable of folding to a flattened condition contiguous to said first pair of walls when said structure is rolled into said coil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein: said first pair of walls have a width that is substantially equal to the diameter of the unrestrained structure; said second pair of walls each having two ribbon elements bonded together along one of their longitudinal edges to form a cusp that is directed inwardly of the structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein: said ribbon eLements of said second pair of walls are substantially half as wide as each of said first pair of walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein: said first pair of walls and said second pair of walls are all joined one to another to form a plurality of cusps disposed substantially 90* apart and directed outwardly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 3 wherein: means are provided to engage each of said outwardly directed cusps to provide longitudinal motion to said structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure of claim 5 wherein said outwardly directed cusps are provided with evenly spaced holes formed in each cusp and said means comprises: a drive means engaging the holes of respective cusps; and motor means for driving each of said drive means in unison.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure of claim 6 wherein: each of said drive means comprises: a toothed belt having a plurality of teeth; a pair of pulleys over which said belt rides so that more than one tooth and more than one hole are in engagement; and means for coupling said motor means to one of said pulleys.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein: all of said walls are formed of a metallic flexible material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 8 wherein: said metallic flexible material comprises an aluminum foil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein: all of said walls are formed of a non-metallic composite material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 10 wherein: said non-metallic composite material comprises a graphite-epoxy composite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 10 wherein: said non-metallic composite material comprises a glass-epoxy composite.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1009297A
Cited
US3434254A
Cited
US3361377A
Cited
US3434255A
Cited
US3589632A
Cited
US3669368A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-20 | 1977-11-19 | 1978-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-20 | 1981-11-19 | 1982-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-11-19 | 1986-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |