Patent ID: 9593485
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: B29C,B32B,B66F,E04C,E04H

Claim:
1. A system, comprising: a spool; a composite boom which interconverts between a planate condition having a width disposed between a boom first longitudinal edge and a boom second longitudinal edge and a tubular condition having an amount of curvature between said boom first longitudinal edge adjacent said boom second longitudinal edge, said composite boom having a boom length disposed between a root end and a tip end, said planate condition coupled to said spool by said root end, whereby rotation of said spool in a first direction concentrically winds said planate condition of said composite boom about said spool, said tip end extensible from said spool by rotation of said spool in a second direction generating said tubular condition of said composite boom; and a first support assembly disposed at a first location along a boom central longitudinal axis to supportingly engage said composite boom as said tip end extends from said spool, said first support assembly having a plurality of support members disposed in circumferentially spaced apart relation corresponding to a curvature of the tubular condition of the composite boom to supportingly engage an external surface of said composite boom.