Patent ID: 6031178
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: B64G,H02S,Y02E,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An expanding panel assembly comprising:a plurality of panels hingedly connected by a plurality of hinges, the panel assembly being moveable between a first state and a second state, said first state having said plurality of panels folded upon each other in a stacked arrangement, said second state having said plurality of panels situated adjacently edgewise in side-by-side fashion; anda plurality of elongated S-shaped torsional springs, each of said plurality of elongated torsional springs extending diagonally across a first face of an associated one of said plurality of panels,each of said plurality of elongated torsional springs being attached at a first position to a first adjoining panel at a first hinge line between an edge of said associated one of said plurality of panels and an edge of said first adjoining panel,each of said elongated torsional springs being attached at a second position on a second adjoining panel at a second hinge line between an opposite edge of said associated one of said plurality of panels and an edge of said second adjoining panel;wherein the panel assembly is designed and constructed to be cooperatively moved between said first state and said second state upon movement of one of said plurality of panels with respect to an adjacent one of said panels.