Patent ID: 6484972
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: B64G,F24S,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
An articulated system, comprising:a first inline panel (1); a second inline panel (3); an articulation (11) having a first articulated member (12) connected to said first inline panel (1), and a second articulated member (13) connected to said second inline panel (3), said first articulated member-and said second articulated member rotate relative to each other about a first articulation axis (16) for deployment of at least said second inline panel from a stacked configuration to a deployed configuration; a first side panel (4) connected to said second inline panel (3), said first side panel rotates about a side panel axis for deployment of said first side panel with respect to said second inline panel from a stacked configuration to a deployed configuration, said first side panel having a first restraining member (28); and said articulation (11) further having a locking mechanism, including: a first control surface (22) that rotates with said first articulated member (12) about the first articulation axis (16); a first locking surface (25) that rotates with said first articulated member (12) about the first articulation axis (16); a second control surface (19â€²) that rotates about a second articulation axis (20) and abuts said first control surface (22) during deployment of said first inline panel and said second inline panel from the stacked configuration to the deployed,configuration; a second locking surface (18â€²) that rotates about the second articulation axis (20) and abuts said first locking surface (25) after deployment of said first inline panel and said second inline panel from the stacked configuration to the deployed configuration to prevent said first inline panel from rotating back to said stacked configuration; and a support arm (27) having a second restraining member (26), said support arm (27) and second restraining member (26) rotate about the second articulation axis (20), said second restraining member (26) couples with said first restraining member (28) during deployment of said first inline panel and said second inline panel from the stacked configuration to the deployed configuration, said second restraining member (26) uncouples with said first restraining member (28) after deployment of said first inline panel and said second inline panel from the stacked configuration to the deployed configuration to allow deployment of said first side panel with respect to said second inline panel.