Patent ID: 6266030
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: B64G,H01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A self-actuated structure capable of moving between first and second positions, the structure comprising:a flexible skin;at least one ring operably connected to said flexible skin; anda plurality of stiffeners operably connected to said flexible skin and extending across at least a portion of said flexible skin, each stiffener having an unbiased relaxed shape in the absence of external bias forces, each stiffener also having a biased shape, different than the unbiased relaxed shape, upon the application of external bias forces,wherein application of external bias forces causes said plurality of stiffeners to assume the biased shape which moves the self-actuated structure into the first position,wherein removal of the external bias forces allows the plurality of stiffeners to assume the unbiased relaxed shape and to move the self-actuated structure to the second position, andwherein said flexible skin is folded at least partially around said at least one ring in one of the first and second positions and is at least partially unfolded relative to said at least one ring in the other of the first and second positions.