Patent ID: 6843029
Filing Date: 2005-01-18
Classification: B64G

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: at least one boom including a tip and a foot and having an expanded cross-section when said at least one boom is free from external forces; said at least one boom being designed and arranged to be compressed to attain a flat cross-section and to be rolled up with the flat cross-section to form a roll, said tip being located in a radial inward region of said roll and said foot being located in a radial outward region of said roll; a unit being designed and arranged to unfold said at least one boom and including a bearing being designed and arranged to cooperate with said foot in a way that said boom in the region of said bearing at the beginning of the unfolding process has an enlarged cross-section; and a source of compressed gas, said boom including an interior being designed and arranged to be connected to said source of compressed gas, wherein said at least one boom is expanded by restoring forces that tend to re-expand the flat cross-section of said at least one boom in said roll to unroll the boom, and wherein said at least one boom is buckle-free and is stiff due to its expanded cross-section once it is unrolled.