Patent ID: 6182929
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: B63B,B64C,Y02T

Abstract:
A load carrying structure adapted to be selectively rigid or flexibly reconfigurable, comprisinga thermoplastic material that has a softening temperature greater than a maximum operating temperature of said structure and that is in a flexible softened state at and above said softening temperature and in a rigid state below said softening temperature, anda heating arrangement arranged and adapted to heat at least a portion of said thermoplastic material to at least said softening temperature so as to soften said portion of said thermoplastic material into said softened state,wherein said structure is rigid when said heating arrangement is not operating and said thermoplastic material is in said rigid state at a temperature below said softening temperature, andwherein said structure is flexibly reconfigurable when said heating arrangement is operated to heat at least said portion of said thermoplastic material to at least said softening temperature so as to soften said portion of said thermoplastic material into said softened state.