Patent ID: 8322670

Claim:
A method of deploying a deployment apparatus, wherein the deployment apparatus comprises (i) a deployment object, (ii) a deployment arm coupled to the deployment object, (iii) a deployment link, wherein an end of the deployment link comprises a mating surface that confronts a mating surface of the deployment arm and an opposing end of the deployment link is coupled in a fixed location to a deployment arm mount, (iv) a pivot housing, wherein the pivot housing is adjacent the mating surfaces of the deployment link and the deployment arm, and (v) at least two linear guides, wherein the at least two linear guides are coupled to the deployment arm mount and comprise at least two tracks that are slidingly engaged with a plurality of linear bearings on the surface of the pivot housing, comprising the steps of: a. providing a gas spring, wherein the gas spring is coupled at one end to the pivot housing and coupled at an opposing end to the deployment arm mount; b. providing a locking arm, wherein the locking arm is releasably coupled to a latch pin positioned on the deployment arm; c. releasing the latch pin from the locking arm; d. releasing the gas spring; e. raising the pivot housing to an upper end of the at least two linear guides; f. providing a rotation limiting pin, wherein the rotation limiting pin is coupled to the mating surface of the deployment arm; g. positioning the deployment link adjacent the rotation limiting pin; and h. rotating the deployment arm from a stowed angle to a released angle, wherein the stowed angle is an angle formed between the deployment arm and a vertical axis, and wherein the released angle is an angle formed between the deployment arm and the stowed angle.