Patent ID: 6871818

Claim:
Apparatus comprising a support member, a plurality of petals each hinged at an end thereof to the support member, the petals being arrayed in a first position around a central axis of the apparatus in a first, undeployed configuration of the apparatus, actuating means operable to swing each of the petals around its hinged end to a second position in a second, deployed configuration of the apparatus and to lock the petals in said second position, said actuating means comprising an inertial member held within the apparatus in such a way that acceleration of the apparatus causes a displacement of the inertial member within the apparatus from an original position to a displaced position, the inertial member being connected to the petals in such a way that the displacement of the inertial member swings the petals to said second position, and retaining means that prevents displacement of the inertial member to said displaced position, and thereby prevents movement of the petals, in response to a first acceleration of the apparatus, the retaining means being able to be pulled away from the rest of the apparatus, whereby a second acceleration of the apparatus permits said displacement to said displaced position to occur and thereby permits the petals to be swung to said second position.