Patent ID: 8186369

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of support linkages collectively moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration; a hub moveably coupled to the plurality of support linkages; a support linkage from the plurality of support linkages, the support linkage pivotally coupled to the hub, the support linkage being moveable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration when the plurality of support linkages are moved between the first configuration and the second configuration, the support linkage including: a first member; and a second member unconstrainedly pivotally coupled to the first member, an angle formed by an intersection between a longitudinal axis defined by the first member and a longitudinal axis defined by the second member being less than 180 degrees when the support linkage is in its collapsed configuration, the angle being greater than 180 degrees when the support linkage is in its expanded configuration and such that the first support member and the second member are overextended relative to each other to maintain the support linkage in its expanded configuration, the hub and the plurality of support linkages collectively forming an interior region when the support linkage is in its expanded configuration; and a flexible shell coupled to the plurality of support linkages, the flexible shell configured to be elastically deformed by a first amount when the plurality of support linkages is in its first configuration, the flexible shell configured to be elastically deformed by a second amount when the plurality of support linkages is in its second configuration, the flexible shell configured to be elastically deformed by a third amount greater than the first amount and the second amount when the plurality of support linkages is in an intermediate configuration between its collapsed configuration and its expanded configuration, the flexible shell imparting a force on each support linkage from the plurality of support linkages when the plurality of support linkages is in its second configuration, the force imparted by the flexible shell being sufficient to resist movement of the plurality of support linkages from its second configuration to its first configuration or its intermediate configuration.