Patent ID: 7416316

Claim:
A strut holding assembly for use in combination with a plurality of flexible elongated struts that are engaged to a flexible wall and that each have a bent, tensioned position for holding the flexible wall in a use position when a free inner end of each strut is immobilized, the assembly comprising: a hub; a plurality of holding arms pivotally connected at spaced locations to the hub, between storage positions adjacent the hub and extended positions extending outwardly of the hub, each holding arm being adapted to immobilize a free inner end of one strut; at least one of the holding arms comprising: a seat adapted for receiving and immobilizing the free inner end of a strut in at least one direction; and a hook spaced from the seat by a fulcrum distance, the hook being adapted for engaging the strut at a distance from the free inner end of the strut equal to the fulcrum distance, for immobilizing the strut in its bent, tensioned position in at least three directions and being free to move in a remaining direction.