Patent ID: 7107733

Claim:
Deployable structure with a modular configuration consisting of at least one collapsible module ( 91 ), which is bounded by joints ( 114 , 115 , 126 , 121 ) of a first joint set, which are corner joints of the module ( 91 ) and lie in a first surface, and by joints ( 101 , 102 , 113 , 108 ) of a second joint set, which are corner joints of the module ( 91 ) and lie in a second surface, and with at least a first joint ( 109 , 122 ) of a third joint set, which first joint lies outside of the first surface and is not located at a corner of the module, whereby at least some of the joints of the first and second joint sets respectively have a constrained and fixable position relative to one another by being connected with one another by a guide mechanism comprising scissors arrangements, characterized in that: the first joint ( 109 ) of the third joint set is connected respectively with at least two of the joints ( 114 , 115 , 113 , 121 ) selected from at least one of the first and second joint sets by a respective tension-only connecting element ( 39 , 41 , 43 , 45 ) that is adapted and able to transmit only tension forces, said first joint ( 109 ) of the third joint set is arranged below a lowermost joint ( 114 , 115 , 121 ) among the joints of the first joint set with which said first joint ( 109 ) of the third joint set is connected, forces arising upon loading of the structure by at least one of a useful working load and a self-weight load are transmittable as tension forces away from said first joint ( 109 ) of the third joint set to the joints ( 114 , 115 , 113 , 121 ) of at least one of the first and second joint sets via the tension-only connecting element ( 39 , 41 , 43 , 45 ) that is adapted and able to transmit only tension forces, a second joint ( 122 ) of the third joint set is connected with at least one joint ( 101 , 102 , 113 , 108 ) of the second joint set by a connecting element ( 40 , 42 , 44 , 46 ) that transmits tension and compression forces, and the first joint ( 109 ) of the third joint set is connected with the second joint ( 122 ) of the third joint set by a connecting element ( 11 ) that transmits compression and tension forces.