Patent ID: 7357238

Claim:
An expandable and collapsible structural module, comprising: at least three strut pairs, each strut pair including a first strut having a first end and a second end and a second strut having a first end and a second end, the first strut and the second strut being pivotably connected to each other at a point between the first and second ends of the first strut and the second strut, respectively, the at least three strut pairs being arranged end to end such that the first end of a first strut of any strut pair of the at least three strut pairs is pivotably attached to the second end of a second strut of a preceding strut pair of the at least three strut pairs and the first end of any second strut of the at least three strut pairs is pivotably attached to the second end of a first strut of the preceding strut pair, at least three corners being defined by connected ends of the at least three strut pairs; at least three legs pivotably connected at respective ones of the at least three corners to the connected ends of the at least three strut pairs, at least one of the at least three legs being a telescoping leg; and at least one tension member disposed between ends of two or more of the at least three legs, wherein the at least one tension member includes a foldable strut member.