US 11,787,130 B2
Mechanical systems to assemble or deploy pre-stressed structures
William E. Smith, Lebanon, IL (US)
Filed by William E. Smith, Lebanon, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/372,435.
Application 17/372,435 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/015122, filed on Jan. 25, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/797,672, filed on Jan. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0331431 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 70/42 (2006.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); B29C 65/48 (2006.01); B29C 65/56 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29K 63/00 (2006.01); B29K 83/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/34 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/42 (2013.01) [B29C 65/48 (2013.01); B29C 65/562 (2013.01); B29C 66/721 (2013.01); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); B29K 2063/00 (2013.01); B29K 2083/00 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0046 (2013.01); B29L 2031/34 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mechanical system to assemble or deploy a pre-stressed system comprising a first means to deform continuous lengths of elastic material sequentially to form a plurality of sinusoidal shaped members with a series of contiguous flexures, said sinusoidal shaped members having nodes and antinodes and each of said flexures beginning and ending at antinodes; a second means to position support members for maintaining the flexures in the sinusoidal shaped members, and a third means to connect the plurality of sinusoidal shaped members in antiphase at their respective antinodes, said first, second and third means being integrated and functioning sequentially.