Bearing structure

A one-piece expandable flat bearing structure comprising at least partially elastically deformable struts which are separated from each other by openings in the bearing structure, wherein the bearing structure can assume at least one compressed condition and at least one expanded condition and has at least one expansion direction,

• wherein:
• the bearing structure has anchor regions from which spring struts which are elastically resilient with respect to the anchor regions extend to a resiliently deflectable end of the spring struts, a hinge strut adjoining said end, wherein the spring struts and the hinge struts are of such a configuration and arrangement that the spring struts are initially resiliently deflected transversely to the expansion direction during the transition from the compressed condition to the expanded condition by the folding-over hinge struts and finally spring back, while a respective central axis of the hinge struts is simultaneously pivoted about a hinge axis extending transversely with respect to the bearing structure beyond a reference axis which extends within the bearing structure transversely with respect to the expansion direction and transversely with respect to the hinge axis so that both the compressed condition of the bearing structure and also the expanded condition of the bearing structure is stabilized by a spring action emanating from the spring struts.