Expandable and collapsible shape element for a programmable shape surface
OwnerAnne Dewitteinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expandable and collapsible structure comprising at least two first members and a second member. Each first member includes two plates rotatably connected at an edge of each of the two plates. One of the two plates of each of the first members is adapted to be slidably coupled with the second member. When the two plates of each of the pair of first members are disposed in a non-parallel configuration, the structure is disposed in an expanded state and when the two plates of each of the first members are disposed in a parallel configuration, the structure is disposed in a collapsed state.
Claims20
An expandable and collapsible shape element comprising at least two first members 2, each of said at least two first members 2 having two plates 8, 10 rotatably connected at an edge of each of said two plates 8, 10, one of said two plates 8, 10 of said each of said at least two first members 2 is adapted to be slidably coupled with a second member 4, wherein when said two plates 8, 10 of each of said two first members 2 are disposed in a non-parallel configuration, said shape element is disposed in an expanded state and when said two plates 8, 10 of each of said two first members 2 are disposed in a parallel configuration, said shape element is disposed in a collapsed state.
An expandable and collapsible shape element comprising at least two first members 2, each of said at least two first members 2 having two plates 8, 10 rotatably connected at an edge of each of said two plates 8, 10, one of said two plates 8, 10 of said each of said at least two first members 2 is adapted to be slidably coupled with a second member 4 and at least one third member 6 having two plates 12, 14, one of said two plates 12, 14 of said at least one third member 6 is adapted to be slidably coupled with said second member 4, wherein when said two plates 8, 10 of each of said two first members 2 are disposed in a non-parallel configuration and when said two plates 12, 14 of said at least one third member 6 are disposed in a non-parallel configuration, said shape element is disposed in an expanded state and when said two plates 8, 10 of each of said two first members 2 are disposed in a parallel configuration and when said two plates 12, 14 of each of said at least one third member 6 is disposed in a parallel configuration, said shape element is disposed in a collapsed state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.