Planar non-compressible rigidizable chain assembly

A support assembly, comprising:

• first and second support elements each having a first coupling segment at one end, a second coupling segment at the opposite end, and a connecting segment extending between the first and second coupling segments, wherein each coupling segment of each of the first and second support elements includes a receiving cavity, an opposite projecting member and a passageway extending through the segment, wherein the projecting member of the first element is receivable and moveable within the receiving cavity of the second element;
• and
• a retention system including a first retention member passing through the passageway in the first coupling segments of the first and second support elements, and a second retention member passing through the passageway in the second coupling segments of the first and second support elements, wherein the retention system is arranged and configured to retain the projecting members of the first element within the cavities of the second element when the retention system is actuated to prevent disengagement of the support elements;
• wherein the support elements are arranged such that the first coupling segments extend within a first plane and the second coupling segments extend with a second plane, wherein the first and second coupling segments are substantially prevented from moving or rotating out of the first and second planes, respectively, by virtue of the positioning of the projecting members within the receiving cavities.

A support assembly, comprising:

• first and second support elements, each support element including:
• a first coupling segment at one end of a connecting segment, and a second coupling segment at an opposite end of the connecting segment, the first and second coupling segments having a projecting member;
• wherein the first and second coupling segments define a receiving cavity and first and second separate passageways extending through the first and second coupling segments respectively;
• wherein the projecting member of the first coupling segment of the first support element is receivable and moveable within the receiving cavity of the first coupling segment of the second support element;
• and
• a support frame including:
• first and second elongate bracing members at opposite ends of a connecting segment;
• a first coupling segment at one end of the connecting segment, and a second coupling segment at an opposite end of the connecting segment, the first and second coupling segments having a projecting member;
• wherein the first and second coupling segments define a receiving cavity and first and second separate passageways extending through the first and second coupling segments respectively;
• wherein the projecting member of the first coupling segment of the support frame is receivable and moveable within the receiving cavity of the first coupling segment of either first or second the second support elements;
• and
• wherein the first and second elongate bracing members extend away from the respective first and second coupling segments of the support frame;
• wherein the first elongate bracing member is substantially parallel to a first plane, and the second elongate bracing member is substantially parallel to a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane;
• and
• wherein the projecting member of the first coupling segment of either the first or second support elements is receivable and moveable within the receiving cavity of the first coupling segment of the support frame;
• wherein the support frame and the support elements are arranged such that the projecting members of the first coupling segments extend along the first plane, and the projecting members of the second coupling segments, extend along the second plane;
• and
• wherein the first and second coupling segments are substantially prevented from moving or rotating out of the first and second planes, respectively, by virtue of the positioning of the projecting members within the receiving cavities.

A support assembly, comprising:

• An upper frame with opposing brace members on opposite ends of an upper connecting segment, the upper connecting segment defining:
• at least two receiving cavities on opposite ends of the connecting segment;
• and
• multiple passageways through the upper connecting segment;
• A lower frame with opposing brace members on opposite ends of a lower connecting segment, the lower connecting segment having:
• at least two projecting members on opposite ends of the lower connecting segment;
• and
• multiple passageways through the lower connecting segment;
• Multiple joint segments, the joint segments having at least two projecting members on opposite ends of each of the multiple joint segments, the multiple joint segments defining:
• at least two receiving cavities on opposite ends of each of the multiple joint segments;
• and
• multiple passageways through the lower connecting segment;
• wherein the multiple joint segments are arranged between the upper frame and the lower frame;
• wherein the projecting members of one of the multiple joint segments are received within the receiving cavities on opposite ends of the connecting segment of the upper frame;
• wherein the projecting members of at least one of the multiple joint segments is received by the receiving cavities of at least one other of the multiple joint segments;
• wherein the projecting members on opposite ends of the connecting segment of the lower frame are received by the receiving cavities on opposite ends of at least one of the multiple joint segments;
• wherein one or more retention members passes through multiple passageways of the upper connecting segment, the multiple joint segments, and the lower connecting segment;
• wherein the opposite ends of the upper frame, multiple joint segments, and lower frame are aligned along a first and second plane that are substantially parallel;
• and
• wherein the upper frame, the lower frame, and the multiple joint segments are substantially prevented from moving or rotating out of the first and second planes by virtue of positioning the projecting members within the receiving cavities.