Elongate hollow element
AssigneeRolatube Technology Limited
InventorAndrew J. Daton-Lovett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An elongate element in the form of a longitudinally split tube (2) is arranged to be progressively flattened and wound about an axis (6) extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the tube to form a coil (4). To enable the tube (2) to be structurally rigid, but yet to enable it to be easy to wind and to remain coiled without being potentially explosive, a second layer (10, 12, 14 or 16) is affixed to the layer of spring steel (8) forming the tube (2). The second layer is arranged to be stressed to oppose the bias of the spring steel (8) which favours the formation of the tube.
Claims21
An element having an elongate hollow form and constructed and arranged to be selectively progressively flattened and wound about an axis extending transversely relative to a longitudinal extent of said elongate hollow form to define a compressed, wound form, wherein said element comprises first and second laminated layers affixed together so that said element comprises a unitary composite element, said first layer of said unitary composite element comprising a resilient substrate which is biased to said elongate hollow form, and said second layer of said unitary composite element being arranged to oppose the bias of the substrate upon adoption of the compressed, wound form, and wherein the elongate hollow form and the compressed, wound form of said unitary composite element are reversible and are both stable forms.
A portable structural element comprising a housing and an elongate element, the element having an elongate hollow form and constructed and arranged to be selectively progressively flattened and wound about an axis extending transversely relative to a longitudinal extent of said elongate hollow form to define a compressed, wound form, wherein said element comprises first and second laminated layers affixed together, said first layer comprising a resilient substrate which is biased to said elongate hollow form and said second layer is affixed to said substrate and opposes the bias of the substrate upon adoption of the compressed, wound form, and wherein the elongate hollow form and compressed, wound form of said element are reversible and are both stable forms, and wherein the element wound into its compressed, wound form is received within said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.