The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 13, 2010
Filed:
Dec. 12, 2003
David M. Murphy, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Thomas W. Murphey, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Michael E. Mceachen, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Matthew M. Botke, Ojai, CA (US);
David M. Murphy, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Thomas W. Murphey, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Michael E. McEachen, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Matthew M. Botke, Ojai, CA (US);
Alliant Techsystems Inc., Edina, MN (US);
Abstract
A deployable truss is formed from a plurality of column members connected at their ends where at least some of the column members are formed from column assemblies, each including a plurality of strut members that are at least connected to each other at a first and second end of the column assembly. For added rigidity, strut members of a column assembly may be connected to each other between the first and second ends using, for example, a rigidizable resin, a fixed spacer, or a deployable spacer. Connecting strut members between the ends of the column assembly provides mutual bracing to the strut members and decreases the free buckling length of the individual strut members. Spacers are preferably configured to radially space the strut members away from the longitudinal centerline of the column assembly to increase its moment of inertia, and hence its buckling strength.