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:
Jul. 18, 2017
Filed:
Dec. 31, 2014
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, CO (US);
Aaron J. Seltzer, Boulder, CO (US);
David M Waller, Westminster, CO (US);
Lawrence J. Campbell, Westminster, CO (US);
Ryan T. Thompson, Longmont, CO (US);
Dustin S. Putnam, Broomfield, CO (US);
William D. Tandy, Boulder, CO (US);
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, CO (US);
Abstract
A deployable structure having a plurality of panel elements is provided. Adjacent panel elements are connected to one another by hinges. The hinges allow the panel elements to be placed in a stowed or folded configuration, in which adjacent pairs of panel elements are folded against one another to provide a relatively compact assembly. Biasing members can be provided to transition the deployable structure from the stowed configuration to a deployed configuration. When in the deployed configuration, the relative positions of the panel elements of the deployable structure are maintained, at least in part, by locating interface assemblies. The deployable structure may have a generally annular configuration when deployed.