The innovation relates to a pool covering system that is usable as a flooring surface. The pool covering system includes brackets and support beams spanning the pool opening. The beams provide structural support to cross members and flooring placed on top of the beams. The pool covering system does not require significant drainage of the pool and does not damage the pool structure during installation and use.

Systems, devices, and methods for precision boom deployment are provided in accordance with various embodiments. The tools and techniques provided may have space and/or terrestrial applications. Some embodiments include a boom deployment system that may include a furlable boom. Some embodiments include: boom reinforcement devices, end fitting devices, contoured support devices, edge support devices, spiral harness devices, latch devices, combined boom spool and tension drive devices, and/or rotary encoder devices. Some embodiments may utilize a composite slit-tube boom. Some embodiments utilize a furlable boom that may be fabricated with curvature along its length.

The present disclosure relates to deployable structures, to methods and apparatus for deployment of deployable structures, and to associated manufacturing methods. Such deployable structures suitably comprise components for space structures, such supports for solar arrays, antennas or other similar systems. The deployable structure (500) comprises a first lattice (514) arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The deployable structure also comprises a second lattice (516) arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein with the lattices arranged in the stowed configuration the second lattice (516) nests in the first lattice (514).

A flexible article is provided having a core formed from a plurality of laminar panels that are inter-connected to provide an expandable structure upon movement of the panels away from each other. Opposite ends of the core terminate, in a pair of end panels whereby the end panels may be moved apart to expand the expandable structure. Each of the panels are made from wood material. The panels, for example, include two wood sheets with longitudinally oriented grains and a flexible backing sheet that is sandwiched and adhered between the two wood sheets.

A deformable device includes a deformable beam or hinge having an extended state, a flattened state, and a rolled state if a beam, where a stiffness and strength in the extended state is greater than a different stiffness and strength in the flattened state, the deformable beam or the hinge deformable along a long axis. An end face cross section transverse to the long axis includes a first periodic curved member which defines at least two shaped curves. A second periodic curved member defines at least two shaped curves. The second periodic curved member is mechanically coupled to the first periodic curved member at respective ends of the end face cross section. The first arc length of the first periodic curved member and the second arc length of the second periodic curved member are of about a same arc length.

A boom deployer to deploy or retract a deformable boom includes a boom deployer frame. An integrated motor-spool assembly is translatably mounted in the boom deployer frame. At least one belt tensioning assembly is also translatably mounted in the boom deployer frame. The belt tensioning assembly tensions at least one recirculating belt which rolls over a roller of the belt tensioning assembly. The at least one recirculating belt is configured to roll over a rolled deformable boom, the deformable boom clamped to and rolled on the integrated motor-spool assembly. A boom deployer with a tensioned stationary belt is also described.

Systems, devices, and methods for precision boom deployment are provided in accordance with various embodiments. The tools and techniques provided may have space and/or terrestrial applications. Some embodiments include a boom deployment system that may include a furlable boom. Some embodiments include: boom reinforcement devices, end fitting devices, contoured support devices, edge support devices, spiral harness devices, latch devices, combined boom spool and tension drive devices, and/or rotary encoder devices. Some embodiments may utilize a composite slit-tube boom. Some embodiments utilize a furlable boom that may be fabricated with curvature along its length.

Various embodiments provide for bistable collapsible tubular mast (Bi-CTM) booms. Various embodiments provide CTM booms that may be bistable in nature, thereby achieving intrinsic benefits bistability may bring. Bistability may be achieved in various embodiments through specific combinations of the thin-shell cross-section geometry and the composite laminate selected for each thin-shell segment. Additionally, in various embodiments, the thin-shell geometry of each boom half may be different. Various embodiments may include combinations of circular, ellipsoidal, or parabolic segments that form each shell.

The innovation relates to a pool covering system that is usable as a flooring surface. The pool covering system includes brackets and support beams spanning the pool opening. The beams provide structural support to cross members and flooring placed on top of the beams. The pool covering system does not require significant drainage of the pool and does not damage the pool structure during installation and use.

A technique for improving durability of a frame is provided. A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure from a triangular hollow pipe composed of a first flat plate, a second flat plate, and a third flat plate includes forming a first slit in the hollow pipe so as to cut all the flat plates except the first plate and forming a second slit in the hollow pipe at a position different from a position of the first slit position in a longitudinal direction of the hollow pipe so as to cut all the flat plates except the second flat plate and folding back the first plate at the first slit position and folding back the second flat plate at the position of the second slit position.