A mast assembly (10), a method of deploying a mast (20), a slit locking clamp (50) for a mast and to a support assembly (14) for an extendible member (20) are provided. The mast assembly (10) comprises an extendible mast (20) configurable between a coiled form and an extended form. When extended the mast is resiliently biased in the form of an elongate tube having a slit along its length defined by longitudinal edges of the mast. When coiled the mast is opened out at the slit to a flattened cross section and wound about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the mast. A slit locking clamp (50) clamps across the slit in the mast at a position along the length of the mast so as to stabilise one edge relative to the other.

A method for producing a support structure having a three-dimensional geometry curved in any manner, includes making at least one first and one second flat material piece. The geometry has curves in three directions that are orthogonal to one another, and the method includes the following steps: A. preparing the desired geometry, B. approximating the desired geometry, C. subdividing the geometry, D. defining at least one clearance region, E. defining a plurality of connection points arranged on the at least one first and one second part, F. defining chamfered edges extending between the polygonal cross-sections, G. developing the at least one first and one second part, H. cutting to length at least one first and one second flat material piece, I. chamfering, and J. connecting the at least one chamfered first material piece and the at least one chamfered second material piece.

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.

An extendible membrane system may include: an extendible central column; one or more membranes; and/or one or more foldable membrane supports configured to support the one or more membranes. Each of the one or more foldable membrane supports may be configured to extend from the extendible central column. In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more foldable membrane supports includes two or more segments that may be configured to couple with each other. A method of deploying one or more membranes may include unfolding one or more foldable membrane supports from a folded configuration to a linear configuration. An extendible membrane device may include one or more membranes and one or more foldable membrane supports configured to support the one or more membranes.

A system comprises a retractable panel structure, for example a screen/wall/divider/partition that can be rolled up and that can be unrolled. The panel structure comprises a back face (47) and a front face (48) that are spaced-apart from each other. The front face (48) is at least partly formed of an array of strips (23, 40) that are separate from each other and that move apart to allow the panel structure to be rolled up and wherein the back face (47) forms hinges that connect the strips (23, 40) together and that are capable of flexing to allow the said strips (23, 40) to move apart when the sheet is rolled up.

A foldable quad-chord truss which can be connected end-to-end with like trusses. The chords of each pair of chords are rigidly attached, and connector members intermediate the ends are each swivelly attached to each of the chords of each chord pair to effect the folding into a compact shape for transport and storage. The connector members are adapted for attachment to beams or connector members thereof which beams may extend between a parallel pair of the trusses.

Inflatable beam (1) comprising fire hoses or other industrial seamless hoses with woven textile braiding, inner air-tight lining and optional outer protective coating, is composed of an assembly of at least three hoses (2) arranged longitudinally side by side, where ends of the hose (2) are closed by a closure (3). At least one of the hoses (2) comprises at least one inlet and/or discharge member (4) for an inflating medium. The hoses (2) are at the point of contact of their circumferences, or at place of the closest distance of their circumferences mechanically connected by stiff connections (5) spaced along the length of the assembly of the hoses (2), at least one length (L) of at least one hose (2) between adjacent connections (5) of the hoses (2) is smaller than the length (M) of the other hoses (2) between these connections (5).

Systems and methods for extending a boom. The methods comprise: placing a drive train assembly in a start configuration in which an engagement member of the drive train assembly is coupled to an inner telescoping segment of the boom; rotating a spool in a first direction so as to unwind a slit-tube that is coupled to the engagement member; causing the inner telescoping segment to move in a direction away from a proximal end of the boom as the slit-tube is being unwound from the spool; and coupling the inner telescoping segment to an adjacent telescoping segment when the inner telescoping segment reaches an extended position. The slit-tube extends a distance inside the boom that is equal to or less than a length of the adjacent telescoping segment when the inner telescoping segment is in the extended position.

Construction unit (1) for building up a frame (2), wherein the frame (2) comprises at least two girders (3a, 3b) and multiple uprights (4), wherein the construction unit (1) comprises a first construction profile (4), a second construction profile (5) and a third construction profile (6), wherein the first construction profile (4) is provided to serve as an upright (4) and the second and the third construction profile (5, 6) are each provided to be part of a respective girder (3a, 3b), wherein each construction unit (1) is provided to form only one upright (4) of a frame (2) and that multiple such construction units (1) are provided to be successively interconnected so that the first construction profiles (4) of successively construction units (1) extend at a distance from one another.

An insulation system and method comprising an insulation layer, an atmospheric regulation layer, a structural support, and an external surface; wherein the atmospheric regulation layer is supported by the structural support, wherein the insulation layer is located between the atmospheric regulation layer and the external surface, wherein the atmospheric regulation layer has a water vapor permeability of not greater than 3 perms at a relative humidity of 25% as measured by ASTM E96 Procedure A Dry Cup, and a water vapor permeability of at least 6 perms at a relative humidity of 75% as measured by ASTM E96 Procedure B Wet Cup, wherein the atmospheric regulation layer has a fire class A rating as measured by ASTM E84, and wherein the continuous atmospheric regulation layer has a ACH50 value of not greater than 10, wherein ACH50 represents an air exchange at 50 Pascals.