Self-supporting collapsable and retractable elongate member and method of retracting

摘要

An apparatus including a housing having a. housing aperture, a spring biased retracting reel located within the housing, and an elongated member that includes a first end attached to the spring biased retracting reel and having a second distal end outside of the housing. The elongated member capable of winding upon the spring biased retracting reel while translating through the housing aperture, where the elongate member further includes an interior chamber defined by an uncoupled region between a first and a second arcuate elongate members and a venting mechanism capable of regulating air flowing in and out of the interior chamber. Each of the first and second arcuate elongate members further include at least a first layer of fiber material and a second layer of fiber material, where a majority of fibers in the first layer of fiber material are oriented substantially perpendicular to a majority of fibers in the second layer of fiber material.