| 摘要 |
<p>Various structures, such as a stair, bridge, table, ladder, or stretcher can be folded to a compact configuration for transportation and/or storage but rapidly extended for deployment as a rigid, load-bearing device. The structures include a plurality of rows of rigid plates (1) hinged together about mutually perpendicular axes. If all of the plates are in a common plane and a force is applied perpendicular to the hinge axes, the plates can fold up to a compact form. When one or more of the rows of plates is swung perpendicular to a further row of hinged plates, the configuration becomes rigid and capable of supporting a load.</p> |
