| 摘要 |
A collapsible watertight structure has a pair of essentially rigid opposite end members linked together by a flexible skin or sheet so that the structure may be repeatedly extended and collapsed. Longitudinal beams which are laterally rigid but longitudinally compressible extend between and are secured at their ends to the end members and hold the structure in distended position. Each beam is secured to one of the end members by a universal joint, such as a ball and socket, and is secured to the other end member by a joint which is slidable transversely thereof whereby the end members are placed under chordal distension urging them apart and causing the flexible skin to be distended and stressed between the end members to attain its shape. Flexible cable members embedded or otherwise secured to the flexible sheet and secured to the end members limit the distension and stress imposed by the end members on the flexible sheet. Floatation devices are mounted on each of the longitudinal beams when the device is used as a collapsible dinghy. A latch is provided to hold each of the beams in erected positions.
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