US Patent 7617639 Tape-spring deployable boom

A self-deployable, monolithic, open-lattice frame structure of resilient, tape-spring members. The structure is comprised of three or more longitudinal prismatic tape-spring members (longerons) and non-prismatic tape-spring members (battens) that are connected transversely to the longerons. The longerons can be reconfigured in a z-folding manner to compact the structure. The batten members have a twist at each end of the same magnitude and sense, such that when connected to the longerons, the concave surfaces of the battens substantially face along the longitudinal direction of the frame structure. This batten shape permits them to nest within adjacent battens when the structure is compacted.