Abstract: A structure comprising a pair of end plates, plural longerons arranged parallel to one another and elastically buckled, a plurality of radial spacers for holding these longerons at a certain interval and a pair of diagonal cords stretched between two adjacent radial spacers, between one of the end plates and the uppermost radial spacer and between the other of the end plates and the lowest radial spacer, respectively, wherein a means is attached to one of the paired diagonal cords stretched between one of the end plates and the uppermost or lowest radial spacer to apply a predetermined tension to this diagonal cord. The transforming of the longerons or radial spacer located at one end of the structure can be restrained by the tension applying means while the structure is being deployed or collapsed.

Abstract: A structure comprising a pair of end plates, plural longerons arranged parallel to one another and elastically buckled, a plurality of radial spacers for holding these longerons at a certain interval and a pair of diagonal cords stretched between two adjacent radial spacers, between one of the end plates and the uppermost radial spacer and between the other of the end plates and the lowest radial spacer, respectively, wherein a means is attached to one of the paired diagonal cords stretched between one of the end plates and the uppermost or lowest radial spacer to apply a predetermined tension to this diagonal cord. The transforming of the longerons or radial spacer located at one end of the structure can be restrained by the tension applying means while the structure is being deployed or collapsed.

Abstract: An extensible structure comprising five or more longerons which can be resiliently deformed like a coil, a plurality of batten members arranged at certain intervals in the axial direction of the longerons to connect the longerons to one another, and two chords diagonally stretched on a plane formed a four connected points where the two longerons with at least one longeron interposed between them are connected by the two batten members adjacent in the axial direction of the longerons.

Abstract: A spring apparatus has a spring body including a plurality of elastic longitudinal beam members and a coupling beam member for holding the elastic longitudinal beam members at a predetermined interval. The apparatus further has a pair of spring retaining members for supporting the both ends of the spring body, and a rotary member rotatable provided around the central axis of the spring body as a center at least one one spring retaining member. At least one of the elastic longitudinal beam member is provided at one end of the rotary member. This spring apparatus is a tightly wound coil and made of the elastic longitudinal beam members in fully compressed state. When extended, each elastic longitudinal beam member is sequentially spirally deformed at larger pitch from the end. The twisting deformation of the elastic longitudinal beam member is released by rotation of the rotary member.

Abstract: An extendible structure includes at least three extendible longerons and a plurality of integrated radial spacers. Each spacer includes a plurality of legs integrally formed therewith to radially extend from the central part thereof. The distal end of each of the spacers is connected to a corresponding one of the extendible longerons. In the extended state of the extendible structure, at least three longerons are deployed in parallel with one another with space intervals among them in the lateral direction which intersect with the direction of extension of the longerons, and the spacers support the longerons with the horizontally spaced interval within a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the longerons. In the collapsed condition of the extendible structure, each of the longerons is collapsed in a loop form, and the spacers are laid one upon another inside the loop formed by the longerons while the legs of the spacers are twisted.