Apparatus for deploying and retracting a flexible portion of material

Abstract

An apparatus ( 1, 51, 101 ) for deploying and retracting a flexible portion of material ( 2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702 ), the apparatus ( 1, 51, 101 ) comprising a flexible portion of material ( 2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702 ) having an arrangement ( 203, 303, 403, 503, 603, 703 ) for carrying threads ( 4, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704 ) along the flexible portion of material ( 2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702 ). The threads ( 4, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704 ) extend along the flexible portion of material ( 2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702 ) via the thread carrying arrangement ( 203, 303, 403, 503, 603, 703 ), The apparatus ( 1, 51, 101 ) has a container ( 6, 56, 106 ) for storing the flexible portion of material ( 2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702 ), the container ( 6, 56, 106 ) having an arrangement ( 7, 111 ) for facilitating movement of the threads ( 4, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704 ) so that the flexible portion of material ( 2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702 ) is incrementally loaded into the container ( 6, 56, 106 ). At least part of the thread means ( 4, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704 ) is movable relative to the flexible portion of material ( 2, 202, 302, 402, 502, 502, 702 ).

1 . An apparatus for deploying and retracting a flexible portion of material, the apparatus comprising:
 a flexible portion of material having means for carrying thread means along the flexible portion of material,   thread means extending along the flexible portion of material via the thread carrying means; and   a container for storing the flexible portion of material, the container having an arrangement for facilitating movement of the thread means so that the flexible portion of material is incrementally loadable into the container, at least part of the thread means being movable relative to the flexible portion of material.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the thread means is fixable relative to the flexible portion of material. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the thread means is fixable relative to the thread carrying means. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thread means comprises a plurality of threads with one end of each thread being fixable relative to the flexible portion of material. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thread carrying means comprises one or more seams attached to the flexible portion of material. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thread carrying means comprises loops of material attached to the flexible portion of material. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion of material comprises two overlapping sheets of material joined along a part of their overlapping edges. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion of material is manufactured from rip stop nylon, polyester known as china silk, chiffon or natural silk. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion of material is selected from the group consisting of a reusable carrier bag, a sail, an item of clothing, a sleeping bag, a sleeping blanket, a ground sheet, a camouflage net, a mosquito net, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the arrangement for facilitating movement of the thread means along the thread carrying means is selected from the group comprising a mechanical actuator, an electrical actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator mounted on the container, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the mechanical actuator is a recoil reel movably mounted on the container. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the recoil reel has a biasing means operably coupled between the container and the recoil reel. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the biasing means is a clock/spiral spring. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the recoil reel has a plurality of cylindrical channels of different diameters. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the recoil reel has a pawl and ratchet arrangement. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises two parts each of which houses an arrangement for facilitating movement of the thread means. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein one part of the container is coupled to one part of the flexible portion of material and the other part of the container is coupled to the another part of the flexible portion of material on mutually opposing locations. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the two parts have location means for guiding the two parts together into correct positional alignment. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the two parts have releasable fastening means. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)