US Patent 7416316 Strut holding assembly

A strut holding assembly for flexible elongated struts engaging a flexible wall, the assembly including a hub, a plurality of holding arms pivotally connected at spaced locations to the hub between storage positions adjacent the hub, and extended positions extending outwardly of the hub, each holding arm being adapted to immobilize a free inner end of one strut. At least one of the holding arms has a seat adapted for receiving and immobilize the free inner end of a strut in at least one direction and a hook spaced from the seat by a fulcrum distance, the hook being adapted for engaging the strut at a distance from the free inner end of the strut equal to the fulcrum distance, for immobilizing the strut in a bent and tensioned position and in at least three directions and being free to move in a remaining direction.