Patent attributes
A retractable rotor blade for a flying vehicle includes an interlink assembly having interconnected link base subassemblies, a helical ribbon assembly reinforcing the interlink assembly, and a flexible and elastic sleeve that covers the interlink and helical ribbon assemblies in extended and retracted states of the rotor blade. Each link base subassembly has a damper for dampening movement of the interlink assembly during extension and retraction of the rotor blade, a pair of retractable links by which the link base subassembly is interconnected with another of the link base subassemblies, a link hub, and a pair of locking arms housed in the link hub for locking the rotor blade in the extended state. The helical ribbon assembly has sequentially overlapped ribbons helically wound around the interlink assembly. The flexible and elastic sleeve has a flexible and elastic skin and elastic ribs for imparting rigidity to the flexible and elastic skin.
