Structural members, method and apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for fabricating a structural member such as truss from flexible sheet material in compacted form are disclosed. A number of generally tubular columns are progressively formed from the sheet material and deployed generally parallel to one another. Adjacent pairs of the columns are interconnected by respective side members, each of which is comprised of a strip of the sheet material. The sheet material is fastened together by self-attaching fasteners integrally formed from the sheet material of the columns and side members themselves.