EXPANDING DEVICES

• US 20130287477A1
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Armando Camacho
• Original Assignee: Armando Camacho
• Inventors: Camacho, Armando
• Granted Patent: US 9,664,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/83
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/00 Means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it riveted or deformable spigots F16B19/04; for gudgeon pins F16J1/18; Stud-and-socket releasable fastenings
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0025 display surface tensioning means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0031 Tensioned curved signs; Signs with curved tensioning structures
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0062 collapsible
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/042 the advertising matter being fixed on the roof of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32254 Lockable at fixed position

Abstract

An expandable device including: a first member; a second member; at least one tension member attached to the first and second members and extending between the first and second members, the first and second members movable between an open position, in which at least a part of the first member is spaced from the second member, and a closed position, in which said at least a part of the first member is adjacent the second member; and at least one spacer sized to be located between the first and second members when in the open position, and to maintain the first and second members in the open position, wherein, in the open position, the at least one tension member is held taut between the first and second members.

Claims

1. An expandable device including:

a first member;

a second member;

at least one tension member attached to the first and second members and extending between the first and second members, the first and second members movable between an open position, in which at least a part of the first member is spaced from the second member, and a closed position, in which said at least a part of the first member is adjacent the second member; and

at least one spacer sized to be located between the first and second members when in the open position, and to maintain the first and second members in the open position,

wherein, in the open position, the at least one tension member is held taut between the first and second members.

2. The expandable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the open position, the tautness of the at least one tension members is such to prevent substantial movement of the first and second member relative to one another.

3. The expandable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one spacer is adjustable in length.

4. The expandable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one spacer is at least one rod.

5. The expandable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one tension member includes at least one display panel and/or a display panel mounting upon which at least one display panel can be mounted.

7. The expandable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and/or second member includes an engagement portion for engaging with a support.

8. The expandable device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the support is the seat stem of a bicycle frame such that the device can be mounted on the seat stem once the seat is removed.

9. The expandable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second members are substantially planar, and the at least one tension member includes a panel that extends from the periphery of the first member to the periphery of the second member such that, when in the open position, the spacer is substantially enclosed within the device.

10. The expandable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second member are substantially disc shaped, and the at least one tension member includes a display panel that extends from the periphery of the first member to the periphery of the second member such that, when in the open position, the device is substantially cylindrical.

11. The expandable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and/or second member includes an aperture for receiving a portion of the spacer there through.

12. The expandable device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the aperture is configured to releasably engage the spacer in a locking arrangement.

13. The expandable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one tension member is a flexible sheet.

14. The expandable device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the closed positioned, the tension member is flaccid.

15. The expandable device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the device includes a lighting assembly to illuminate the at least one display panel.

6. (canceled)

16. An expandable device including:

a first member;

a second member;

an extension extending between the first member and the second member, the extension permitting the first member and the second to move with respect to one another between an expanded configuration, wherein the first and second member are separated by a first distance, and a compact configuration, wherein the distance between the first and second members is less than the first distance; and

a spacer for maintaining the first and second members in the expanded configuration.

17. An expandable device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the spacer is removable and/or reducible in length to allow the first and second members to leave the expanded configuration.

19. An expandable device as claimed in claim 16 wherein, in the expanded configuration, the extension is substantially completely extended.

20. An expandable device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the extension is a display panel of flexible material, the display panel being substantially taut in the expanded configuration.

22. The expandable device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the first and second members are substantially planar, and the extension extends from the periphery of the first member to the periphery of the second member such that, when in the expanded configuration, the spacer is substantially enclosed within the device.

18. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

23. An expandable device, including:

a first member;

a second member;

a spacer; and

a panel attached to and extending between the first and second members;

wherein, said device is expandable from

a closed position, in which at least a part of said first member is substantially adjacent said second member, and,

an open position, in which said spacer is located between said first and second member, whereby at least a part of said first member is spaced apart from said second member, and said panel is held substantially taut between said first and second members.

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)