Collapsible structures

• US 6,766,815 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2001
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Original Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Inventors: Zheng, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US09/912,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 135/125, 135/126, 135/128, 135/143, 135/117, 160/370.21, 446/487, 473/471, 296/97.7
• US Class Current: 135/143
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/40 flexible

Abstract

A collapsible structure has a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The first panel has a first side that is stitched to the fabric of the second panel by a stitching. Another collapsible structure has a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The second panel has an opening provided in its fabric, with a first side of the first panel inserted through the opening to couple the first panel to the second panel.

Claims

1. A collapsible structure, comprising:

a first panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the first panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, and with the frame member collapsible to the folded position by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings; and

a second panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member of the second panel to form the second panel when the frame member of the second panel is in the unfolded orientation;

the first panel further including a first side having an edge that is connected to the fabric material of the second panel; and

wherein the second panel has a first side, and wherein first side of the first panel is stitched to the fabric of the second panel at an angle with respect to first side of the second panel.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the fabric material for each panel extends across the entire panel.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein each panel further includes a frame retaining sleeve that retains the frame member for the respective panel, with the fabric material for each panel stitched to the respective frame retaining sleeve.

4. A collapsible structure, comprising:

a first panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the first panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, and with the frame member collapsible to the folded position by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings; and

a second panel having a foldable frame member that defines an outer periphery for the second panel, the frame member of the second panel having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member of the second panel to form the second panel when the frame member of the second panel is in the unfolded orientation;

the first panel further including a first side having an edge that is stitched to the fabric material of the second panel at a location internal to the outer periphery of the second panel.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the fabric material for each panel extends across the entire panel.

6. The structure of claim 4, wherein each panel further includes a frame retaining sleeve that retains the frame member for the respective panel, with the fabric material for each panel stitched to the respective frame retaining sleeve.

7. The structure of claim 4, wherein the second panel has a first side, and wherein first side of the first panel is stitched to the fabric material of the second panel at an angle with respect to first side of the second panel.