Foldable structure

• US 6,991,567 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Wong
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Wong
• Inventors: Wong, Kenneth, Chiu, Dannie
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US10/274,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20030203775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 473/478, 473/446, 473/432, 473/415, 473/471, 473/472, 473/479, 273/400, 273/396, 273/398, 273/401, 135/126, 135/123, 135/137
• US Class Current: 473/478
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/54 Foldable elastic frame members automatically resuming their expanded state when released
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/08 with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball A63B57/40, A63B63/06 take precedence

Abstract

A foldable structure is a singular structure that includes first and second flexible, foldable panels that are pivotally connected to each other along adjacent edge portions. One or more support panels pivotally connects to one of the flexible, foldable panels and removably connects to the other flexible foldable panel. When in an unfolded position, the foldable structure may comprise any of a variety of structures such as, for example, soccer goals, sports goals, basketball hoops, tents, etc. The flexible, foldable panels comprise flexible, foldable, continuous members covered by fabric covers that are sewn together to form the pivotal connections.

Claims

1. A foldable structure having folded and unfolded positions, the foldable structure comprising:

a first panel comprising a first foldable, flexible, continuous member and having first and second edge portions;

a second panel comprising a second foldable, flexible, continuous member and having third and fourth edge portions, the third edge portion being pivotally connected to the first edge portion; and

a third support panel having fifth and sixth edge portions, an angle of between 10 and 170 degrees being formed between the fifth and sixth edge portions when the foldable structure is unfolded, the fifth edge portion being pivotally connected to one of the second and fourth edge portions, the sixth edge portion being removably connected to the respective one of the second and fourth edge portions such that (a) when the foldable structure is in the unfolded position, the sixth edge portion is connected to the respective one of the second and fourth edge portions and the third support panel holds the second and fourth edge portions at the angle relative to each other, and (b) when the foldable structure is in the folded position, the sixth edge portion is disconnected from the respective one of the second and fourth edge portions.

2. The foldable structure of claim 1, wherein the foldable structure may be folded into the folded position by disconnecting the sixth edge from the respective one of the second and fourth edges, folding all three panels flat, and then folding the panels together.

3. The foldable structure of claim 1, wherein the first panel further comprises a first fabric cover that at least partially covers an internal area of the first flexible, continuous member, and wherein the second panel further comprises a second fabric cover that at least partially covers an internal area of the second flexible, continuous member.

4. The foldable structure of claim 3, wherein the first cover defines a brace that tends to hold the first member in a predetermined shape when the foldable structure is unfolded, and wherein the second cover defines a brace that tends to hold the second member in a predetermined shape when the foldable structure is unfolded.

5. The foldable structure of claim 3, wherein the pivotal connection between the first and third edge portions comprises an attachment between the first and second covers.

6. The foldable structure of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third panels are permanently connected together such that the members form a single foldable structure.

7. The foldable structure of claim 1, wherein the first through sixth edge portions are each substantially linear when the foldable structure is in the unfolded position.

8. The foldable structure of claim 7, wherein the first and third edge portions are parallel to each other when the foldable structure is in its unfolded position.

9. The foldable structure of claim 8, wherein the fifth edge portion and the one of the second and fourth edge portions are parallel to each other when the foldable structure is in its unfolded position.

10. The foldable structure of claim 9, wherein, when the foldable structure is in its unfolded position, the first panel forms a first rectangle with the first and second edge portions defining adjacent legs of the first rectangle, and

wherein, when the foldable structure is in its unfolded position, the second panel forms a second rectangle with the third and fourth edge portions defining adjacent legs of the second rectangle.

11. The foldable structure of claim 10, wherein the first panel has a seventh edge portion that defines a leg of the first rectangle opposite to the second edge portion, and

wherein the second panel has an eighth edge portion that defines a leg of the second rectangle opposite to the fourth edge portion, and

wherein the foldable structure further comprises a fourth support panel having ninth and tenth edge portions, the angle defining an angle formed between the ninth and tenth edge portions, the ninth edge portion being connected to one of the seventh and eighth edge portions, the tenth edge portion being removably connected to the respective one of the seventh and eighth edges.

12. The foldable structure of claim 10, wherein the first and second rectangles are equally sized.

13. The foldable structure of claim 12, wherein the first panel has an eleventh edge portion that defines a leg of the first rectangle that is opposite to the first edge portion, and wherein the second panel has a twelfth edge portion that defines a leg of the second rectangle that is opposite to the third edge portion.

14. The foldable structure of claim 13, further comprising a net extending between and connected to the second, eleventh, seventh, eighth, twelfth, and fourth edge portions.

15. The foldable structure of claim 13, wherein the foldable structure comprises a foldable tent, and

wherein the first panel further comprises a first flexible, fabric cover that covers an internal area of the first flexible, continuous member, and

wherein the second panel further comprises a second flexible, fabric cover that covers an internal area of the second flexible, continuous member.

16. The foldable structure of claim 15, wherein the eleventh and twelfth edge portions are adapted to lay on a ground when the tent is unfolded, and

wherein the second, fourth, seventh, and eighth edge portions define front and back side edges of the tent when the tent is unfolded, and

wherein the first and third edges define a top edge of the tent when the tent is unfolded.

17. The foldable structure of claim 16, further comprising a flexible fabric floor extending between the eleventh and twelfth edge portions.

18. The foldable structure of claim 17, further comprising a flexible fabric wall that connects along its perimeter to the second and fourth edge portions and an edge portion of the floor.

19. The foldable structure of claim 16, further comprising first and second door flaps connected to the seventh and eighth edge portions, respectively.

20. The foldable structure of claim 1, wherein the second panel comprises a base panel that is adapted to lay on a ground when the foldable structure is in the unfolded position, and

wherein the first panel comprises an upright panel that is adapted to extend upwardly relative to the base panel when the foldable structure is in the unfolded position.

21. The foldable structure of claim 20, wherein the angle is between 80 and 100 degrees.

22. The foldable structure of claim 21, wherein the first panel further comprises a first fabric cover that at least partially covers an internal area of the first flexible, continuous member, and

wherein, when the foldable structure is in the unfolded position, the first cover defines an opening for receiving an object.

23. The foldable structure of claim 22, further comprising a net connected between at least a portion of the perimeters of the first and second panels, the net being adapted to capture the object received through the opening in the first cover.

24. The foldable structure of claim 3, wherein the first and second panels each have substantially linear base edge portions, the base edge portions being adapted to lay on a ground to support the foldable structure when in the unfolded position.

25. The foldable structure of claim 24, wherein the base edge portions of the first and second panels are disposed on opposite sides of the first and second panels, respectively, from the first and third edges, respectively.

26. The foldable structure of claim 25, wherein the first panel further comprises a first fabric cover that at least partially covers an internal area of the first flexible, continuous member, and

wherein the first cover has an opening formed in an upper portion thereof for receiving an object.

27. The foldable structure of claim 26, wherein the first cover has a ball return hole formed in a lower portion thereof, and wherein the foldable structure further comprises a ball return passageway operatively connecting the opening to the ball return hole, the ball return passageway being constructed and arranged such that a ball that is received through the opening flows through the ball return passageway and hole and is projected away from the foldable structure.

28. The foldable structure of claim 27, further comprising a backboard and hoop supported between the first and second panels within the passageway.

29. A foldable structure having folded and unfolded positions, the foldable structure comprising:

an upright panel comprising a first foldable, flexible, continuous member and having a first lower edge portion and a second side edge portion, the first lower edge portion being adapted to lay on a ground when the foldable structure is unfolded; and

a chain of at least two sequentially-pivotally-connected support panels, each support panel comprising a foldable, flexible, continuous member, a first support panel in the chain having a third edge portion that pivotally connects to the second edge portion, a last support panel in the chain having an additional portion that removably connects to the first edge portion,

wherein lengths of the perimeters of the at least two support panels are each less than ½

of a length of a perimeter of the upright panel.

30. The foldable structure of claim 29, wherein the chain of at least two sequentially-pivotally-connected support panels comprises first, second, and last support panels, and

wherein the first support panel in the chain has a fourth edge portion;

and

wherein a second support panel in the chain has fifth and sixth edge portions, the fifth edge portion being pivotally connected to the fourth edge portion; and

wherein the last support panel in the chain has a seventh edge portion that is pivotally connected to the sixth edge portion.

31. The foldable structure of claim 30, wherein the second through seventh edge portions are parallel to each other when the foldable structure is unfolded.

32. The foldable structure of claim 29, wherein the foldable structure comprises a goal, and wherein the upright panel has an opening therein that is adapted to receive an object therethrough.

33. A foldable structure having folded and unfolded positions, the foldable structure comprising:

a first panel comprising a first foldable, flexible, continuous member and a first fabric cover that at least partially covers an internal area of the first flexible, continuous member;

a second panel pivotally connected to the first panel, the second panel comprising a second foldable, flexible, continuous member and a second fabric cover that at least partially covers an internal area of the second flexible, continuous member; and

a third support panel pivotally connected to one of the first and second panels and removably connected to the other of the first and second panels such that, when the foldable structure is in the unfolded position, the third support panel connects to the other of the first and second panels and the third support panel holds the first and second panels at a predetermined angle relative to each other,

wherein a length of a perimeter of the third support panel is less than ½

of a length of a perimeter of either of the first or second panels.

34. The foldable structure of claim 33, wherein the third support panel comprises a third flexible continuous member and a third fabric cover that at least partially covers an internal area of the third flexible, continuous member.