Collapsible and foldable canvas structure

• US 7,077,147 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Genevieve Shiu
• Original Assignee: Genevieve Shiu
• Inventors: Shiu, Genevieve, Hsu, Robert, Louie, Wai Hang
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, KO HUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/336,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20040129307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 135/143, 135/124, 135/125, 135/126, 135/127, 135/128, 135/130, 135/136, 135/137, 135/121, 135/117, 135/116, 135/97, 135/95, 135/906, 220/6, 220/9.2, 220/9.3, 220/9.4, 406/10
• US Class Current: 135/143
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/40 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/48 foldable, i.e. having pivoted or hinged means E04H15/405 and E04H15/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/906 Arched structure

Abstract

A collapsible and foldable canvas structure has only two structural panels, each formed by a piece of fabric material spread across and secured about its periphery to a resiliently flexible wire frame. One of the panels is laid flat on the ground or other supporting surface; the other rises vertically from a median section of the first and is held by straps or by sheets of fabric material not structured or framed by any wire but joined to the top of the vertical panel and to the outer edges of the flat one. A window cut on the center of the vertical panel provides access from one side to the other. The panels are substantially commensurate. They can be brought back together and twisted along with the remaining components of the structure into a compact package.

Claims

1. A collapsible and foldable canvas structure which comprises:

a base having a longitudinal, median axis and including a first resiliently flexible wire frame and a first piece of fabric material spread across and peripherally attached to said first frame;

a flexible and pliable tensile member;

each of said base and tensile member having first and second opposite longitudinal edges parallel to said axis, the first longitudinal edge of one being attached to the first longitudinal edge of the other; and

a second resiliently flexible, closed wire frame having a top edge attached to the second longitudinal edge of said tensile member and a bottom edge opposite said top edge resiliently attached to said base substantially along said axis; and

a second piece of fabric material spread flatly across and peripherally attached along all sides to said second frame;

said tensile member and second frame being shaped and dimensioned to place said second frame in a substantially vertical plane when said base is laid upon a horizontal surface.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said tensile member comprises a third piece of fabric material.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein said tensile member further comprises a third resiliently flexible wire frame, and wherein said third piece of material is spread across and attached to said third frame.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said second piece has an aperture therethrough.

5. The structure of claim 1 which further comprises a front panel including an additional piece of fabric material not structured by any frame;

said front panel having first and second opposite and longitudinal edges, one of said edges being attached to the second longitudinal edge of said base and the other to the top edge of said second frame.

6. The structure of claim 5 which further comprises triangular pieces of fabric material each being shaped and dimensioned for attachment to latitudinal edges of said front panel and second frame.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein said tensile member comprises at least one strap dimensioned for attachment between said top edge and the second longitudinal edge of said base.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said tensile member comprises a pair of straps each dimensioned for attachment between and astride said top edge and the second longitudinal edge of said base.

9. A self-erecting and foldable structure which comprises:

first and second panels having substantially equal widths, each of said panels including a closed resiliently flexible wire frame and a piece of fabric material spread flatly across and attached along its entire periphery to said frame, each of said panels further including two opposite, parallel and substantially straight longitudinal edges and opposite latitudinal edges;

a third panel made of sheet of fabric material not structured by any peripheral armature, said third panel being secured along two longitudinal edges to a first of said longitudinal edges of each of said first and second panel;

means for securing a second of said longitudinal edges of said first panel to a median portion of the second panel; and

means for holding said first and second panels substantially orthogonal to each other.

10. The structure of claim 9, wherein said first panel has a window cut therethrough.

11. The structure of claim 9, wherein said means for holding comprises a fourth panel attached at opposite lateral edges to the secured edges of said first and third panels and to the unsecured edge of said second panel.

12. The structure of claim 11, wherein said fourth panel comprises a piece of fabric material.

13. The structure of claim 12, wherein said first panel has a window cut therethrough.