Collapsible structures having enhancements

• US 7,365,967 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Original Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Inventors: Zheng, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US11/391,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20060164798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• 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 9/00 Climbing poles, frames, or stages climbing walls for mountaineering training A63B69/0048; endless loop ladders A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/008 Playhouses, play-tents, big enough for playing inside
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/12 Heating
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/40 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666

Abstract

Collapsible structures are provided with enhancements and other features that impart additional utility or amusement value to the basic underlying structure. The collapsible structure has at least one foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form a panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. An electrical component can attached to the fabric material, and an electrical coupling connected to the electrical component. Alternatively, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional object can be attached to the fabric material.

Claims

1. A collapsible keyboard, comprising:

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

a cable extending from the panel;

a plurality of touch sensors provided on the panel; and

an electrical coupling that couples the touch sensors to the cable;

wherein the frame member is twisted and folded to its folded orientation reduce the overall size of the frame member.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the electrical coupling includes at least one conductive path.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the electrical coupling includes at least one wire.

4. The structure of claim 3, further including a sleeve attached to the fabric material for retaining a portion of the at least one wire.

5. The structure of claim 1, further including a frame retaining sleeve coupled to the fabric material for retaining the frame member.

6. A collapsible keyboard, comprising:

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

a cable extending from the panel;

a plurality of touch sensors provided on the panel;

an electrical coupling that couples the touch sensors to the cable, the electrical coupling including at least one wire; and

a sleeve attached to the fabric material for retaining a portion of the at least one wire.