Collapsible play structures

• US 20030183264A1
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Original Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Inventors: Zheng, Yu
• Granted Patent: US 6,752,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 135/126
• 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 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/54 Foldable elastic frame members automatically resuming their expanded state when released
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• 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: E04H 15/006 Tents used as toys
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/14 Ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/40 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/56 Floors
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/58 Closures; Awnings; Sunshades

Abstract

A collapsible play structure comprises one or more play modules connected together, each play module comprising at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation. A fabric material substantially covers each frame member to form a side panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. Each side panel further comprises at least three sides. The left side of each side panel is connected and hinged to the right side of an adjacent side panel, and the right side of each side panel is connected and hinged to the left side of another adjacent side panel. The bottom side of each side panel is adapted to rest on a supporting surface to support the play module.

Claims

1. A collapsible play structure adapted to be supported on a surface and comprising:

at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation;

a fabric material substantially covering each frame member to form a side panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member;

each side panel further comprising at least a left side, a bottom side and a right side;

wherein the left side of each side panel is connected and hinged to the right side of an adjacent side panel, and the right side of each side panel is connected and hinged to the left side of another adjacent side panel; and

wherein the bottom side of each side panel is adapted to rest on the surface to support the play structure.

2. The collapsible play structure of claim 1, wherein the collapsible play structure comprises four side panels and frame members, each side panel and its frame member having four sides, including a top side.

3. The collapsible play structure of claim 2, further comprising a fabric connected to the top sides of the four side panels and extending therebetween.

4. The collapsible play structure of claim 3, further comprising an opening provided within the fabric connected to the top sides of the four side panels.

5. The collapsible play structure of claim 4, wherein at least one of the four side panels comprises an opening.

6. The collapsible play structure of claim 1 wherein each side panel comprises a frame retaining sleeve for retaining one of the frame members, and the frame retaining sleeves of adjacent side panels are stitched together to form a hinged connection.

7. The collapsible play structure of claim 1 wherein each side panel comprises a frame retaining sleeve for holding a portion of one of the frame members, the frame retaining sleeves of adjacent side panels converging to form a singular retaining sleeve which retains the adjacent sides of the adjacent frame members of the corresponding adjacent side panels.

8. A collapsible play structure, comprising:

a plurality of collapsible play modules connected to each other, each play module supported on a surface and comprising;

at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation;

a fabric material substantially covering each frame member to form a side panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member;

each side panel further comprising at least a left side, a bottom side and a right side;

wherein the left side of each side panel is connected and hinged to the right side of an adjacent side panel, and the right side of each side panel is connected and hinged to the left side of another adjacent side panel; and

wherein the bottom side of each side panel is adapted to rest on the surface to support the play module.

9. The collapsible play structure of claim 8, wherein each play module comprises four side panels and frame members, each side panel and its frame member having four sides, including a top side.

10. The collapsible play structure of claim 9, wherein each play module further comprises a fabric connected to the top sides of the four side panels and extending therebetween.

11. The collapsible play structure of claim 10, wherein each play module further comprises an opening provided within the fabric connected to the top sides of the four side panels.

12. The collapsible play structure of claim 11, wherein at least one of the four side panels of each play module comprises an opening.

13. The collapsible play structure of claim 8 wherein each side panel of each play module comprises a frame retaining sleeve for retaining one of the frame members, and the frame retaining sleeves of adjacent side panels are stitched together to form a hinged connection.

14. The collapsible play structure of claim 8 wherein each side panel of each play module comprises a frame retaining sleeve for holding one of the frame members, the frame retaining sleeves of adjacent side panels converging to form a singular retaining sleeve which retains the adjacent sides of the adjacent frame members of the corresponding adjacent side panels.

15. The collapsible play structure of claim 8, further comprising three play modules, each comprising attachment mechanisms for connecting each play module to at least one other play module.

16. The collapsible play structure of claim 9, further comprising one larger play module, and four identical play modules each having a size that is smaller than the larger play module, each of the four identical play modules comprising attachment mechanisms for connecting one of its side panels to one side panel of the larger play module.

17. The collapsible play structure of claim 16, wherein each of the four identical play modules comprises at least one opening provided on one side panel, and wherein each side panel of the larger play module is provided with at least one opening, wherein each of the at least one opening of the four identical play modules is aligned with the opening provided in a corresponding side panel of the larger play module.