Collapsible structures

• US 5,722,446 A
• Filed: 01/02/1997
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Original Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Inventors: Zheng, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): COGGINS, WYNN WOOD
• Application Number:
  US08/778,878
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 135/97, 135/128, 135/137, 135/143, 135/119, 135/116, 135/117, 135/120.3, 135/125, 482/35, 482/36, 482/23, 472/136, 446/476, 446/478, 273/402, 273/394, 273/395, 273/396, 273/397, 273/398, 473/431-435, 473/472, 473/481
• US Class Current: 135/125
• 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 63/08 with substantially horizontal opening for ball, e.g. for basketball A63B57/40, A63B63/06 take precedence

Abstract

Collapsible structures are provided that include arcade-styled games for the fun and entertainment of both adults and children. These collapsible structures can be easily and quickly folded and collapsed into a compact configuration. The collapsible structures have 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 panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member.

Claims

1. A collapsible 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 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;

a top fabric connected to the panels and extending therebetween, the top fabric comprising a first opening;

wherein the structure includes a front panel and two side panels, the front panel having a first opening; and

means for coupling the first opening of the top fabric with the first opening of the front panel.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein each panel and its frame member comprises a left side, a right side, and a bottom side connecting the left side and the right side, and wherein the bottom side of each side panel is adapted to rest on the surface to support the play structure.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the left side of each panel is hingedly connected to the right side of an adjacent panel, and the right side of each panel is hingedly connected to the left side of another adjacent panel.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the left side and the right side of each panel are vertical when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein each panel further comprises a top edge, and wherein the top fabric is attached to the panels at a location offset from the top edge of the panels.

6. The structure of claim 5, further comprising a rear panel, and wherein the top fabric is slanted such that its attachment to the rear panel is at a higher vertical level than its attachment to the front panel.

7. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a first rear panel having an interior surface, and a basket attached to the interior surface of the rear panel and aligned with the first opening of the top fabric such that a ball that passes through the basket will be directed through the first opening of the top fabric.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises a tube having opposing ends connected to the first opening in the front panel and the first opening of the top fabric.

9. The structure of claim 1, wherein the front panel further comprises an upper opening, and the top fabric further comprises a second opening communicating with the coupling means.

10. The structure of claim 7, further comprising a second rear panel attached to the two side panels, and wherein the first rear panel is removably attached to the second rear panel.

11. The structure of claim 10, further comprising a support panel attached to the first and second rear panels and a side panel.

12. The structure of claim 7, wherein the coupling means comprises a tube connected to the first opening in the front panel and a funnel attached to the first rear panel and connected to the tube.

13. The structure of claim 12, wherein the funnel further comprises a front edge coupled to the tube, a rear edge, and a ramp which slopes downwardly from its rear edge to its front edge.

14. The structure of claim 13, wherein the panels includes the front panel, the first rear panel, a front left side panel connected to the front panel, a front right side panel connected to the front panel, a rear left side panel connected to the first rear panel, and a rear right side panel connected to the first rear panel, with the front left side panel and the rear left side panel connected to each other, and the front right side panel and the rear right side panel connected to each other.

15. The structure of claim 14, further comprising a support panel connected to the connections between the front left side panel and the rear left side panel, and the front right side panel and the rear right side panel, the support panel comprising a window connected to the tube and the front edge of the ramp.

16. The structure of claim 1, wherein the top fabric further comprises a plurality of openings positioned adjacent to the first opening of the top fabric.

17. The structure of claim 1, wherein the front panel further comprises an exterior surface, and wherein the structure further comprises:

a board having an edge hingedly connected to the exterior surface of the front panel; and

means for supporting the board in a position which is substantially horizontal to the surface, the supporting means operating to bias the board back to the substantially horizontal position after the board has been pressed and released.

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

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

a fabric material substantially covering each frame member to form a 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;

wherein each panel comprises an exterior surface, with the panels connected together to define an enclosed space, and wherein the structure further comprises a basket attached to the exterior surface of one panel.

19. The structure of claim 18, further comprising a trough provided in one panel, wherein a ball tossed through the trough will deposit inside the structure.

20. The structure of claim 19, further comprising an opening provided in one panel for ingress and egress to the interior of the structure.

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

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

a fabric material substantially covering each frame member to form a 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;

wherein the structure includes a front panel, two side panels, and a rear panel having an opening and an exterior surface facing away from the interior of the structure, the front panel having an opening; and

a tube having a first end connected to the exterior surface of the rear panel adjacent the opening of the rear panel and extending through the interior of the structure with a second end connected to the opening of the front panel.

22. The structure of claim 21, further comprising a flap hingedly connected at the opening of the rear panel.

23. The structure of claim 21, further comprising a pad hingedly attached to the exterior surface of the rear panel and attached to the first end of the tube.

24. A collapsible 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 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;

wherein the panels include a rear panel having a first side and an opposing second side, a first front panel and two first side panels attached to the first side of the rear panel, and a second front panel and two second side panels attached to the second side of the rear panel, wherein the first front panel and the second front panel each comprises an opening;

a first top fabric connected to the panels on the first side of the rear panel and extending therebetween, the first top fabric comprising an opening;

a second top fabric connected to the panels on the second side of the rear panel and extending therebetween, the second top fabric comprising an opening; and

means for coupling one of the openings of the first top fabric or the second top fabric with the opening of the first front panel.

25. The structure of claim 24, wherein the means for coupling one of the openings of the first top fabric or the second top fabric with the opening of the first front panel comprises:

a guide positioned at the opening of the first top fabric; and

a first tube having one end connected to the opening of the first front panel and an opening for receiving the guide.

26. The structure of claim 24, wherein the means for coupling one of the openings of the first top fabric or the second top fabric with the opening of the first front panel comprises:

a guide positioned at the opening of the second top fabric; and

a first tube having one end connected to the opening of the first front panel and an opposing end for receiving the guide.

27. The structure of claim 24, further comprising means for coupling one of the openings of the first top fabric or the second top fabric with the opening of the second front panel.

28. The structure of claim 27, wherein the means for coupling one of the openings of the first top fabric or the second top fabric with the opening of the second front panel comprises:

a guide positioned at the opening of the second top fabric; and

a second tube having one end connected to the opening of the second front panel and an opening for receiving the guide.

29. The structure of claim 27, wherein the means for coupling one of the openings of the first top fabric or the second top fabric with the opening of the second front panel comprises:

a guide positioned at the opening of the first top fabric; and

a second tube having one end connected to the opening of the second front panel and an opposing end for receiving the guide.

30. The structure of claim 24, further comprising:

a first basket attached to the first side of the rear panel and substantially aligned with the opening of the first top fabric; and

a second basket attached to the second side of the rear panel and substantially aligned with the opening of the second top fabric.