Adjustable collapsible panels

• US 6,220,265 B1
• Filed: 02/05/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Original Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Inventors: Zheng, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILKENS, KEVIN DOUGLAS
• Application Number:
  US09/245,582
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 52/63, 52/65, 52/71, 522/22, 135/97, 135/117, 135/125, 135/128, 135/130, 135/137, 135/144, 135/147
• US Class Current: 135/125
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/006 Playground structures
• 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 63/083 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 15/003 Bathing or beach cabins
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/40 flexible

Abstract

Collapsible structures include at least first and second panels, each panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The first panel has a first retaining mechanism that defines an adjustment space, and the second panel has a second retaining mechanism that is movably received inside the adjustment space of the first retaining mechanism to couple the second panel to the first panel. The second retaining mechanism is movable within the adjustment space to allow the relative positions of the first and second panels to be adjusted. Other collapsible structures include at least first and second panels, each panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. A connector couples the first and second panels in a manner that allows the relative positions of the first and second panels to be adjusted.

Claims

1. A collapsible structure, comprising:

a first panel and a second panel, each panel having;

a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation,

a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation with the material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member;

a side edge, and

an opening provided along the side edge; and

a connector that is fitted through the openings of the first and second panels to couple the first and second panels in a manner that allows the relative positions of the first and second panels to be adjusted.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the connector is a sleeve that encloses portions of the side edges of the first and second panels.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the connector is a ring that grips the side edges of the first and second panels.

4. A collapsible structure, comprising:

a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation with the material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member; and

a connector having first and second edges, with the first edge of the connector detachably attached to the first panel, and the second edge of the connector attached to the second panel.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the second edge of the connector is detachably attached to the second panel.

6. The structure of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second panels has a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the first edge of the connector is attached to the first surface of the first panel, and the second edge of the connector is attached to the first surface of the second panel.

7. The structure of claim 4, wherein each frame member is collapsible to the folded position by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings and layers of material to substantially reduce the size of each corresponding panel in the folded position.

8. The structure of claim 4, wherein each panel further includes a frame retaining sleeve provided along the material for retaining the respective frame member.

9. The structure of claim 4, further including:

a third panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation with the material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member; and

a second connector that couples the first and third panels in a manner that allows the relative positions of the first and third panels to be adjusted.

10. The structure of claim 9, further including:

a fourth panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation with the material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member;

a third connector that couples the third and fourth panels in a manner that allows the relative positions of the third and fourth panels to be adjusted; and

a fourth connector that couples the second and fourth panels in a manner that allows the relative positions of the second and fourth panels to be adjusted.

11. The structure of claim 9, wherein the connectors are corner pieces.

12. A collapsible structure, comprising:

a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a first surface, a second surface, a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation with the material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member; and

a connector having first and second edges, with the first edge of the connector attached to the first surface of the first panel, and the second edge of the connector attached to the second surface of the second panel.

13. The structure of claim 12, wherein the first edge of the connector is detachably attached to the first panel.

14. A collapsible structure, comprising:

a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member; and

a connector that couples the center of the first and second panels in a manner that allows the relative positions of the first and second panels to be adjusted.

15. The structure of claim 14, wherein the connector has a first edge that is detachably attached to the first panel.

16. The structure of claim 14, further including:

a third panel and a fourth panel, each having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation with the material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member; and

a second connector coupled to about the center of the third and fourth panels.

17. The structure of claim 16, wherein the two connectors intersect.

18. A collapsible structure, comprising:

a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation with the material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member; and

a connector that couples the first and second panels in a manner that allows the relative positions of the first and second panels to be adjusted;

wherein the first panel has two openings provided spaced-apart from each other, and wherein the connector has a first end that is coupled to the second panel at a first location, and a second end that is inserted through the two openings of the first panel and is coupled to the second panel at a second location spaced apart from the first location.