Collapsible structures supported on a pole

• US 6,266,904 B1
• Filed: 02/01/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Original Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Inventors: Zheng, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbermann, Joanne
• Application Number:
  US09/241,295
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 406/04, 402/18, 406/10, 160/370.21, 160/387, 160/388, 160/173
• US Class Current: 40/604
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0037 supported by a post
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 17/00 Flags; Banners; Mountings therefor

Abstract

A collapsible object is provided 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 pole is coupled to the panel to support the panel.

Claims

1. An object, comprising:

a panel having a continuous 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, wherein the frame member is collapsible to the folded orientation by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings to substantially reduce the size of the frame member in the folded orientation; and

a pole coupled to the panel to support the panel.

2. The object of claim 1, wherein the material has indicia provided thereon.

3. The object of claim 1, further including at least one opening provided in the material.

4. The object of claim 1, further including a frame retaining sleeve for retaining the frame member, the frame retaining sleeve attached to the material.

5. The object of claim 1, further comprising an attachment mechanism coupled to an edge of the panel for coupling the panel to the pole.

6. The object of claim 5, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a sleeve connected to the panel for receiving the pole therein.

7. The object of claim 1, wherein the panel is a first panel, and further including a second panel having a second continuous frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a second material covering portions of the second frame member when the second frame member is in the unfolded orientation, wherein the second frame member is collapsible to the folded orientation by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings to substantially reduce the size of the second frame member in the folded orientation, with the second panel coupled to the pole.

8. An object, comprising:

a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a continuous frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of its corresponding frame member when the corresponding frame member is in the unfolded orientation, wherein each frame member is collapsible to the folded orientation by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings to substantially reduce the size of the folded frame member in the folded orientation; and

a pole coupled to the first panel to support the first panel, with the second panel coupled to the first panel.

9. The object of claim 8, further including a third panel having a third continuous frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a third material covering portions of the third frame member when the third frame member is in the unfolded orientation wherein the third frame member is collapsible to the folded orientation by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings to substantially reduce the size of the third frame member in the folded orientation, with the third panel coupled to the pole.

10. The object of claim 9, further including a fourth panel having a fourth continuous frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fourth material covering portions of the fourth frame member when the fourth frame member is in the unfolded orientation, wherein the fourth frame member is collapsible to the folded orientation by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings to substantially reduce the size of the fourth frame member in the folded orientation, with the fourth panel coupled to the third panel.

11. An object, comprising:

a panel having a continuous 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, wherein the frame member is collapsible to the folded orientation by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings to substantially reduce the size of the frame member in the folded orientation; and

a pole;

further including an opening in the material of the panel, and wherein the pole is inserted through the opening and oriented transverse to the panel.

12. The object of claim 11, further including a pole retaining sleeve coupled to the panel, the pole retaining sleeve aligned with the opening and receiving the pole.

13. The object of claim 12, further including at least one support having a first end coupled to the pole retaining sleeve and a second end coupled to the panel.

14. The object of claim 13, further including at least one lower support having a first end coupled to the pole and a second end coupled to the panel.

15. The object of claim 13, wherein the at least one support is a fabric piece having a first edge attached to the pole retaining sleeve, and a second edge attached to the material.

16. The object of claim 12, wherein the pole retaining sleeve has an opening, and the pole has a through-hole that is adapted to be aligned with the opening of the pole retaining sleeve, further including a pin inserted through the opening of the pole retaining sleeve and the through-hole.

17. The object of claim 11, wherein the panel is flat when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation.