Collapsible assembly

• US 6,408,461 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Original Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Inventors: Zheng, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/553,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 541/7, 541/9, 542/0, 548/5, 548/6, 549/0, 550/2, 160/370.21
• US Class Current: 5/417
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/062 for covering the ground, e.g. picnic or beach blankets

Abstract

A blanket or mat assembly includes a panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a sheet material substantially covering the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the sheet material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member. The assembly further includes a covering having a top portion, a peripheral edge, an opening defined by the peripheral edge, and an interior, with the panel retained inside the interior and accessing the interior of the covering via the opening. The covering assumes the configuration of the panel when the panel is retained inside the interior of the covering. The covering and the panel can be twisted and folded to the folded orientation of the frame member to reduce the overall size of the covering and the panel.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising:

a panel comprising a flexible sheet material having a central portion that is composed of no more than one layer of the flexible sheet material, the panel further including a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation providing the panel with a corresponding folded and unfolded orientation, the foldable frame member supporting the sheet material;

a covering removably securable to the panel;

wherein the covering overlies the central portion of the panel; and

wherein the covering is co-planar with the panel.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the covering has a peripheral edge that is coupled to the panel.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the covering further includes a plurality of extensions spaced-apart along the peripheral edge, with each extension having an attachment device provided thereon.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the covering has a peripheral edge that defines an opening and an interior, the panel retained inside the interior.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the frame member has a dimension in its unfolded orientation, and the opening has a dimension, wherein the dimension of the opening is smaller than a largest dimension of the frame member in its unfolded orientation when the panel is retained inside the interior of the covering.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the covering further includes a peripheral edge and an everted portion contiguous with the top portion.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the covering further includes a sleeve extending along the peripheral edge for retaining an elastic band that reduces the dimension of the opening.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the covering further includes a sleeve extending along the peripheral edge for retaining a strap having opposing ends that can be tied to reduce the dimension of the opening, or loosened to increase the dimension of the opening.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sheet material has a peripheral edge, and a sleeve extending along the peripheral edge of the sheet material for retaining the frame member.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the covering and the panel are twisted and folded to the folded orientation of the frame member to reduce the overall size of the covering and the panel.

11. An assembly, comprising:

a panel comprising a flexible sheet material having a central portion that is composed of no more than one layer of the flexible sheet material, the panel further including a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation providing the panel with a corresponding folded and unfolded orientation, the foldable frame member supporting the sheet material;

a covering removably securable to the panel;

wherein the covering overlies the central portion of the panel; and

wherein the covering assumes the configuration of, and is about the same size as, the panel when the panel is covered by the covering.

12. As assembly comprising:

a panel comprising a flexible sheet material having a central portion, a peripheral edge and a pocket formed along the peripheral edge surrounding, but not within, the central portion, the panel further including a foldable frame member disposed in the pocket, the frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation providing the panel with a corresponding folded and unfolded orientation;

a covering removably securable to the panel;

wherein the covering overlies the central portion of the panel; and

wherein the covering is co-planar with the panel.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the covering has a peripheral edge that is coupled to the panel.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the covering further includes a plurality of extensions spaced-apart along the peripheral edge of the covering, with each extension having an attachment device provided thereon.

15. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the covering has a peripheral edge that defines an opening and an interior, the panel retained inside the interior.

16. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the covering further includes a peripheral edge and an everted portion contiguous with the top portion.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the covering further includes a sleeve extending along the peripheral edge of the covering for retaining an elastic band that reduces the dimension of the opening.

18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the covering further includes a sleeve extending along the peripheral edge of the covering for retaining a strap having opposing ends that can be tied to reduce the dimension of the opening, or loosened to increase the dimension of the opening.

19. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the covering and the panel are twisted and folded to the folded orientation of the frame member to reduce the overall size of the covering and the panel.

20. An assembly, comprising:

a panel comprising a flexible sheet material having a central portion, a peripheral edge and a pocket formed along the peripheral edge surrounding, but not within, the central portion, the panel further including a foldable frame member disposed in the pocket, the frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation providing the panel with a corresponding folded and unfolded orientation;

a covering removably securable to the panel;

wherein the covering overlies the central portion of the panel; and

wherein the pocket is annular.