Collapsible play structures

• US 6,752,163 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Original Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Inventors: Zheng, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Yip, Winnie S.
• Application Number:
  US10/438,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20030183264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 135/125-126, 135/128, 135/130, 135/143-144, 135/117, 446/478, 446/487, 220/9--
• 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 structure, comprising:

at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation, each frame member arranged between and connected to a pair of said adjacent frame members;

wherein each frame member defines a flat panel in its unfolded orientation;

wherein the frame members, when fully deployed, form a ring of flat panels that enclose an interior space;

and wherein at least one of the frame members is twisted and folded to form a plurality of concentric rings in the folded orientation.

2. The structure of claim 1, including:

a fabric material covering portions of each frame member to form the panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation.

3. The structure of claim 2, further including an opening provided in the fabric material of at least one of the panels.

4. The structure of claim 1, further including a frame retaining sleeve that retains each of the frame members.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein each frame member is arranged between and connected to a pair of said adjacent frame members when the frame members are in the folded orientation.