GB2355473A

GB2355473A - Erectable/collapsible portable frame

Info

Publication number: GB2355473A
Application number: GB0016766A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Paul Brereton
Original assignee: Finecard International Ltd
Current assignee: Finecard International Ltd
Priority date: 1999-10-19
Filing date: 2000-07-07
Publication date: 2001-04-25
Also published as: GB0016766D0; GB9924649D0

Abstract

A portable structure which can be repeatedly expanded and collapsed is formed from a frame (50) of flexible coil-like material in the shape of a figure-of-eight. The loops of the figure-of-eight have straight portions (68) and have fabric panels spanning the loops. A rigid member (74) attached to the straight portions (68) of the loops maintains the distance between the loops when the frame (50) is expanded but can also fold with the frame (50) when it is collapsed. The rigid member is preferably in the form of a hoop (74), a pair of rectangular frames (76, fig 4) or a foldable strut (77, fig 5). The rigid member can also be made from flexible coil-like material and be contained within a fabric sleeve around the periphery of a fabric panel and thus form the floor of the portable structure.

Description

2355473 - P09735 - ERECTABLEICOLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE STRUCTUPXS THIS

INVENTION relates to portable structures which can be rapidly transformed between a fully erected and a fully collapsed configuration.

More particularly it relates to a portable structure which without disassembly or separation of its basic parts can be rapidly transformed between its fully erected configuration and its fully collapsed configuration by one individual unaided by another person. The structure, in its collapsed configuration is compact and readily portable. In its expanded configuration the structure is instantly stable when placed upon the ground. It may serve, for example, as a play structure for children which is safe and cannot readily collapse. Such a structure is described and illustrated in EP-B-0 331029.

Whilst such a device is inherently safe and cannot readily collapse prematurely nevertheless an object of the present invention is to provide an additional safeguard by providing means for maintaining opposed bottom edges of the structure in a predetermined spaced apart configuration.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable structure operable for transforming from a collapsed configuration into an expanded configuration and then back into said collapsed configuration comprising:a frame formed from a flexible spring-like coilable material, said frame having, when in an expanded in-use configuration, a shape of a figure eight thereby defining first and second loops and a crossover, said crossover forming an apex of said structure and the said loops extending downwardly therefrom; and first and second side panels formed from a foldable cloth-like material, said first and second side panels spanning said first and second loops, respectively, of said frame and connected thereto, said panels defining straight portions opposite said crossover, said straight portions being operative for forming when said portable structure is in said expanded configuration corresponding straight portions in the frame opposite said crossover, said straight portions being operable, when said structure is in said expanded configuration with said straight portions placed on top of a flat surface, for preventing said structure from rolling over and for maintaining said crossover at the apex of said structure; wherein said structure, when in said expanded configuration, is operable for transforming by collapsing into a collapsed configuration without separation of said frame from said side panels, said collapsed configuration comprising six overlying loops of said frame; and wherein furthermore said structure, when in said collapsed configuration, is operable for transforming into said expanded configuration without separation of said frame from said side panels merely by spreading such overlying loops of said frame apart and allowing said frame to spring into said expanded configuration; characterised in that said straight portions are held apart when the structure is in said expanded configuration by at least one rigid member extending between said straight portions to maintain their distance apart, but foldable with the structure into its fully collapsed configuration.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable structure made in accordance with EP-B-0 331029; Fig. 2 is a plan of a similar structure incorporating a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is an elevation thereof; Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a portable structure of increased length and incorporating an embodiment similar to Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in Fig. 1 there is illustrated a portable structure of the kind described in EP-B-0 331 029 and comprising a frame member 50 in an expanded configuration with fabric side panels 70 and 72 sewn to a sleeve 62 containing the frame member 50. The structure is of a figure of eight configuration and the frame member 50 is a strip of flexible, resilient and spring-like, coilable material such as spring steel such that the entire structure can be folded into six superimposed loops for compact storage and transportation.

In its expanded configuration the structure has spaced apart straight base portions 68 the distance apart of which may be limited by one or more further side panels 73 or flexible ties extending between the side panels 70 and 72. However, such additional panels or ties cannot prevent the straight portions 68 from moving closer together.

Referring now to Fig. 2 wherein a generally similar structure is shown in plan, there is additionally provided a hoop 74 of rigid but coilable material similar to the frame 50 and preferably contained within a fabric sleeve around the periphery of a fabric panel which forms a partial floor for the structure and disposed at the base between the opposed straight portions 68. The hoop 74 may be separate from or removably attached (as at 75) to one or both of the straight base portions and is thus foldable into the collapsed configuration with the remainder of the structure but nevertheless lies across the base in the expanded configuration to hold the straight portions 68 apart.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the circular hoop 74 may be replaced by a pair of rectangular frames 76 hingedly connected together along adjacent sides, which extend across the centre of the structure beneath the apex thereof and connected to at least one of the opposed straight base portions 68 thus to fold upwardly in the centre when the structure is to be collapsed but to assume a rigid base frame in the expanded configuration. The adjacent sides are shown as extending parallel to the base portions 68 but may, instead, lie transversely therebetween beneath the apex of the structure.

Referring now to Fig. 5 in a still further embodiment, a single foldable strut 77 may replace the hoop 74 and rectangular frame 76, and again will lie between the straight portions 68 and will be foldable at the centre to assume the collapsed configuration of the structure and expandable to hold the straight base portions 68 apart. A telescopically mounted sleeve, for example, may be used to render the strut 77 rigid in the expanded condition, or alternatively the strut can simply be hinged about its central region.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is shown a structure similar to that shown in Fig. 2 except that the figure of eight frame 50 is twice as long and a pair of hoops 78 are provided to maintain the distance apart of the straight base portions 68. The hoops are connected or connectable together where they meet and connected to at least one of the straight portions of the frame.

In all embodiments a flexible base sheet of a material similar to the side panels 70 and 72 may extend between the straight base portions 68 to prevent them from spreading beyond a certain limit. This is shown at 80 in Fig. 2.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example, any base reinforcement member being suitable to hold the straight base portions apart, provided it can be readily collapsed with the remainder of the structure when required.

The reinforcement, whether it be by way of hoops, rectangles or struts, may be separate from or removably or partially attached to the remainder of the structure.

Claims

A portable structure operable for transforming from a collapsed configuration into an expanded configuration and then back into said collapsed configuration comprising:- a frame formed from a flexible spring-like coilable material, said frame having, when in an expanded in-use configuration, a shape of a figure eight thereby defining first and second loops and a crossover, said crossover forming an apex of said structure and the said loops extending downwardly therefrom; and first and second side panels formed from a foldable cloth-like material, said first and second side panels spanning said first and second loops, respectively, of said frame and connected thereto, said panels defining straight portions opposite said crossover, said straight portions being operative for forming when said portable structure is in said expanded configuration corresponding straight portions in the frame opposite said crossover, said straight portions being operable, when said structure is in said expanded configuration with said straight portions placed on top of a flat surface, for preventing said structure from rolling over and for maintaining said crossover at the apex of said structure; wherein said structure, when in said expanded configuration, is operable for transforming by collapsing into a collapsed configuration without separation of said frame from said side panels, said collapsed configuration comprising six overlying loops of said frame; and wherein furthermore said structure, when in said collapsed configuration, is operable for transforming into said expanded configuration without separation of said frame from said side panels merely by spreading such overlying loops of said frame apart and allowing said frame to spring into said expanded configuration; characterised in that said straight portions are held apart when the structure is in said expanded configuration by at least one rigid member extending between said straight portions to maintain their distance apart, but foldable with the structure into its fully collapsed configuration.
2. A portable structure according to Claim 1, wherein the rigid member is formed from a flexible spring-like coilable material which assumes a rigid configuration in the expanded configuration of the structure.
3. A portable structure according to Claim 1, or Claim 2, wherein the rigid member is connected to at least one of the straight portions.
4. A portable structure according to Claim 1, or Claim 2, wherein the rigid member is removably connected to at least one of the straight portions.
5. A portable structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the side panels are attached in their edge regions to a sleeve containing the frame member.
6. A portable structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the rigid member comprises a hoop of rigid but coilable material.
7. A portable structure according to Claim 6, wherein the hoop is contained within a fabric sleeve around the periphery of a fabric panel which forms a partial floor for the structure in the expanded condition.
8. A portable structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the rigid member is formed as a pair of rectangular frames hingedly connected together along adjacent sides which, in the expanded configuration of the structure extend across the centre of the structure beneath the apex thereof.
9. A portable structure according to Claim 8, wherein at least one of the rectangular frames is connected to one of the straight portions.
10. A portable structure according to any one of Claims I to 5, wherein the rigid member is formed as a foldable strut which in the expanded configuration of the structure extends across and between the straight portions and is foldable to assume the collapsed configuration of the structure.
11. A portable structure according to Claim 10, wherein the foldable strut includes a sleeve to maintain the strut rigid in the expanded configuration.
12. A portable structure according to Claim 10, wherein the strut is foldable by means of a hinge located beneath the apex of the structure in the expanded configuration.
13. A portable structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the rigid member comprises a pair of hoops connected or adapted to be connected together in a central region beneath the apex of the structure in the expanded configuration and connected to at least one of the straight portions of the frame.
14. A portable structure according to any preceding claim, including a flexible base sheet extending between the straight portions of the frame to prevent them from spreading beyond the limits of the base sheet.
15. A portable structure according to any preceding claim, wherein said rigid member is permanently attached to the frame.
16. A portable structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the rigid member is separate from and removably attachable to the frame.