Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F3/00—Board games; Raffle games
  • A63F3/00173—Characteristics of game boards, alone or in relation to supporting structures or playing piece
  • A63F3/0023—Foldable, rollable, collapsible or segmented boards
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B85/00—Furniture convertible into other kinds of furniture
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C13/00—Convertible chairs, stools or benches
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C3/00—Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats
  • A47C3/16—Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats of legless type, e.g. with seat directly resting on the floor; Hassocks; Pouffes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B2220/00—General furniture construction, e.g. fittings
  • A47B2220/0061—Accessories
  • A47B2220/0069—Hinges
  • A47B2220/0072—Hinges for furniture
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F3/00—Board games; Raffle games
  • A63F3/00173—Characteristics of game boards, alone or in relation to supporting structures or playing piece
  • A63F3/0023—Foldable, rollable, collapsible or segmented boards
  • A63F2003/00246—Foldable, rollable, collapsible or segmented boards with three or more hinges or folds
  • A63F2003/00252—Foldable, rollable, collapsible or segmented boards with three or more hinges or folds perpendicular
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F3/00—Board games; Raffle games
  • A63F3/00895—Accessories for board games
  • A63F2003/00936—Handle on the board or box for carrying
  • A63F2003/0094—Handle on the board or box for carrying convertible into a suitcase

Definitions

• the present invention relates to foldable devices capable of being folded into a compact form for convenient handling or storage, and unfolded into a deployed form for normal use.
• the invention is particularly useful in board games, folded tables, foldable mattresses, and the like, and is therefore described below especially with respect to these applications, but it will be appreciated that the invention could be used in many other applications as well.
• Various types of games are known, such as checkers, chess, etc., which include game boards made of two hinged sections foldable into a relatively compact form to hold the playing pieces within compartments defined by the two sections, and which have distinctive markings, (e.g., checkboard patterns) on their outer faces serving as the playing surface in the unfolded operative form of the two sections.
• Such game constructions do not present a particularly aesthetic appearance, and moreover, they can be somewhat bulky to handle.
• collapsible tables which can be collapsed into a compact form for storage or handling, but such collapsible tables generally require a separate box which, not only adds to their cost of packaging, but also to the space required to store them, and to the effort required to unfold and re-fold them.
• Another application of the present invention is in the construction of mattresses which are usually made as a single unit of the appropriate dimensions. The conventional mattress construction does not readily permit the mattress to be conveniently folded for handling or storage purposes.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a foldable device capable of being constructed to serve one of the above-mentioned applications, as well as many other devices, and to provide a number of important advantages in the above- mentioned respects. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foldable device capable of being folded into a compact form for convenient handling or storage, and unfolded into a deployed form for producing an extended supporting surface for supporting various objects.
• the foldable device comprises: a plurality N of at least four sections hingedly mounted to each other to permit: (a) a first section to be folded over a second section via a first hinge, (b) a third section to be folded over a fourth section via a second hinge; and (c) the first and second sections to be folded with respect to the third and fourth sections via a third hinge.
• Each of the sections is of equal width and length such that the sections, in their folded compact form, take the shape of a hexahedron.
• Each of the sections includes a peripheral wall of sufficient height to provide each section with a relatively large peripheral surface which, in the unfolded deployed form of the sections, is brought into abutment with the like peripheral surfaces of the contiguous sections to provide support for the extended supporting surface.
• the height of the peripheral wall of each of the N sections is equal to the width of the sections divided by "N", such that the N sections, when in their folded compact form, take the shape of a cube.
• N is four.
• a further embodiment a mattress
• some or all of the sections are each formed on one face with a recess to define a compartment for storing various objects.
• the sections are each formed on the opposite face with a flat planar surface for supporting various objects in the unfolded deployed form of the sections.
• the plurality of sections are designed for use as a board game.
• the flat planar surfaces are marked with indicia to define a playing surface for playing pieces in the unfolded deployed form of the sections, and the compartments are designed to hold the plurality of pieces in the folded compact form of the sections.
• the plurality of sections are designed for use as a foldable box for compactly holding tools or other objects.
• the plurality of sections are designed for use as a foldable cigar box for compactly holding and displaying a plurality of cigars.
• the plurality of sections are designed for use as a foldable table, in which the flat planar surfaces of the sections, in their unfolded deployed form, serve as the table top, and at least some of the compartments of the sections, in the folded compact form of the sections, serve to house the legs of the table.
• the plurality of sections are designed for use as a cup or dish coaster plate in the unfolded deployed condition of the sections.
• the plurality of sections are designed for use as a foldable mattress, which could be constructed of four sections, six sections or greater, even number of sections.
• FIG. 1 illustrates one form of foldable device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the device therein being shown in its unfolded form and viewed from its undersurface;
• FIG. 2 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 in its folded compact form;
• FIG. 3 illustrates the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 when designed to serve as a game board for chess, checkers or the like;
• FIG. 4 illustrates the game board of FIG. 3 in its folded compact form;
• FIG. 5-7 illustrate how the device of FIGS. 1-4 may be folded to its compact form of FIGS. 2 and 4, or unfolded into its deployed form of FIGS. 1 and 3;
• FIG. 8 illustrates the device in its unfolded deployed form as in FIG. 1, but illustrating the upper surface of the device serving as the playing surface;
• FIG. 1 illustrates one form of foldable device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the device therein being shown in its unfolded form and viewed from its undersurface;
• FIG. 2 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 in its
• FIG. 9 illustrates a foldable device constructed in accordance with the present invention as a tool box or the like for holding various tools or other objects
• FIG. 10 illustrates the device of FIG. 9 in its fully folded condition
• FIG. 11 illustrates a foldable device constructed in accordance with the present invention to serve as a cigar box for holding cigars
• FIG. 12 illustrates a foldable device constructed in accordance with the present invention to serve as a foldable table
• FIG. 13 illustrates the foldable table of FIG. 12 in its unfolded deployed form
• FIG. 14 illustrates the foldable table of FIG. 12 in its folded compact form for storage or handling
• FIG. 15 illustrates a foldable device constructed in accordance with the present invention for use as a cup or dish coaster plate
• FIG. 16 illustrates the foldable device of FIG.
• FIG. 15 illustrates a foldable mattress constructed in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 19 illustrates the mattress of FIG. 18 in a partially unfolded condition, e.g., for use as a seat and back pad
• FIG. 20 schematically illustrates a mattress constructed as in FIG. 18 but to include six (or more) foldable sections rather than four foldable sections.
• the present invention provides a foldable device capable of being folded into a compact form for convenient handling or storage, and unfolded into a deployed or operative form for producing an extended supporting surface for supporting, various objects.
• the foldable device includes four sections hingedly mounted to each other to permit a first section to be folded over a second section, a third section to be folded over a fourth section, and the first and second sections to be folded with respect to the third and fourth sections.
• Each of the sections is of equal width and length such that the sections, in their folded compact form, take the shape of a hexahedron, preferably a cube as will be described below.
• each of the sections includes a peripheral wall of sufficient height to provide each section with a relatively large peripheral surface which, in the unfolded deployed form of the sections, is brought into abutment with the like peripheral surfaces of contiguous sections to provide support for the extended supporting surface for supporting various objects.
• Figs. 1 - 8 illustrate the invention embodied in a game board, generally designated 10, constituted of four such sections 11 - 14. As shown, section 11 is foldable over section 12 via hinge 15; section 13 is foldable over section 14 via hinge 16; and sections 11 and 12 are foldable with respect to sections 13 and 14 via hinges 17, to produce the folded compact cubical form illustrated in Fig. 2. As further shown in Fig.
• each section 11 - 14 is formed with a recess, as shown at 1 la - 14a, respectively, which defines a compartment for storing various objects, in this case the playing pieces of the game as shown in Fig. 3.
• each of the sections 11 - 14 includes a peripheral wall 1 lb - 14b, respectively, which is of a height to provide each section with a relatively large peripheral surface (seen as lie, 12c and 14c in Fig. 1).
• these peripheral surfaces in the unfolded deployed form of the sections illustrated in
• each section 11 - 14 is formed as a flat planar surface, as shown at lid in Fig. 2, and is marked with indicia to define the playing surface for the playing pieces, namely the checker board surface shown in Fig. 3.
• the playing pieces 18 shown in Fig. 3 are stored within compartments 11a - 14a in the folded compact form of the sections illustrated in Fig. 4. It will be appreciated that, in order to produce the cubical shape illustrated in Fig.
• each section 11 — 14 when the sections are in their folded compact form, the width and length of each section 11 — 14 must be equal; also the height of the peripheral walls 1 lc - 14c must be equal to the width divided by the number of sections, in this case by "4".
• Such a construction provides a pleasing geometrical appearance in the compact foldable form of the sections, as well as a compact arrangement for conveniently handling or storing the device.
• the manner of folding sections 11 — 14 into the compact form illustrated in Fig. 6 will be apparent from Figs. 4 - 8. It will be appreciated that any desired sequence may be followed for pivoting section 11 over section 12 via hinge 15, section 13 over section 14 via hinge 16, and sections 11, 12 with respect to sections 13, 14 via hinges 17.
• Figs. 9 and 11 illustrate the invention embodied in a foldable box for holding tools or other objects in a compact manner.
• the foldable box illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 therein generally designated 20, is also constructed of four sections 21 - 24 hingedly mounted to each other to permit section 21 to be folded over section 22 via hinges 25, section 23 to be folded over section 24 via hinges 26, and sections 23, 24 to be folded with respect to sections 21, 22 via hinges 27.
• each of the sections 21 - 24 is constructed as described above with respect to Figs. 1 - 8, to include recesses defining compartments 21a - 24a for receiving the objects, e.g., tools, schematically shown at 28, to be housed within the box.
• each compartment 21a - 24a includes holding elements, such as straps 28b (e.g., of "Velcro"), magnets 28c, or the like, for holding the tools within the respective compartments.
• straps 28b e.g., of "Velcro"
• magnets 28c magnets
• each section 21 - 24 is also provided with a peripheral wall, e.g., 21b, 22b, of sufficient height to provide each section with a relatively large peripheral surface which, in the unfolded deployed form of the sections, is brought into abutment with the like peripheral surfaces of the contiguous sections, to thereby provide support for the extended supporting surface (corresponding to surfaces lid — 14d, Fig. 8) for supporting various objects, when the sections are in their unfolded deployed condition.
• Such an extended supporting surface may be used, for example, for holding the tools to be employed, or the work piece to be worked on.
• the toolbox is preferably provided with locking elements, such as a zipper 29a or mechanical lock 29b shown in Fig. 10, for locking sections in their folded conditions, thereby facilitating handling the toolbox, and preventing access to the tools within it until the locks are opened.
• locking elements such as a zipper 29a or mechanical lock 29b shown in Fig. 10, for locking sections in their folded conditions, thereby facilitating handling the toolbox, and preventing access to the tools within it until the locks are opened.
• a folded toolbox could also include a handle (not shown), e.g., corresponding to the handle illustrated in Figs. 12- 14.
• the foldable box illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 would be constructed as described above with respect to the game board illustrated in Figs. 1 - 8.
• Fig. 11 illustrates the invention embodied in a cigar box holder, generally designated 30.
• Such a construction also includes four sections 31 — 34 hingedly mounted as described above with respect to Figs. 1 - 8 (and Figs. 9, 10) to permit the sections to be folded into a compact form for convenient handling or storage, or unfolded into a deployed form for use.
• two of the sections e.g., sections 32 and 34
• the remaining two sections would be used as pivotal covers for closing and opening the cigar-holding sections 32, 34.
• the four sections may be unfolded into the form illustrated in Fig. 8, to enable the device in this form to serve as an extended supporting surface for supporting various objects.
• the device also includes four sections 41 - 44 hingedly mounted to each other as described above so as to enable the sections to be folded into a compact form, as shown in Fig. 14 for convenient storage and handling, and unfolded into a deployed form as illustrated in Fig. 13 for use as a table top.
• each of the sections 41 - 44 is formed with a recess to a define a compartment (e.g., 41a, 41b, Fig. 12) for receiving various eating utensils or food products, as well as the legs 45 to be attached to the table top defined by the deployed sections 41 - 44.
• the device may be provided with a lock 46 for locking the folded sections together, and also with a handle 47 to facilitate handling.
• handle 47 is pivotable to its respective section and is receivable within a recess of corresponding shape (not shown) so as to provide a substantially continuous planar surface for the table top in the unfolded condition of the sections as illustrated in Fig. 13.
• Fig. 15 illustrates the invention embodied in a cup or dish coaster plate, generally designated 50.
• Such a device would also include four sections 51 - 54 hingedly mounted as described above to enable them to be unfolded into a deployed form for use, as shown in Fig. 15, or to be folded into a compact form, as shown in Fig. 16 for convenient handling or storage.
• Fig. 17 illustrates how a plurality of such cup or dish coaster plates 50 may be convenient stacked to take up a nnnimum storage space.
• the upper surface of each section is also a flat and planar for supporting the cup or dish, as shown in Fig. 15.
• the undersurface of each section preferably is also formed with a recess (not shown), corresponding to recesses 11a - 14a in Fig.
• Figs. 18 - 20 illustrate the invention embodied in a foldable mattress, generally designated 60.
• the illustrated mattress includes four sections 61 - 64 hingedly mounted to each other as described above with respect to Figs. 1 - 8 to permit the mattress to be unfolded into a deployed form for normal use, or folded into a compact form, such as shown in Fig. 18, for convenient handling or storage.
• the mattress includes zippers 65, or other locking devices, for locking the four sections together in their folded condition, and a handle 66 to facilitate handling the folded mattress.
• Fig. 18 could be completely unfolded such that the four sections 61 - 64 assume a flat shape for normal use, or could be partially unfolded, as shown in Fig. 19, such that two sections 61, 63 serve as seat pads, and the remaining two sections 62, 64 serve as back pads.
• Fig. 20 schematically illustrates a variation in the foldable mattress, therein generally designated 70, wherein the mattress includes six sections 71 - 76, rather than four sections as described with respect to Figs. 18 and 19. The six sections are hingedly mounted to each other as shown in Fig.
• section 71 is foldable over section 72 via hinge 81
• section 73 is foldable over section 74 via hinge 82
• section 75 is foldable over section 76 via hinge 83
• sections 71, 72 are foldable with respect to sections 73, 74 via hinge 84
• sections 75, 76 are foldable with respect to the other sections via hinge 85.
• the various sections need not be provided with the recesses, corresponding to recesses 1 la - 14a in Fig. 1, unless the mattress is also to be used for housing various objects (e.g., sleeping garments or the like), in which case the compartments would be relatively shallow as compared to the above-described embodiments.
• the mechanical hinges illustrated in Figs. 1 - 8 could also be used in the mattress constructions of Figs. 18 - 20; preferably, however, the hinges (e.g., 81 - 85, Fig. 20) are integral hinges, namely hinges integrally formed with the material of the mattress sections. It will further be appreciated that the mattress could include more than six sections, if desired, e.g., eight sections, or any other even number, according to the desired size of the mattress.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
• Special Chairs (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=34708473

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (2)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 2003
  • 2003-12-24 IL IL159542A patent/IL159542A0/en unknown
• 2004
  • 2004-12-26 WO PCT/IL2004/001167 patent/WO2005060353A2/en active Application Filing

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