Patents Assigned to Patent Category Corp.
  • Patent number: 7370379
    Abstract: An inflatable item has a body. The body has a chamber therein, and defines an outer edge. An inlet is provided on the body and communicates with the chamber. A groove is cut from the outer edge of the body and extends for a depth into the body. A fold line extends from the outer edge to a portion of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7363932
    Abstract: A collapsible structure has a first end panel and a second end panel, with each end panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering the frame member to form the respective end panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The structure also has a side wall having at least one panel, a first side and a second side, with the panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation. The first side of the side wall is stitched to the fabric of the first end panel at a location away from the periphery of the first end panel, the second side of the side wall is stitched to the fabric of the second end panel at a location away from the periphery of the second end panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7365967
    Abstract: Collapsible structures are provided with enhancements and other features that impart additional utility or amusement value to the basic underlying structure. The collapsible structure has at least one foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form a panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. An electrical component can attached to the fabric material, and an electrical coupling connected to the electrical component. Alternatively, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional object can be attached to the fabric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7308989
    Abstract: Collapsible structures are provided that have an enclosed interior space that can be used to hold and contain water or other matter. The interior space is defined by an enclosing wall and a base that are both waterproof to prevent leakage of the water or matter contained in the interior space. None, one or more foldable frame members can be provided as part of the enclosing wall and the base, or a foldable frame member can be provided as part of a rim member. The frame members allow the resulting structure to be twisted and folded to reduce the overall size of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7306003
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7293369
    Abstract: An appliance is provided with a water dispenser. A fan or heater assembly, a hair dryer assembly, and a brush assembly are disclosed. Each of these assemblies includes a water dispenser incorporated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7267625
    Abstract: Collapsible structures are disclosed having a central panel, a first support panel disengageably connected to the left side of the central panel, and a second support panel disengageably connected to the right side of the central panel. Each of the central panel and support panels includes a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material substantially covering the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7263732
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7225822
    Abstract: Collapsible structure are provided having a first base panel and a second panel, each having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material partially covering the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member. The second panel is flexed so that the first and second panels define an interior space, with the second panel having opposing first and second end edges that are coupled to the outer periphery of the first panel. The second panel can have two or more supporting frame members to allow the collapsible structures to be provided in different configurations and sizes. In addition, the first base panel can be replaced by a fabric or similar piece of material that is coupled to the first and second end edges of the second panel. The second panels can be coupled within, or outside, the outer periphery of the first base panel or fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7207857
    Abstract: A floating assembly for suspending a person on water has a sheet material that defines the periphery for the floating assembly. A plurality of floatation devices are attached to the periphery. The plurality of floatation devices includes a top floatation device that forms a head pillow, a first side floatation device, and a second side floatation device positioned opposite to the first side floatation device. A first arm space is defined between the top floatation device and the first side floatation device, and a second arm space is defined between the top floatation device and the second side floatation device. The periphery can also be defined by a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7159601
    Abstract: Collapsible structures are provided having at least two panels, with each of the panels having a flexible loop member defining a closed loop and adapted to assume an expanded position and a collapsed position, and a fabric for partially covering the loop member. The loop members of two adjacent first and second panels overlap each other at a first overlapping point along first edges of the loop members, and at a second overlapping point along second edges of the loop members, with the overlapping loop members defining a hinge portion about which the two loop members of the first and second panels are pivotable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7140376
    Abstract: A collapsible shade structure includes a plurality of foldable frame members each having a folded and an unfolded orientation. A fabric material is provided for substantially covering the frame members to form a side panel for each frame member, each side panel assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member. Interconnecting portions of the fabric material form a hinge portion between each frame member. Alternatively, frame retaining sleeve portions may be used to interconnect and retain two or more frame members from two or more adjacent side panels and to act as hinge portions. The structure may be folded and stored by folding the side panels and their corresponding frame members on top of each other about the hinge portions to have the side panels and frame members overlying each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7137856
    Abstract: An assembly has a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, a sheet material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, and one or more floatation devices. The floatation devices can be attached to any number of locations, including but not limited to the sheet material, the top of the sheet material, the bottom of the sheet material, and the periphery of the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7080653
    Abstract: A collapsible structure has first and second flexible loop members, each loop member defining a closed loop and having a first side and an opposing second side, each loop member adapted to assume an expanded position and a collapsed position, with the two loop members overlapping each other at a first overlapping point along the first sides of the loop members, and at a second overlapping point along the second sides of the loop members. The loop members are adapted to assume a deployed position in which one loop member is disposed at an angle with respect to the other loop member at the overlapping points, so that the structure defines a top side, four vertical sides, and a bottom side when in the loop members are in the deployed position. The structure also includes a flexible wall extending across the four vertical sides and the bottom side to define an interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7073523
    Abstract: Collapsible panels are provided which incorporate two or more separate frame members. The frame members can be positioned at separate locations on the panel, or two or more frame members can be housed in the same frame retaining sleeve. One or more of the panels can be used to form collapsible structures. These collapsible structures can be easily and quickly folded and collapsed into a compact configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7069609
    Abstract: An apparatus has a first section having a hollow interior that is filled with air, and a second section attached to the top of the first section and having a hollow interior that retains a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7048654
    Abstract: Collapsible structures are disclosed having a central panel, a first support panel disengageably connected to the left side of the central panel, and a second support panel disengageably connected to the right side of the central panel. Each of the central panel and support panels includes a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material substantially covering the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7031147
    Abstract: Collapsible structures are provided with enhancements and other features that impart additional utility or amusement value to the basic underlying structure. The collapsible structure has at least one foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form a panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. An electrical component can attached to the fabric material, and an electrical coupling connected to the electrical component. Alternatively, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional object can be attached to the fabric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: D514633
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: D514634
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng