Patents Assigned to Patent Category Corp.
-
Patent number: 6481451Abstract: Collapsible structures are provided having at least one lower panel, each panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material substantially covering the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The fabric assumes the unfolded orientation of its frame member, and each panel further includes a first side, a second side, a bottom side and a top side. The first side of one panel is coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel. The collapsible structure according to the present invention further includes an upper panel having a bottom side coupled to the top side of one of the lower panels. In other embodiments, at least two upper panels are provided, with the upper panels provided above the lower panels. The respective panels can be coupled to each other using stitching and/or detachable connectors, or by crossing the frame members of the panels at adjacent left, right, top or bottom sides.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2000Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6461257Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6460556Abstract: Collapsible structures include at least first and second panels, each panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The first panel has a first retaining mechanism that defines an adjustment space, and the second panel has a second retaining mechanism that is movably received inside the adjustment space of the first retaining mechanism to couple the second panel to the first panel. The second retaining mechanism is movable within the adjustment space to allow the relative positions of the first and second panels to be adjusted. Other collapsible structures include at least first and second panels, each panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6453923Abstract: A collapsible structure has at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation. The structure has a fabric material covering portions of each frame member to form a panel for each frame member, with each panel further including a left side, a bottom side and a right side, with the left side of each panel coupled to the right side of an adjacent panel, and the right side of each panel coupled to the left side of another adjacent pane. The bottom side of at least one panel is positioned at a higher vertical level than the bottom side of at least one other panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2000Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6449147Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 13, 2000Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Publication number: 20020096205Abstract: Collapsible structures are provided having at least four panels, including a bottom panel, a first panel, a second panel and a third panel. Each panel has a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The fabric assumes the unfolded orientation of the frame member. Each panel further includes a first side and a second side, with the first side of one panel coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel, and with the bottom panel resting on the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2002Publication date: July 25, 2002Applicant: Patent Category Corp..3Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Publication number: 20020078989Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2001Publication date: June 27, 2002Applicant: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6408461Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 21, 2000Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6390111Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 2, 2001Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6360761Abstract: Collapsible structures are provided having at least four panels, including a bottom panel, a first panel, a second panel and a third panel. Each panel has a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The fabric assumes the unfolded orientation of the frame member. Each panel further includes a first side and a second side, with the first side of one panel coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel, and with the bottom panel resting on the surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1999Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6357510Abstract: Collapsible structures are provided that have one or more support frames, each having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, with the frame member defining a periphery for the support frame. Where more than one support frame is provided, the support frames can be hingedly coupled to each other. The frame member(s) can be used, for example, to support panel pieces, objects and coverings, among others. In some embodiments, one or more objects can be coupled to and supported by the support frame(s). In other embodiments, a covering may be placed over the support frame(s).Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1999Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Publication number: 20020029795Abstract: A collapsible structure has a base panel that includes separate first and second sides, a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the base panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The structure also includes first and second loops, each loop having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation. The first side of the base panel is coupled to the first loop, and the second side of the base panel is coupled to the second loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6318394Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 5, 2000Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6305396Abstract: A collapsible structure includes a plurality of foldable frame members each having a folded and an unfolded orientation. A fabric material is provided for covering portions of the frame members to form a side panel for each frame member. The structure can have a removable roof. 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. The overlaying side panels and frame members are then collapsed by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric frame members and side panels to substantially reduce the size of the shade structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2000Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6289910Abstract: A collapsible structure has a base panel that includes separate first and second sides, a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the base panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The structure also includes first and second loops, each loop having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation. The first side of the base panel is coupled to the first loop, and the second side of the base panel is coupled to the second loop.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1999Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6273368Abstract: A collapsible flying structure includes an enclosed resilient frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, a sheet material partially covering the resilient frame member to form the flying structure when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, and a control string coupled to the structure for controlling the flight of the flying structure. The frame member may be twisted and folded to form a plurality of concentric loops in the folded orientation of the frame member to substantially reduce the size of the flying structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2000Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6269826Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 8, 2000Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6267128Abstract: A collapsible structure has a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The first panel has a first side that is stitched to the fabric of the second panel by a stitching. Another collapsible structure has a first panel and a second panel, each panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The second panel has an opening provided in its fabric, with a first side of the first panel inserted through the opening to couple the first panel to the second panel.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1999Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6267129Abstract: A collapsible frame assembly has a coilable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a plurality of corner sleeves. Each corner sleeve has a lumen for retaining a selected portion of the frame member, with the plurality of corner sleeves positioned in spaced apart relation along the frame member to form a bend at each location of a corner sleeve. Each collapsible frame assembly can be used to form a panel for a collapsible structure, with one side of each frame assembly hingedly coupled to another side of an adjacent frame assembly to form a series or ring of two or more frame assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1999Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng
-
Patent number: 6266904Abstract: A collapsible object is provided having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the material assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member. A pole is coupled to the panel to support the panel.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1999Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Patent Category Corp.Inventor: Yu Zheng