Collapsible structures with liners
A structure has at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation. A fabric material covers each frame member to form a panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, and each panel is coupled to an adjacent panel to form a ring of panels that enclose an interior space. A liner is removably retained inside the interior space.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to collapsible structures, and in particular, to structures which can be reduced in size, and which are provided with a liner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The organization and storage of objects and items has become increasingly important given the large amounts of items that are in a house or office, and the small amounts of space that are provided. Shelving, stackable boxes, organizers and other similar products have become increasingly popular choices for people to store and organize objects and items.
In addition, the provision of shelters and similar structures has found an increasing number of applications, including use as tents, play structures, and hunting blinds, among others.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIt is an object of the present invention to provide storage devices that are adapted to receive a variety of different types of objects and items.
It is another object of the present invention to provide storage devices that can facilitate the effective organization of stored items.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a liner that can be used with a collapsible structure.
In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a structure having at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation. A fabric material covers each frame member to form a panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, and each panel is coupled to an adjacent panel to form a ring of panels that enclose an interior space. A liner is removably retained inside the interior space. The structure can be used as a storage device, or as a shelter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Each frame member 40 may be provided as one continuous loop, or may comprise a strip of material connected at both ends to form a continuous loop, or a strip of material having opposing ends that are spaced-apart or overlap inside the sleeve 38. Each frame member 40 is preferably formed of flexible coilable steel having a memory, although other materials such as plastics may also be used. The frame members should be made of a material which is relatively strong and yet is flexible to a sufficient degree to allow it to be coiled. Thus, each frame member 40 is capable of assuming two positions or orientations, an open or expanded position such as shown in
Fabric or sheet material 42 extends across each panel 22, 24, 26 and 28, and is held taut by the respective frame member 40 when in its open position. The term fabric is to be given its broadest meaning and should be made from strong, lightweight materials and may include woven fabrics, sheet fabrics or even films. The fabric should be water-resistant and durable to withstand wear and tear. Each frame member 40 may be merely retained within the respective frame retaining sleeve 38 without being connected thereto. Alternatively, the frame retaining sleeves 38 may be mechanically fastened, stitched, fused, or glued to the respective frame members 40 to retain them in position.
At the top side 36 and the bottom side 32 of each panel 22, 24, 26 and 28, where there is no hinge connection to an adjacent panel, the frame retaining sleeve 38 may be formed by merely folding over the corresponding fabric piece and applying a stitching 46 (see
A fabric base 50 may be connected to the bottom side 32 of each panel 22, 24, 26, 28. The fabric base 50 can be made of the same type of material as the fabric material 42. In addition, one or more handles 56 can be attached (e.g., by stitching) to one or more of the panels 22, 24, 26 or 28 at any desired location (e.g., on the fabric 42 or the top side 36).
Openings 52 may be provided in some or all of the panels 22, 24, 26, 28. These openings 52 may be of any shape (e.g., triangular, circular, rectangular, square, diamond, etc.).
While the structure 20 of
As best shown in
The liner 60 provides a storage function as it holds or retains items or objects. The structure 20 (and in particular, its panels 22, 24, 26, 28) provides structural support and structural integrity for the liner 60. When the liner 60 is fitted inside the structure 20, the entire assembly 10 (the structure 20 and the liner 60) can be lifted and carried around as a single assembly. The liner 60 is removable from the structure 20, so the liner 60 can be washed, or a different liner 60 can be used with the structure 20. The ability to replace liners 60 is useful because the user may have worn out an existing liner 60, or may desire to use a liner 60 that has a different color or pattern. As a result, the use of the liner 60 can impart different appearances to the entire assembly 10, thereby providing an improved aesthetic effect for the structure 20. In addition, the underlying structure 20 does not need to be changed, thereby increasing the useful life of the structure 20.
The assembly 10 shown in
The covering 124 is attached to the wire 122 by gluing, stitching, fusing, mechanically fastening or other conventional attachment methods. Alternatively, as shown in
The overlapping segment 125a may be attached to the outer coil 123a along the length of the segment 125a, or the outer coil 123a and the overlapping segment 125a at the first end 126 of the wire 122 may be retained in the same sleeve 130. Similarly, the overlapping segment 125b may be attached to the outer coil 123b along the length of the segment 125b, or the outer coil 123b and the overlapping segment 125b at the second end 128 of the wire 122 may be retained in the same sleeve 130.
A first set of tie members 142 is provided in spaced-apart manner along the first edge 132, and a second set of tie members 144 is provided in spaced-apart manner along the second edge 136. Each tie member 142, 144 can be embodied as two strings or thin pieces of fabric which can be tied together to create a knot, or as opposing straps that carry a VELCRO™pad. Each set of tie members 142, 144 could comprise any number of tie members (including just one tie member), but preferably comprises at least two tie members.
In addition, one or more handles 148 can be attached (e.g., by stitching) in spaced-apart manner to the circular edge 132.
The wire 122 is preferably made from a strong yet springy metal, such as steel or iron, but also can be made from other strong and coilable materials, such as fiberglass or plastic. Such materials are preferably capable of allowing the wire 122 to maintain its coiled shape. The covering 124 is preferably made from a strong durable fabric, such as cotton, canvas, mesh or net, but can also be made from other strong durable materials such as PVC or plastic. The term fabric is to be given its broadest meaning and should be made from strong, lightweight materials and may include woven fabrics, sheet fabrics or even films. The covering 124 can be water-resistant and should be durable to withstand wear and tear associated with extended use with heavy objects.
The structure 102 can be easily collapsed and folded for storage by compressing the wire 122. Specifically, to compress the wire 122, the user grips the circular end wire portion 134, or the first edge 132, of the structure 102 with one hand, and while using the other hand to grip the other circular end wire portion 140, or the second edge 136, pushes or compresses the end wire portion 134 against the end wire portion 140. This compresses the plurality of helical coils of the wire 122 against each other. This compression is made possible by the springy nature of the wire 122, and its helically coiled configuration. With the wire 122 compressed, the tie members of the first and second sets of tie members 142, 144 are tied together to secure the structure 102 in a compressed configuration.
The liner 104 provides a storage function as it holds or retains items or objects. The structure 102 provides structural support and structural integrity for the liner 104. When the liner 104 is fitted inside the structure 102, the entire assembly 100 (the structure 102 and the liner 104) can be lifted using the handles 148, and carried around as a single assembly. The liner 104 is removable from the structure 102, so the liner 104 can be washed, or a different liner 104 can be used with the structure 102.
Each loop 222, 224 is essentially made up of a continuous frame member (not shown, but can be the same as frame member 40) that is retained or held within a frame retaining sleeve 242. An optional fabric can extend completely across the space enclosed by the loop 224, while the space enclosed by the loop 222 is preferably opened. As a result, the loop 222 defines a top opening through which the liner 204 can be introduced or removed.
As set forth above, the first end side 230 of each panel 226, 228 is hingedly connected to the first end loop 222, and the second end side 234 of each panel 226, 228 is hingedly connected to the second end loop 224. The hinged connections can be the same as that illustrated in
In addition, one or more handles 248 can be attached (e.g., by stitching) in spaced-apart manner to the first end loop 222.
The structure 202 can be the same as the structures illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5A of U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,847 to Zheng, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein. The structure 202 can be twisted and folded in the manner shown and described in connection with FIGS. 5A-5E of U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,847 to Zheng.
The liner 204 provides a storage function as it holds or retains items or objects. The structure 202 provides structural support and structural integrity for the liner 204. When the liner 204 is fitted inside the structure 202, the entire assembly 200 (the structure 202 and the liner 204) can be lifted using the handles 248, and carried around as a single assembly. The liner 204 is removable from the structure 202, so the liner 204 can be washed, or a different liner 204 can be used with the structure 202.
The structure 302 has left and right frame retaining sleeves 320 and 322, respectively, which retain the frame member 306. The sleeves 320 and 322 also define straight portions that retain the respective straight portions 312. A first fabric 330 can be stitched or otherwise attached to the interior space defined by the loops 306a, 306b. A second fabric 332 can be stitched or otherwise attached to the space outside the loops 306a, 306b, so that the first and second fabrics 330, 332 together define an enclosed space inside the structure 302.
The structure 302 can be reduced to a smaller configuration by pushing or deforming the straight portions 312 towards each other, causing the two large loops 306a, 306b to be deformed so that they overlie each other. Then, the crossover 310 is partly bent towards one of the straight portions 312. The loops 306a, 306b are then twisted and folded using the principles illustrated in
An optional opening 340 can be provided in the first fabric 330 of the loop 306a adjacent the top of the structure 302 near the crossover 310. The liner 304 is adapted to be fitted through the opening 340 into the interior of the structure 302. The liner 304 provides a storage function as it holds or retains items or objects. The structure 302 provides structural support and structural integrity for the liner 304. When the liner 304 is fitted inside the structure 302, the entire assembly 300 (the structure 302 and the liner 304) can be lifted using the handles 342 (which can be attached to the loops 306a, 306b), and carried around as a single assembly. The liner 304 is removable from the structure 302, so the liner 304 can be washed, or a different liner 304 can be used with the structure 302.
Referring to
The liner is adapted to be fitted through the opening 404 into the interior of the structure 402. The liner provides a storage function as it holds or retains items or objects. The structure 402 provides structural support and structural integrity for the liner. When the liner is fitted inside the structure 402, the entire assembly (the structure 402 and the liner) can be lifted using the handles 430 (which can be attached to the top of the arched portions 416 and 412), and carried around as a single assembly. The liner is removable from the structure 402, so that the liner can be washed, or a different liner can be used with the structure 402.
Thus, the present invention provides numerous embodiments of storage structures and shelters that allow a replaceable liner to be used with a collapsible structure. The liner can be removed, and the structure itself can be reduced to a smaller configuration for ease of storage, packing and transportation.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A structure comprising:
- at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation;
- a fabric material covering each frame member to form a panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation;
- each panel being coupled to an adjacent panel to form a ring of panels that enclose an interior space; and
- a liner that is removably retained inside the interior space.
2. The structure of claim 1, wherein each panel has a left 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 panel.
3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the left side and right side of each panel is vertical.
4. The structure of claim 1, wherein each frame member is twisted and folded to form a plurality of concentric loops when in the folded orientation.
5. The structure of claim 1, wherein each panel has a bottom side which rests on a surface to support the structure.
6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the liner is made of a fabric material.
7. An assembly, comprising:
- a structure having: at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation; a fabric material covering each frame member to form a panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation; and each panel being coupled to an adjacent panel to form a ring of panels; and
- a liner that has an interior space, with the structure removably retained inside the interior space of the liner.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein each panel has a left 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 panel.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the left side and right side of each panel is vertical.
10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein each frame member is twisted and folded to form a plurality of concentric loops when in the folded orientation.
11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein each panel has a bottom side which rests on a surface to support the structure.
12. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the liner is made of a fabric material.
13. The assembly of claim 7, further including a border frame member that couples the panels.
14. A structure comprising:
- a coiled wire supporting a covering which is attached to the wire to define a tunnel-like interior space, the coiled loop and the covering having a first opened end and a second closed end; and
- a liner that is removably retained inside the interior space.
15. The structure of claim 14, further including a first tie member provided at the first end, and a second tie member provided at the second end.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 23, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 24, 2006
Inventor: Yu Zheng (Walnut, CA)
Application Number: 11/064,380
International Classification: B65D 33/02 (20060101);