US2002088564A1PendingUtilityA1

Collapsible support frames

53
Priority: Apr 6, 1999Filed: Feb 7, 2002Published: Jul 11, 2002
Est. expiryApr 6, 2019(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Yu Zheng
G09F 7/00A63B 9/00A63B 2208/12A63B 2210/50A63B 2210/54A63H 33/008E04H 15/006E04H 15/40G09F 15/00G09F 15/0025
53
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

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).

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An object, comprising: 
 a support frame having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member defining a periphery for the support frame; and    an item coupled to and supported by the support frame.    
     
     
         2 . The object of  claim 1 , further including at least one corner piece coupled to the frame member to define the shape of the support frame.  
     
     
         3 . The object of  claim 2 , wherein the corner piece is a piece of fabric that is attached to the frame member.  
     
     
         4 . The object of  claim 2 , wherein the corner piece is a strap having opposing ends attached to the frame member.  
     
     
         5 . The object of  claim 1 , further including a frame retaining sleeve for retaining the frame member, with the item coupled to the frame retaining sleeve and frame member.  
     
     
         6 . The object of  claim 1 , wherein the frame member is collapsible to the folded position by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings to substantially reduce the size of the support frame in the folded position.  
     
     
         7 . The object of  claim 1 , further including a panel piece on which the item is supported, the panel piece removably coupled to the support frame.  
     
     
         8 . The object of  claim 1 , further including a support piece coupled to the support frame, with the item supported by the support piece.  
     
     
         9 . The object of  claim 8 , wherein the support piece has at least one leg with an end that is attached to the support frame.  
     
     
         10 . The object of  claim 8 , wherein the item is supported by the support piece and the support frame.  
     
     
         11 . The object of  claim 1 , wherein the support frame is a first support frame, the object further including a second support frame having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member defining a periphery for the second support frame, and wherein the first and second support frames are hingedly coupled to each other.  
     
     
         12 . The object of  claim 11 , further including at least one corner piece coupled to each frame member to define the shape of the support frame.  
     
     
         13 . The object of  claim 11 , further including a corner piece coupled to the first and second support frames to partially define the shapes of the first and second support frames.  
     
     
         14 . The object of  claim 1 , wherein the support frame is a first support frame, the object further including: 
 a second support frame, a third support frame, and a fourth support frame, each having a left side, a right side, and a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member defining a periphery for the respective support frame; and    wherein the left side of each support frame is hingedly coupled to the right of an adjacent support frame.    
     
     
         15 . An object, comprising: 
 a support frame having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member defining a periphery for the support frame; and    a covering placed over the support frame.    
     
     
         16 . The object of  claim 15 , wherein the support frame is a first support frame, the object further including: 
 a second support frame having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member defining a periphery for the second support frame;    wherein the first and second support frames are hingedly coupled to each other; and    wherein the covering is placed over the first and second support frames.    
     
     
         17 . The object of  claim 15 , wherein the support frame is a first support frame, the object further including: 
 a second support frame, a third support frame, and a fourth support frame, each having a left side, a right side, and a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member defining a periphery for the respective support frame;    wherein the left side of each support frame is hingedly coupled to the right of an adjacent support frame to define an enclosed space; and    wherein the covering is placed over the first, second, third and fourth support frames to cover the enclosed space.    
     
     
         18 . An object, comprising: 
 first and second support frames, each having a left side, a right side, and a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member defining a periphery for the respective support frame; and    wherein the left side of the first support frame is pivotally coupled to the right side of the second support frame, and the left side of the second support frame is pivotally coupled to the right side of the first support frame.    
     
     
         19 . The object of  claim 18 , wherein the left side of the first support frame crosses the right side of the second support frame, and the left side of the second support frame crosses the right side of the first support frame.  
     
     
         20 . An object, comprising: 
 a support frame having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member defining a periphery for the support frame; and    a panel piece removably coupled to and supported by the support frame.    
     
     
         21 . The object of claim  20 , wherein the panel piece extends across the entire periphery of the support frame.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2002088564A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.