Collapsible structures

Abstract

A collapsible structure has first and second wall panels, each wall panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, a frame retaining sleeve for retaining the respective frame member, and a fabric material substantially covering each frame member to form the panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The fabric assumes the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member. The foldable frame member for each wall panel further includes a top side and a bottom side, with the frame retaining sleeve of the first wall panel stitched along the length of its top side to the frame retaining sleeve along the length of the top side of the second wall panel to form a hinged connection.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible structure having a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration, comprising: 
 a base panel comprising separate first and second sides, a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material substantially covering the frame member to form the base panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member;    first and second wall panels, each wall panel comprising a bottom side, a top side, a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material substantially covering each frame member to form the panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member;    a top panel having a first side connected to the top side of the first wall panel, and a second side connected to the top side of the second wall panel; and    wherein the bottom side of the first wall panel is connected to the first side of the base panel, and the bottom side of the second wall panel is connected to the second side of the base panel.    
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base panel and the top panels each further comprises a first end edge, and the first and second wall panels each comprises a left side, the structure further comprising: 
 a first end defined by the first end edge of the base and top panels, and the left sides of the first and second wall panels, with the first end comprising four corners; and    a fabric piece attached to each of the four corners.    
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom side of the first wall panel is hingedly connected to the first side of the base panel, the bottom side of the second wall panel is hingedly connected to the second side of the base panel, the first side of the top panel is hingedly connected to the top side of the first wall panel, and the second side of the top panel is hingedly connected to the top side of the first wall panel.  
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base panel and the top panels each further comprises a first end edge, and the first and second wall panels each comprises a left side, the structure further comprising: 
 a first end defined by the first end edge of the base and top panels, and the left sides of the first and second wall panels, with the first end comprising four corners; and    a fabric covering attached to the first end edge of the base panel and the top panel, and the left sides of the first and second wall panels to substantially cover the first end of the structure.    
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides of the base panel rest on a surface when the structure is in the deployed configuration.  
     
     
         6 . A collapsible structure having a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration, comprising: 
 a base panel comprising separate first and second sides, a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material substantially covering the frame member to form the base panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member;    first and second wall panels, each wall panel comprising a bottom side, a top side, a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material substantially covering each frame member to form the panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member;    a first top panel having a first side connected to the top side of the first wall panel, and a second side;    a second top panel having a first side connected to the top side of the second wall panel, and a second side connected to the second side of the first top panel; and    wherein the bottom side of the first wall panel is connected to the first side of the base panel, and the bottom side of the second wall panel is connected to the second side of the base panel.    
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 6 , further including a removable attachment mechanism for removably connecting the first side of the first top panel and the top side of the first wall panel to each other.  
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom side of the first wall panel is hingedly connected to the first side of the base panel, the bottom side of the second wall panel is hingedly connected to the second side of the base panel, the first side of the second top panel is hingedly connected to the top side of the second wall panel, and the second side of the second top panel is hingedly connected to the second side of the first top panel.  
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 6 , further including a removable attachment mechanism for removably connecting the second sides of the first and second top panels.  
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom side of the first wall panel is hingedly connected to the first side of the base panel, the bottom side of the second wall panel is hingedly connected to the second side of the base panel, the first side of the first top panel is hingedly connected to the top side of the first wall panel, and the first side of the second top panel is hingedly connected to the top side of the second wall panel.  
     
     
         11 . A collapsible structure having a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration, comprising: 
 first and second wall panels, each wall panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, a fabric material substantially covering each frame member to form the panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member, and a frame retaining sleeve for retaining the respective frame member;    the foldable frame member for each wall panel further having a top side, a bottom side, and a first side, with the frame retaining sleeve of the first wall panel stitched along the length of its top side to the frame retaining sleeve along the length of the top side of the second wall panel to form a hinged connection; and    means for interconnecting the first sides of the first and second wall panels.    
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein the interconnecting means comprises a first fabric interconnecting the first sides of the first and second wall panels.  
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second wall panels further includes a second side, the structure further including means for interconnecting the second sides of the first and second wall panels.  
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein the first fabric extends from the hinged connection and downwardly along a portion of the first side of the first and second wall panels.  
     
     
         15 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom side of each wall panel rests on a surface, and the first fabric defines the limits at which the wall panels can spread away from each other.  
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein the interconnecting means comprises a support panel coupled to the first side of the first and second wall panels.  
     
     
         17 . The structure of  claim 16 , further including a central panel connected to the hinged connection and extending vertically therefrom, the central panel disengageably connected to the support panel.