Collapsible structural frame

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a collapsible support structure strut, which may include a strut member; a hollow tubular terminal end portion of the strut member having an inner surface; and a detachable looped eyelet having at least one loop and a pair of extending legs, the legs being springedly biased to engage the tubular terminal end of the strut, thereby frictionally holding the looped eyelet in place at the terminal end of the strut. The apparatus and method may also employ a holding plug, with first and second holding groove opposingly placed in the periphery of the holding plug, having at least a portion thereof that is shaped and sized to frictionally engage the inner surface of the tubular terminal end of the strut, to frictionally hold the holding plug in engagement with the strut. The detachable looped eyelet may also have at least two loops.

1 . A collapsible support structure, comprising: 
 a plurality of interconnected frame sections each comprising: 
 a first elongated rigid member having a first end and a second end;  
 a second elongated rigid member having a first end and a second end;  
 wherein the first ends of the first elongated rigid member and the second elongated rigid member are hingedly joined;  
 a collapsible elongated member comprising: 
 an elongated flexible tensioning member connected between the second end of the first elongated rigid member and the second end of the second elongated rigid member;  
 a first hollow tubular rigidizing member extending along a portion of the length of the elongated flexible tensioning member;  
 a second hollow tubular rigidizing member extending along essentially the remainder of the length of the elongated flexible tensioning member; and  
 a rigidizing sleeve member slideably mounted on the first or the second hollow tubular rigidizing member and sized to slideably engage the other of the first and second hollow tubular rigidizing member when the first and second hollow tubular rigidizing members are essentially axially aligned and the rigidizing sleeve member is positioned to slideably engage each of the hollow tubular rigidizing members to form a collapsible elongated tubular member extending essentially between the second ends of each of the first and second elongated rigid members and having the elongated flexible tensioning member axially disposed therein.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein the interconnected frame sections each form a triangle.  
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein the interconnected frame sections each form a portion of a geodesic structure.  
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein the interconnected frame sections form a portion of a truncated icosahedron.  
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 4  wherein the interconnected frame sections for a portion of an upstanding portion of an icosahedron structure extending between a first and a second lesser circle polygonal shape, with the hingedly joined first ends of the first and second elongated rigid members being joined at a corner of the first lesser circle polygonal shape and the collapsible elongated tubular member forming a side of the second lesser circle polygonal shape.  
     
     
         6 . A collapsible support structure, comprising: 
 a plurality of interconnected frame sections each comprising: 
 a first elongated one-piece rigid member having a first end and a second end;  
 a second elongated one-piece rigid member having a first end and a second end;  
 wherein the first ends of the first elongated one-piece rigid member and the second elongated one-piece rigid member are hingedly joined;  
 a collapsible elongated member comprising: 
 an elongated flexible tensioning member connected between the second end of the first elongated rigid member and the second end of the second elongated rigid member;  
 a first hollow tubular rigidizing member extending along a portion of the length of the elongated flexible tensioning member;  
 a second hollow tubular rigidizing member extending along essentially the remainder of the length of the elongated flexible tensioning member; and  
 a rigidizing sleeve member slideably mounted on the first or the second hollow tubular rigidizing member and sized to slideably engage the other of the first and second hollow tubular rigidizing member when the first and second hollow tubular rigidizing members are essentially axially aligned and the rigidizing sleeve member is positioned to slideably engage each of the hollow tubular rigidizing members to form a collapsible elongated tubular member extending essentially between the second ends of each of the first and second elongated one-piece rigid members and having the elongated flexible tensioning member axially disposed therein.  
 
   
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 6  wherein the interconnected frame sections each form a triangle.  
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 6  wherein the interconnected frame sections each form a portion of a geodesic structure.  
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 6  wherein the interconnected frame sections form a portion of a truncated icosahedron.  
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 9  wherein the interconnected frame sections form a portion of an upstanding portion of an icosahedron structure extending between a first and a second lesser circle polygonal shape, with the hingedly joined first ends of the first and second elongated rigid members being joined at a corner of the first lesser circle polygonal shape and the collapsible elongated tubular member forming a side of the second lesser circle polygonal shape.  
     
     
         11 . A collapsible support structure, comprising: 
 a plurality of interconnected frame sections each comprising: 
 a first elongated rigid member having a first end and a second end;  
 a second elongated rigid member having a first end and a second end;  
 a third elongated rigid member having a first end and a second end;  
 wherein the first ends of the respective first elongated rigid member and the second elongated rigid member are hingedly joined, and the second ends of the respective second elongated rigid member and the third elongated rigid member are hingedly attached;  
 a first and a second collapsible elongated member, each comprising: 
 an elongated flexible tensioning member connected respectively between the second end of the of the first elongated rigid member and the second end of the second elongated rigid member and between the hinged connection of the first ends of the respective first and second elongated rigid members and the first end of the third elongated rigid member;  
 a first hollow tubular rigidizing member extending along a portion of the length of the respective elongated flexible tensioning member;  
 a second hollow tubular rigidizing member extending along essentially the remainder of the length of the respective elongated flexible tensioning member; and  
 a rigidizing sleeve member slideably mounted on the first or the second hollow tubular rigidizing member and sized to slideably engage the other of the first and second hollow tubular rigidizing members when the first and second hollow tubular rigidizing members are essentially axially aligned and the rigidizing sleeve member is positioned to slideably engage each of the hollow tubular rigidizing members to form a collapsible elongated tubular member extending essentially between respectively the second ends of each of the first and second elongated rigid members and the hinged connection of the first ends of the first and second elongated rigid members and the first end of the third elongated rigid member, the having the respective elongated flexible tensioning member axially disposed therein.  
 
   
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 11  wherein the interconnected frame sections each form a parallelogram comprising two interconnected triangles sharing the second rigid elongated member as one side of the respective triangles  
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 11  wherein the interconnected frame sections each form a portion of a geodesic structure.  
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 11  wherein the interconnected frame sections form a portion of a truncated icosahedron.  
     
     
         15 . The structure of  claim 14  wherein the interconnected frame sections form a portion of an upstanding portion of a icosahedron structure extending between a first and a second lesser circle polygonal shape, with the hingedly joined first ends of the first and second elongated rigid members being joined at a corner of the first lesser circle polygonal shape and the second collapsible elongated tubular member forming an adjacent side of the first lesser circle polygonal shape, and with the hinged connection of the second ends of the second and third elongated rigid members forming a corner of the second lesser circle polygonal shape and the second collapsible elongated tubular member forming an adjacent side of the second lesser circle polygonal shape.