Collapsible structures

Abstract

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.

1 . A collapsible structure, comprising: 
 a first 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 first panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation; and    a second panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member of the second panel to form the second panel when the frame member of the second panel is in the unfolded orientation;    the first panel further including a first side that is stitched to the fabric of the second panel by a stitching.    
   
   
       2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the stitching hinges the first panel to the second panel.  
   
   
       3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric for each panel extends across the entire panel.  
   
   
       4 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein each panel further includes a frame retaining sleeve that retains the frame member for the respective panel, with the fabric for each panel stitched to the respective frame retaining sleeve.  
   
   
       5 . The structure of  claim 4 , wherein the frame retaining sleeve of the first panel along its first side is stitched to the fabric of the second panel.  
   
   
       6 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second panel has a first side, and wherein first side of the first panel is stitched to the fabric of the second panel at an angle with respect to first side of the second panel.  
   
   
       7 . The structure of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a third panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member of the third panel to form the third panel when the frame member of the third panel is in the unfolded orientation;    a fourth panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member of the fourth panel to form the fourth panel when the frame member of the fourth panel is in the unfolded orientation;    wherein the second, third and fourth panels each further includes a first side; and    wherein the first side of each panel is stitched to the fabric of an adjacent panel to form an enclosed space.    
   
   
       8 . A collapsible structure, comprising: 
 a first 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 first panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the first panel further including a first side; and    a second panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member of the second panel to form the second panel when the frame member of the second panel is in the unfolded orientation, and an opening provided in the fabric of the second panel;    wherein the first side of the first panel is inserted through the opening to couple the first panel to the second panel.    
   
   
       9 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein the first panel has an opening.  
   
   
       10 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein the fabric for each panel extends across the entire panel.  
   
   
       11 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein each panel further includes a frame retaining sleeve that retains the frame member for the respective panel, with the fabric for each panel stitched to the respective frame retaining sleeve.  
   
   
       12 . The structure of  claim 8 , further including a third panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member of the third panel to form the third panel when the frame member of the third panel is in the unfolded orientation, the third panel having an opening provided in its fabric; and 
 wherein the first panel has a second side that is inserted through the opening of the third panel to couple the first panel to the third panel.    
   
   
       13 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein the second and third panels each include a second opening, and wherein the structure further includes a fourth panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member of the fourth panel to form the fourth panel when the frame member of the fourth panel is in the unfolded orientation, the fourth panel having a first side and a second side; and 
 wherein the first side of the fourth panel is inserted through the second opening of the second panel to couple the second panel to the fourth panel, and the second side of the fourth panel is inserted through the second opening of the third panel to couple the third panel to the fourth panel.    
   
   
       14 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the second openings of the second and third panels are aligned with each other.  
   
   
       15 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second panels are perpendicular to each other.  
   
   
       16 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second panels are positioned at an angle with respect to each other.  
   
   
       17 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein second panel has a side, and wherein the opening is positioned at an angle to the side of the second panel.