Collapsible structures

Abstract

Collapsible structures include one or more add-on panels that are coupled to the underlying collapsible structure to improve the variety of play, entertainment value, and utility of these collapsible structures. Each of these collapsible structures incorporate at least one foldable frame member, and fabric covering portions of the frame member. The collapsible structures can be collapsed into a smaller configuration by twisting and folding the at least one frame member.

1 . A collapsible structure adapted to be supported on a surface and comprising: 
 at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation;    a fabric material covering portions of each frame member to form a side panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation;    each side panel further including a left side, a bottom side and a right side, with the left side of each side panel coupled to the right side of an adjacent side panel, and the right side of each side panel coupled to the left side of another adjacent side panel;    wherein the bottom side of each side panel rests on the surface to support the structure; and    an add-on panel coupled to a first of the side panels, the add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the add-on panel.    
   
   
       2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom side of each side panel has opposing first and second ends, with the first end of the bottom side connected to the left side and the second end of the bottom side connected to the right side.  
   
   
       3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the left side and right side of each side panel is vertical.  
   
   
       4 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the add-on panel is coupled to a first side of the first side panel.  
   
   
       5 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the add-on panel is coupled to the fabric of the first side panel.  
   
   
       6 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the add-on panel is a first add-on panel, further including a second add-on panel coupled to a second of the side panels, the second add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the second add-on panel.  
   
   
       7 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the add-on panel is a first add-on panel, further including a second add-on panel coupled to the first side panel, the second add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the second add-on panel.  
   
   
       8 . The structure of  claim 7 , further including a third add-on panel coupled to a second of the side panels, the third add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the third add-on panel.  
   
   
       9 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the add-on panel is a first add-on panel, further including a second add-on panel coupled to the first add-on panel, the second add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the second add-on panel.  
   
   
       10 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein each of the frame members of the first and second add-on panels defines a closed loop and has opposing first and second sides, with the two frame members overlapping each other at a first overlapping point along the first sides of the two frame members, and at a second overlapping point along the second sides of the two frames members, the overlapping frame members defining a hinge portion about which the two frame members are pivotable.  
   
   
       11 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the side panels and add-on panel are foldable on top of each other to have the frame members and their associated fabric overlaying each other and with the overlaying frame members collapsible to the collapsed positions by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings and layers of fabric to substantially reduce the size of the structure in the collapsed position.  
   
   
       12 . The structure of  claim 4 , further including fabric for coupling the add-on panel to a second side of the first side panel, the fabric limiting the extent to which the add-on panel can be pivoted with respect to the first side panel.  
   
   
       13 . A collapsible structure, comprising: 
 a first base panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the first panel having an outer periphery;    a second panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the second panel being flexed and with the second panel having opposing first and second end edges that are attached to the first panel so that the first and second panels define an interior space; and    an add-on panel coupled to the second panel, the add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the add-on panel.    
   
   
       14 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the second panel has opposing first and second end edges that are attached to the fabric material of the first panel and offset from the outer periphery.  
   
   
       15 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the second panel has opposing first and second end edges that are attached to the outer periphery of the first panel.  
   
   
       16 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the add-on panel is coupled to a side of the second panel.  
   
   
       17 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the add-on panel is coupled to the fabric of the second panel.  
   
   
       18 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the add-on panel is a first add-on panel, further including a second add-on panel coupled to another side of the second panel, the second add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the second add-on panel.  
   
   
       19 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the add-on panel includes a plurality of add-on panels, each add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the respective add-on panel, with each add-on panel having a first side and a second side, and with the first side of each add-on panel coupled to the second side of an adjacent add-on panel to form a ring of add-on panels.  
   
   
       20 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein the add-on panel is a first add-on panel, further including a second add-on panel coupled to the first add-on panel, the second add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the second add-on panel.  
   
   
       21 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein each of the panels and add-on panel are foldable on top of each other to have the frame members and their associated fabric overlaying each other and with the overlaying frame members collapsible to the collapsed positions by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings and layers of fabric to substantially reduce the size of the structure in the collapsed position.  
   
   
       22 . A collapsible structure, comprising: 
 a first base panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the first panel having an outer periphery;    a second panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the second panel being flexed and with the second panel having opposing first and second end edges that are attached to the first panel so that the first and second panels define an interior space; and    an add-on panel coupled to the first panel, the add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the add-on panel.    
   
   
       23 . The structure of  claim 22 , wherein the add-on panel is coupled to a side of the first panel.  
   
   
       24 . The structure of  claim 22 , wherein the add-on panel is coupled to the fabric of the first panel.  
   
   
       25 . A collapsible structure, comprising: 
 a wall panel having a foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric covering portions of the frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the wall panel being flexed and with the wall panel having opposing first and second end edges that are positioned on a surface when the structure is in an upright orientation so that the wall panel defines an interior space; and    an add-on panel coupled to the wall panel, the add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the add-on panel.    
   
   
       26 . The structure of  claim 25 , wherein the add-on panel is coupled to a side of the wall panel.  
   
   
       27 . The structure of  claim 25 , wherein the add-on panel is coupled to the fabric of the wall panel.  
   
   
       28 . The structure of  claim 25 , further including means associated with a side of the wall panel for maintaining the wall panel in a flexed orientation.  
   
   
       29 . A collapsible structure, comprising: 
 a frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member having a figure-eight configuration when in the unfolded orientation, the figure-eight configuration defining a first loop, a second loop, and a crossover that forms the apex of the frame member in the unfolded orientation and with the first and second loops extending downwardly from the apex;    a fabric material covering portions of the frame member inside the first and second loops when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation; and    an add-on panel coupled to the first loop, the add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the add-on panel.    
   
   
       30 . The structure of  claim 29 , wherein each of the first and second loops has a straight portion opposite the crossover, each straight portion resting on a surface.  
   
   
       31 . The structure of  claim 30 , wherein the add-on panel is coupled to the straight portion of the first loop.  
   
   
       32 . The structure of  claim 29 , wherein the add-on panel is coupled to the fabric material of the first loop.  
   
   
       33 . The structure of  claim 31 , wherein the add-on panel is a first add-on panel, further including a second add-on panel coupled to the straight portion of the second loop, the second add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the second add-on panel.  
   
   
       34 . The structure of  claim 31 , wherein the add-on panel is a first add-on panel, further including a second add-on panel coupled to the first add-on panel, the second add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the second add-on panel.  
   
   
       35 . The structure of  claim 34 , wherein the second add-on panel is also coupled to the second loop.  
   
   
       36 . A collapsible structure, comprising: 
 a frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member having a figure-eight configuration when in the unfolded orientation, the figure-eight configuration defining a first loop, a second loop, and a crossover that forms the apex of the frame member in the unfolded orientation and with the first and second loops extending downwardly from the apex;    a fabric material covering portions of the frame member inside the first and second loops when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation; and    an add-on panel coupled to the first and second loops, the add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the add-on panel.    
   
   
       37 . The structure of  claim 36 , wherein each of the first and second loops has a straight portion opposite the crossover, each straight portion resting on a surface.  
   
   
       38 . A collapsible structure, comprising: 
 a frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, the frame member having a figure-eight configuration when in the unfolded orientation, the figure-eight configuration defining a first loop, a second loop, and a crossover that forms the apex of the frame member in the unfolded orientation and with the first and second loops extending downwardly from the apex;    a fabric material covering portions of the frame member inside the first and second loops when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation; and    first, second and third add-on panels, each add-on panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and a fabric material covering portions of the frame member for the respective add-on panel, with each add-on panel having a first side and a second side, and with the first side of the first add-on panel coupled to the first loop, the second side of the first add-on panel coupled to the first side of the second add-on panel, the second side of the second add-on panel coupled to the first side of the third add-on panel, and the second side of the third add-on panel coupled to the first loop.    
   
   
       39 . The structure of  claim 38 , wherein each of the first and second loops has a straight portion opposite the crossover, each straight portion resting on a surface.