US2008016817A1PendingUtilityA1

Folding frame system with folding frame elements having diagonal member of variable length

56
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jul 19, 2006Filed: Jul 19, 2006Published: Jan 24, 2008
Est. expiryJul 19, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Theodore R. Zeigler
E04H 15/48E04H 15/50
56
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Claims

Abstract

A folding frame element includes a first hub element having a first end and a second end, a second hub element having a first end and a second end, a first strut pivotably attached at a first end and a second end to the first ends of the first hub element and the second hub element, respectively, a second strut pivotably attached at a first end and a second end to the second ends of the first hub element and the second hub element, respectively, and a diagonal member extending between the first end of the first hub element and the second end of the second hub element. The first and second struts are pivotable relative to the first and second hub elements between a closed position in which the first and second struts and the first and second hub elements are substantially parallel and the diagonal member has a first length and an open position in which the first and second struts define non-zero angles with the first and second hub elements and the diagonal member has a second length shorter than the first length.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A folding frame element, comprising:
 a first hub element having a first end and a second end;   a second hub element having a first end and a second end;   a first strut pivotably attached at a first end and a second end to the first ends of the first hub element and the second hub element, respectively;   a second strut pivotably attached at a first end and a second end to the second ends of the   a diagonal member extending between the first end of the first hub element and the second end of the second hub element,   wherein the first and second struts are pivotable relative to the first and second hub elements between a closed position in which the first and second struts and the first and second hub elements are substantially parallel and the diagonal member has a first length and an open position in which the first and second struts define non-zero angles with the first and second hub elements and the diagonal member has a second length shorter than the first length.   
   
   
       2 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the diagonal member comprises a strut arrangement pivotably attached at a first end of the diagonal member to the first end of the first hub element and at a second end of the diagonal member to the second end of the second hub element. 
   
   
       3 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the strut arrangement comprises telescoping strut members. 
   
   
       4 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the strut arrangement comprises a lock for locking the telescoping strut members at the second length. 
   
   
       5 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein, when the first and second struts are pivoted to the closed position, a combined length of the first strut and the second hub element is substantially equal to a combined length of the second strut and the first hub element. 
   
   
       6 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the second strut comprises telescoping strut members. 
   
   
       7 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein, when the first and second struts are pivoted to the open position, the telescoping strut members of the second strut are retracted to a shorter length than when the first and second struts are pivoted to the closed position. 
   
   
       8 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second strut comprises telescoping strut members. 
   
   
       9 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein, when the first and second struts are pivoted to the open position, the telescoping strut members of the second strut are retracted to a shorter length than when the first and second struts are pivoted to the closed position. 
   
   
       10 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the diagonal member comprises a strut arrangement pivotably attached at a first end of the diagonal member to the first end of the first hub element and at a second end of the diagonal member to the second end of the second hub element, and wherein the strut arrangement comprises telescoping strut members. 
   
   
       11 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the strut arrangement comprises a lock for locking the telescoping strut members at the second length. 
   
   
       12 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a tension member extending between the first end of the second hub element and the second end of the first hub element. 
   
   
       13 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the tension member is a cable. 
   
   
       14 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 13 , comprising a cable keeper connected to the cable. 
   
   
       15 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a third hub element having a first end and a second end;
 a third strut pivotably attached at a first end and a second end to the first ends of the first hub element and the third hub element, respectively;   a fourth strut pivotably attached at a first end and a second end to the second ends of the first hub element and the third hub element, respectively; and   a second diagonal member extending between the first end of the first hub element and the second end of the third hub element,   wherein the third and fourth struts are pivotable relative to the first and third hub elements between a closed position in which the third and fourth struts and the first and third hub elements are substantially parallel and the second diagonal member has a first length and an open position in which the third and fourth struts define non-zero angles with the first and third hub elements and the second diagonal member has a second length shorter than the first length.   
   
   
       16 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the third hub element, the third strut, the fourth strut, and the second diagonal member are substantially mirror images of the second hub element, the third strut, the fourth strut, and the first diagonal member. 
   
   
       17 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first hub element comprises a first hub and a second hub at the first end and the second end, respectively, of the first hub element, the first end of the first strut being pivotably connected to the first hub at a first pivot point and the first end of the second strut being pivotably connected to the second hub at a second pivot point, the first pivot point being disposed at a greater distance from an axis of the first hub element than the second pivot point. 
   
   
       18 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the first pivot point is disposed at the greater distance than the second pivot point from the axis of the first hub element equal to at least half a width of the first strut plus half a width of the second strut. 
   
   
       19 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein, when the first and second struts are pivoted to the open position, the first strut is longer than the second strut and the first hub element and the second hub element are non-parallel. 
   
   
       20 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the second strut comprises telescoping strut members and, when the first and second struts are pivoted to the open position, the telescoping strut members of the second strut are retracted to a shorter length than when the first and second struts are pivoted to the closed position. 
   
   
       21 . The folding frame element as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the first and second hub elements are substantially the same length. 
   
   
       22 . A folding frame element, comprising:
 a first hub element having a first and a second end;   at least a pair of strut assemblies pivotably attached to the first hub element, each strut assembly comprising
 a second hub element having a first end and a second end, 
 a first strut pivotably attached at a first end and a second end to the first ends of the first hub element and the second hub element, respectively, 
 a second strut pivotably attached at a first end and a second end to the second ends of the first hub element and the second hub element, respectively, and 
 a diagonal member extending between the first end of the first hub element and the second end of the second hub element, 
 wherein the first and second struts are pivotable relative to the first and second hub elements between a closed position in which the first and second struts and the first and second hub elements are substantially parallel and the diagonal member has a first length and an open position in which the first and second struts define non-zero angles with the first and second hub elements and the diagonal member has a second length shorter than the first length. 
   
   
   
       23 . A folding frame system, comprising at least two folding frame elements as set forth in  claim 22  connected end to end and sharing a common second hub element. 
   
   
       24 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein, for at least one of the at least two folding frame elements, at least one of the second struts comprises telescoping strut members and, when the first and second struts are pivoted to the open position, the telescoping strut members of the at least one of the second struts are retracted to a shorter length than when the first and second struts are pivoted to the closed position. 
   
   
       25 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein, when the first and second struts of the at least two folding frame elements are pivoted to the open position, the first and second struts of a first one of the at least two folding frame elements are non-parallel to the first and second struts of a second one of the at least two folding frame elements. 
   
   
       26 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein, for each strut assembly of each folding frame element, the diagonal member comprises a strut arrangement pivotably attached at a first end of the diagonal member to the first end of the first hub element and at a second end of the diagonal member to the second end of the second hub element, and wherein the strut arrangement comprises telescoping strut members. 
   
   
       27 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 26 , wherein the strut arrangement comprises a lock for locking the telescoping strut members at the second length. 
   
   
       28 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 23 , comprising a plurality of folding frame elements as set forth in  claim 22  connected end to end in succession to define a polygonal shape, successive ones of the plurality of folding frame elements sharing common second hub elements. 
   
   
       29 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 28 , comprising four folding frame elements connected end to end in succession to define a substantially square shape. 
   
   
       30 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 29 , comprising a brace assembly extending between two first struts of two non-successive folding frame elements. 
   
   
       31 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the brace assembly comprises two strut members pivotably connected at first ends thereof to second ends of respective ones of the two first struts of the two non-successive folding frame elements and at second ends thereof to each other. 
   
   
       32 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein, when the first and second struts of the four folding frame elements are pivoted to the closed position, the two strut members each have a first length and, when the first and second struts of the four folding frame elements are pivoted to the open position, the two strut members each have a second length that is shorter than the first length. 
   
   
       33 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein, when the first and second struts of the four folding frame elements are pivoted to the open position, the first ends of the first and second hub elements define a first plane and the second ends of the first and second hub elements define a second plane, the second ends of the two strut members being disposed substantially in the first plane. 
   
   
       34 . The folding frame system as set forth in  claim 33 , comprising tension members extending between the first ends the second hub elements of the four folding frame elements and the second ends of the two strut members. 
   
   
       35 . A hub element for a folding frame element, the hub element comprising an elongated member and a first hub and a second hub at a first end and a second end, respectively, of the elongated member, the first hub comprising a first pivot point for pivotably connecting a first strut and the second hub comprising a second pivot point for pivotably connecting a second strut, the first pivot point being disposed at a greater distance from an axis of the elongated member than the second pivot point. 
   
   
       36 . The hub element as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the first pivot point is disposed at the greater distance than the second pivot point from the axis of the elongated member equal to at least half a width of the first strut plus half a width of the second strut. 
   
   
       37 . The hub element as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the first hub comprises a plurality of first pivot points. 
   
   
       38 . The hub element as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein the second hub comprises a plurality of second pivot points equal in number to the plurality of first pivot points. 
   
   
       39 . The hub element as set forth in  claim 35 , comprising a cable connection bracket associated with the first hub.

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