Canopy structure

Abstract

A canopy structure can comprise a frame comprising a base portion and a top portion. The top portion can comprise a plurality of support members configured to facilitate transition of the top portion between an extended position and a collapsed position. The top portion can comprise a low-friction bearing coupled to a first support member and a second support member so that the first support member and second support member are rotatable relative to one another. The bearing can comprise PTFE.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible canopy structure comprising:
 a plurality of vertical support members;   a top portion comprising a first plurality of support members and a second plurality of support members, the first plurality and second plurality of support members configured to facilitate transition of the top portion between an extended position and a collapsed position; and   a low-friction bearing coupled to a first support member of the first plurality of support members and a second support member of the second plurality of support members so that the first support member and the second support member are rotatable relative to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 1 , wherein the low-friction bearing is configured to allow the first support member and the second support member to be rotatable relative to one another even when the low-friction bearing is tightened. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 2 , wherein the low-friction bearing comprises PTFE. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first plurality of horizontal support members, a first horizontal support member of the first plurality of horizontal support members comprising a first and second end, the first end of the first horizontal support member coupled to a first vertical support member of the plurality of vertical support members;   a second plurality of horizontal support members, a second horizontal support member of the second plurality of horizontal support members comprising a first and second end, the first end of the second horizontal support member coupled to a second vertical support member of the plurality of vertical support members; and   a connector coupled to the second end of the first horizontal support member and the second end of the second horizontal support member.   
     
     
         5 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 4 , wherein the low-friction bearing comprises PTFE. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 4 , wherein the connector is configured in a first state to couple the first horizontal support member to the second horizontal support member in a substantially level line. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 4 , wherein the connector is configured in a second state to allow the first horizontal support member to move relative to the second horizontal support member. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 6 , further comprising drapes hung from the first and second horizontal support members. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 8 , wherein the connector is further configured to allow the drapes to slide substantially smoothly without snagging from the first horizontal support member to the second horizontal support member when the connector is in the first state. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 9 , wherein the low-friction bearing comprises PTFE. 
     
     
         11 . A collapsible canopy structure comprising:
 a plurality of vertical support members;   a top portion comprising first, second, third, and fourth support members, each of the first, second, third, and fourth support members comprising first and second ends, the first end of the first support member coupled to a first vertical support member of the plurality of vertical support members, the first end of the second support member coupled to the first vertical support member, each of the first, second, third, and fourth support members configured to facilitate transition of the top portion between an extended position and a collapsed position;   a first low-friction bearing coupled to the first support member and the second support member so that the first and second support members are rotatable relative to one another;   a second low-friction bearing coupled to the third support member and the fourth support member so that the third and fourth support members are rotatable relative to one another;   a third low-friction bearing coupled to the second end of the first support member and the first end of the third support member;   a fourth low-friction bearing coupled to the second end of the second support member and the first end of the fourth support member.   
     
     
         12 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 11 , wherein the first low-friction bearing is configured to allow the first support member and the second support member to be rotatable relative to one another even when the first low-friction bearing is tightened, and second low-friction bearing is configured to allow the third support member and the fourth support member to be rotatable relative to one another even when the second low-friction bearing is tightened. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 12 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth low-friction bearing each comprise PTFE. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first plurality of horizontal support members, a first horizontal support member of the first plurality of horizontal support members comprising a first and second end, the first end of the first horizontal support member coupled to the first vertical support member;   a second plurality of horizontal support members, a second horizontal support member of the second plurality of horizontal support members comprising a first and second end, the first end of the second horizontal support member coupled to a second vertical support member of the plurality of vertical support members; and   a connector coupled to the second end of the first horizontal support member and the second end of the second horizontal support member.   
     
     
         15 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 14 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth low-friction bearing each comprise PTFE. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 14 , wherein the connector is configured in a first state to couple the first horizontal support member to the second horizontal support member in a substantially level line. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 14 , wherein the connector is configured in a second state to allow the first horizontal support member to move relative to the second horizontal support member. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 16 , further comprising drapes hung from the first and second horizontal support members. 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 18 , wherein the connector is further configured to allow the drapes to slide substantially smoothly without snagging from the first horizontal support member to the second horizontal support member when the connector is in the first state. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible canopy structure of  claim 19 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth low-friction bearing each comprise PTFE.