Foldable protection enclosure

Abstract

A foldable protection enclosure with four frame elements, each comprising a resilient frame, covered in a flexible material, and are hinged together to encircle an enclosed space. It offers a higher degree of freedom in its design and shape, than comparable cases. The frame panels, or walls may have significantly different geometric shapes and sizes and they can be partially removably connected with each other. It can be folded and, for further reduction can be twisted, by an axial rotation, in order to be transformed in a fully collapsed state. The protection enclosure is transportable, is partially self erectable and self-supporting. In one embodiment of the invention, as an enclosure designed for portable computers with display (laptops, tablets, pads, etc.) further innovations are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), self-supporting and partially self tensible, comprising four frame panels ( 8   a ,  8   b ,  8   c  und  8   d );
 each of the frame panels ( 8 ) comprising an integrated, separate, flexible and elastic frame member with closed geometry and each of the frame panels ( 8 ) covered by a flexible material ( 2 ) and holding the flexible material ( 2 ) or keeping it under tension to form a panel;   said four frame panels ( 8 ) hingedly connected in a raw with each other, along two of their at least approximately parallel and/or opposite positioned edges, to form an enclosed interior space, in a non-folded, fully expanded state;   the enclosure comprising at least one fifth additional (to the four frame panels) wall element, that is not comprising a frame member and is formed by flexible material ( 2 ) connected along the four preferably backwards oriented edges of said frame panels ( 8   a ,  8   b ,  8   c  und  8   d ) and closing one of the two open sides of the said enclosed interior space;   the enclosure having at least one unfolded, fully expanded condition and a folded condition, when the four frame elements are folded along their hinged connections to each other, and lie one above the other to form a pile,   wherein preferably at least two of the four frame panels ( 8 ) have a significantly different geometrical form and size;   at least two of the four frame panels ( 8 ) comprise means to removably and hingedly be coupled to each other,   wherein said fifth wall element ( 4 ) can be separated into two parts ( 4 A/ 4 B), preferably from one corner of the said removable connection of the two frame panels ( 8 ) to the diagonally opposite corner, and the two parts of the divided wall ( 4 A/ 4 B) comprise means to be removably connected to each other,   wherein, the enclosure can only be in its folded orientation, under the condition, that both connections, the connection of the two said frame panels ( 8 ) as well as of the two wall element parts ( 4 A/ 4 B), must be in a loose, not connected configuration.   
     
     
         2 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure can only be in its unfolded, fully expanded orientation, under the condition, that both connections, the connection of the two said frame panels ( 8 ) as well as of the two wall element parts ( 4 A/ 4 B), must be in a closed, connected configuration. 
     
     
         3 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein not more than three of the four said frame panels ( 8   a ,  8   b ,  8   c  und  8   d ) are connected preferably firmly and hinged in a row, preferably by a seam and/or comparable means. 
     
     
         4 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein the said removable connections are formed preferably by means of a zipper and/or of hook-loop straps and/or comparable means. 
     
     
         5 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein each frame member is led integrally within a peripheral tube ( 9   a ,  9   b ,  9   c  und  9   d ) of flexible material ( 2 ), which is connected along the edge of corresponding frame panel ( 8 ), preferably sewn on. 
     
     
         6 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein each frame member as an expanded, stretched configuration and keeps said flexible material ( 2 ) of said respective frame panel ( 8 ) under constant, biaxial tension and forms a single loop; wherein each frame member has a fully collapsed configuration, achieved by rotation of the ends of one of its axes in opposite direction and forms three small loops lying one above each other, wherein the enclosure ( 1 ) in said folded condition of said pile of overlying four frame panels ( 8 ) has an expanded, stretched configuration and a fully, collapsed configuration, by said method of axial rotation, that reduces the size in approximately one third of the extended configuration and so enhances the portability of the enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein the flexible Material ( 2 ) can preferably be textile and/or coated and/or laminated fabric and/or foil and/or hook/loop fabric. 
     
     
         8 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein the flexible Material ( 2 ) is preferably water rejecting and/or waterproof and/or abrasion resistant and/or opaque and/or reflecting. 
     
     
         9 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, for protection of portable computer ( 10 ), meant in a wide sense for tablet computer, pads, displays, touch screens and similar electronic devices against enviromnental influences, like heat, cold, water, rain, snow, dust and for protection against ambient light and against strong incident light associated glare, while at same time operation of said portable computer ( 10 ), meant in a wide sense for tablet computer, pads, displays, touch screens and similar electronic devices is made possible; the frame panels ( 8   a ,  8   b ,  8   c  und  8   d ) defining, a floor ( 6 ), a sidewall ( 3 L), a roof ( 5 ) and a sidewall ( 3 R), the said fifth wall is the rear wall ( 4 A/ 4 B); the foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ) formed to cover said portable computer ( 10 ) preferably entirely and comprising a front opening ( 7 ) for operation or view of said portable computer ( 10 ), wherein the roof ( 5 ) is preferably shaped in trapezoidal form and its side associated to the rear wall ( 4 ), is about 20% to 40% longer than its opposite, parallel side above the front opening, preferably 35% longer. 
     
     
         10 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein the shape of the side walls ( 3 ) are such, that the angle defined by the back edge along the rear wall ( 4 ) and the down edge along the floor ( 6 ), is bigger than 90 degrees, preferably 100 to 125 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein the front opening ( 7 ) is covered by a removable front cover ( 19 ) of flexible material ( 2 ); wherein the flexible material ( 2 ) is preferably, at least partially transparent and/or elastic foil, preferably PVC; wherein said front cover ( 19 ) comprises means of removable fastening, preferably hook-loop straps. 
     
     
         12 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein the side walls comprise horizontally disposed slots ( 13 ) for venting and passage of cables and/or USB devices ( 21 ) and/or similar devices, preferably along the edge of the bottom ( 6 ), preferably at a distance of 0 cm to 2 cm from the edge. 
     
     
         13 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein the slots ( 13 ) are of hook/loop fabric and are die-cut, wherein this hook/loop fabric portion ( 17 ) formed with said slots ( 13 ), forms a part of the flexible material ( 2 ) of the side wall ( 3 ). 
     
     
         14 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein the slots ( 13 ) are covered by means of an hingedly, above the slots ( 13 ) connected flap ( 12 ), for protection against ambient influences; wherein the flap ( 12 ) comprises means of a removable and adjustable attachment, preferably hook/loop fasteners ( 15 ) to the removable and adjustable attachment on said hook/loop fabric portion ( 17 ) of the enclosure ( 1 ). 
     
     
         15 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein it comprises features to build it rainproof, in particular said front cover ( 19 ), said flaps ( 12 ) as well as further used coverings of removable and adjustable attachments and connections at the enclosure ( 1 ). 
     
     
         16 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein it comprises fastening devices ( 11 ), in particular strap loops, and/or buckles or similar devices, for detachable fastening of the enclosure ( 1 ), preferably by means of removable and adjustable attachment, preferably hook/loop fastener belts and/or similar devices. 
     
     
         17 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, comprising four frame panels ( 8   a ,  8   b ,  8   c  und  8   d ):
 each of the frame panels ( 8 ) comprising an integrated, separate, flexible and elastic frame member with closed geometry and each of the frame panels ( 8 ) covered by a flexible material ( 2 ) and holding the flexible material ( 2 ) or keeping it under tension to form a panel;   said four frame panels ( 8 ) hingedly connected in a raw with each other, along two of their at least approximately parallel and/or opposite positioned edges, to form an enclosed interior space, in a non-folded, fully expanded state;   the enclosure comprising at least one fifth additional (to the four frame panels) wall element, that is not comprising a frame member and is formed by flexible material ( 2 ) connected along the four preferably backwards oriented edges of said frame panels ( 8   a ,  8   b ,  8   c  und  8   d ) and closing one of the two open sides of the said enclosed interior space;   the enclosure having at least one unfolded, fully expanded condition and a folded condition, when the four frame elements are folded along their hinged connections to each other, and lie one above the other to form a pile, wherein   the enclosure ( 1 ), for the purpose of stabilization and/or adjustability of its vertical inclination and/or the ability to further reduce its size, in particular preferably the size of the front opening ( 7 ), comprises at least a pair of tension belts ( 14 ); wherein the tension belts are preferably firmly connected to the enclosure ( 1 ).   
     
     
         18 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to  claim 17 , wherein every pair of the tension belts ( 14 ) is connected at both of its first ends, at two opposite edges, or the vicinity of the edges, of a frame panel ( 8 ) and they each extend over the opposite edge for each adjacent frame panel ( 8 ) and with their second ends are connected to the edge to the opposite edges of the same frame panels ( 8 ) or close to the edges. 
     
     
         19 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, comprising at least two frame panels ( 8 ), each of the frame panels ( 8 ) comprising an integrated, separate, flexible and elastic frame member with closed geometry and each of the frame panels ( 8 ) covered by a flexible material ( 2 ) and holding the flexible material ( 2 ) or keeping it under tension to form a panel; and each frame member is led integrally within a peripheral tube ( 9 ) of flexible material ( 2 ), which is connected along the edge of corresponding frame panel ( 8 ), preferably sewn on, wherein the peripheral tube ( 9 ) is used for fixedly mounting of objects ( 15 ), preferably of hook/loop fasteners ( 15 ) and/or strap loops ( 16 ) and/or tension belts ( 14 ) and/or similar. 
     
     
         20 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to  claim 19 , wherein said objects are attached preferably by means of a seam on the peripheral tube ( 9 ). 
     
     
         21 . Foldable protection enclosure ( 1 ), according to one of the previous claims, wherein said flexible material ( 2 ) consists of one single piece.