Collapsible faceted object having a closed three-dimensional shape

Abstract

In an embodiment, a collapsible object includes interconnected facet panels arranged to form an expandable three-dimensional structure capable of changing between a collapsed state and an expanded state. A redirection guide is mounted to an interior surface of a first one of the facet panels. An actuator cord has a first end attached to a first attachment point on the interior surface of a second one of the facet panels and extends through the redirection guide. The actuator cord has a second end extending toward outside the three-dimensional structure. A cord lock is configured to maintain tension in the actuator cord when the three-dimensional structure is in the expanded state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible object comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected facet panels arranged to form an expandable three-dimensional structure capable of changing between a collapsed state and an expanded state;   an actuator cord having a first end attached to a first attachment point on an interior surface of a second one of the facet panels, the actuator cord having a second end extending toward outside the three-dimensional structure; and   a cord lock configured to maintain tension in the actuator cord when the three-dimensional structure is in the expanded state.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible object of  claim 1 , further comprising a redirection guide mounted to an interior surface of a first one of the facet panels, wherein the actuator cord extends from the first attachment point through the redirection guide and toward the outside. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible object of  claim 2 , wherein the redirection guide comprises a pulley mounted to the interior surface of the first one of the facet panels. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible object of  claim 3 , wherein the redirection guide further comprises a second pulley mounted to an interior surface of a third one of the facet panels, wherein the actuator cord extends from the first attachment point through the pulley and the second pulley to a second attachment point on an interior surface of a fourth one of the facet panels, the third one of the facet panels being the same facet panel or a different facet panel than the first one of the facet panels. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible object of  claim 3 , wherein the redirection guide further comprises a second pulley mounted to an interior surface of a third one of the facet panels and a second actuator cord that extends through the pulley to a second attachment point on an interior surface of a fourth one of the facet panels, the third one of the facet panels being the same facet panel or a different facet panel than the first one of the facet panels. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible object of  claim 3 , wherein the redirection guide comprises a plurality of distributed pulley systems spaced apart around a circumference of the interior surface of the object, each distributed pulley system comprising multiple pulleys. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible object of  claim 1 , wherein the cord lock is located outside the three-dimensional structure and wherein the cord lock is configured to be pressed against an exterior surface of one of the facet panels to exert a force that opposes an upward pulling force of the actuator cord to maintain the three-dimensional structure in compression in the expanded state. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible object of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of facet panels are arranged in rows and columns, the columns including a central column and remaining columns;
 wherein each facet panel in the central column is connected to an adjacent facet panel in the central column by a flexible joint, the central column forming a closed loop;   wherein, in each row, each facet panel in that row is connected to two adjacent facet panels in that row by respective flexible joints, each row forming a closed loop and having two facet panels that are also facet panels of the central column;   wherein, in each remaining column, each facet panel is connected to two adjacent facet panels in that remaining column, each remaining column forming a closed loop; and   wherein, in each remaining column, each facet panel is spaced from a facet panel in an adjacent row when the object is in the collapsed state and touches the facet panel in the adjacent row when the object is in the expanded state.   
     
     
         9 . The object of  claim 8 , wherein each row includes N facet panels, wherein N is an even integer greater than or equal to six, and wherein N/2 is an odd integer. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible object of  claim 1 , wherein the facet panels are arranged in a plurality of pattern groups interconnected along a spine, each pattern group including a plurality of the facet panels so that each facet panel of the plurality is attached to an adjacent facet panel in the respective pattern group by a flexible joint, wherein each facet panel of the plurality is spaced from another adjacent facet panel by an open space when the object is in a collapsed state and each facet panel has an edge that is parallel to an edge of the other adjacent facet panel when the object is in an expanded state. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible object of  claim 1 , wherein the facet panels include fixed facet panels arranged in a first direction and sliding facet panels arranged in a second direction different than the first direction, and wherein the fixed facet panels are interconnected with the sliding facet panels by a sliding alignment guide mechanism that includes a male part and a female part. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible object of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the actuator cord extends through a hole in the surface of the collapsible object to outside the three-dimensional structure. 
     
     
         13 . A collapsible object comprising:
 a plurality of pattern groups interconnected along a spine, each pattern group including a plurality of facet panels so that each facet panel of the plurality is attached to an adjacent facet panel in the respective pattern group by a flexible joint, wherein each facet panel of the plurality is spaced from another adjacent facet panel by an open space when the collapsible object is in a collapsed state and each facet panel has an edge that is parallel to an edge of the other adjacent facet panel when the collapsible object is in an expanded state; and   a guide mechanism configured so that the collapsible object can be transformed from the collapsed state to the expanded state by simultaneously moving the facet panels to close the open spaces in a manner guided by the guide mechanism, the guide mechanism comprising a pulley attached to an internal surface of the collapsible object and an actuator cord attached to an attachment point on the internal surface of the collapsible object, the actuator cord extending though the pulley toward a hole in the collapsible object.   
     
     
         14 . The collapsible object of  claim 13 , further comprising a cord lock configured to maintain tension in the actuator cord when the collapsible object is in the expanded state. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible object of  claim 13 , further comprising a cord lock, wherein the actuator cord extends through the hole in the collapsible object, the cord lock being attached to the actuator cord. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible object of  claim 13 , further comprising a second pulley attached to the internal surface of the collapsible object and a second actuator cord attached to a second attachment point on the internal surface of the collapsible object, the second actuator cord extending though the second pulley toward the hole in the collapsible object, wherein the second actuator cord is integral with or separate from the actuator cord. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a collapsible object having interconnected facet panels and an actuator cord having a first end attached to an attachment point on an interior surface of a first facet panel, the actuator cord having a second end that is accessible from outside the collapsible object, the method comprising:
 applying tension to the second end of the actuator cord to transform the collapsible object from a collapsed state to an expanded state; and   engaging a cord lock operably coupled to the actuator cord to maintain the collapsible object in the expanded state.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the collapsible object further comprises a pulley mounted to an interior surface of a second facet panel, the actuator cord extending from the attachment point and through the pulley and wherein applying the tension comprises redirecting, by the pulley, a force applied to the second end of the actuator cord. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein engaging the cord lock comprises pressing the cord lock against an exterior surface of one of the facet panels to create opposing forces between the cord lock and the actuator cord. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 releasing the cord lock to remove tension from the actuator cord; and   transforming the collapsible object from the expanded state to the collapsed state by applying inward pressure to opposing sides of the collapsible object.