Patent ID: 6772883
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: A45C,A45F,G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A collapsible equipment enclosure comprising:a. a tension frame comprising an independent flexible first strut with a first end and a second end and an independent flexible second strut with a first end and a second end, the first strut resiliently bent into a conic shape arc and the second strut resiliently bent into a conic shape arc and the first strut and the second strut positioned to cross each other at the apex of their respective arcs with the ends of the struts positioned in the down direction; b. a flexible sheeting bottom portion configured to substantially form a rectangular periphery with four corners, an inside surface, and an outside surface; c. a flexible, substantially opaque, sheeting upper portion with an inside surface and an outside surface, including at least one opening, the sheeting upper portion joined to and contiguous to the bottom portion at the bottom periphery such that the sheeting bottom portion inside surface and the sheeting upper portion inside surface surround the enclosure interior with the sheeting upper portion configured to substantially form a conic dome shape with a substantially rectangular shape forming a front, back, left, and right sides at the attachment to the bottom; d. the tension frame arranged within the sheeting upper portion with the ends positioned on the inside surface of the sheeting bottom portion at the four corners, the resilience of the first and second struts providing a tension force against the sheeting inner surface which maintains the sheeting substantially in the conic dome shape with four corners and such that the frame struts may be moved relative to each other solely by force applied external to the enclosure to permit folding the sheeting upper portion sides and bottom portion to a substantially flat position wherein the assembled enclosure may be shipped or stored in a narrow space, while the frame struts maintain tension on the sheeting to permit unfolding the enclosure substantially to the original shape solely by the tension force of the struts when the force applied external to the enclosure is removed wherein the assembled enclosure is ready for use; and e. the opening in the sheeting upper portion front side is arranged to allow entry and positioning of the tension frame and the equipment.