Patent ID: 6206020
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: E04H

Abstract:
An expandable framework adapted to move between an expanded state for supporting a covering above a support surface and a collapsed state for storage, comprising:(a) a plurality of upright support members each having a bottom end positionable on the support surface and a top end opposite the bottom end, said support members being oriented alongside one another in the collapsed state and spaced apart from one another when in the expanded state;(b) an upper mount fixed at an upper fixed location to each said support member;(c) a lower mount fixed at a lower fixed location to each said support member, said upper and lower mounts spaced apart from one another by a pre-determined distance; and(d) a plurality of edge scissor assemblies whereby each of said edge scissor assemblies interconnects peripherally adjacent ones of said support members, each said edge scissor assembly including a plurality of scissor arms hingedly connected to one another, at least two of said scissor arms defining articulating members formed by at least two articulating arm sections that are movable between a folded state when the expandable framework is in the collapsed state and an aligned state when the expandable framework is in the expanded state whereby the two articulating arm sections are oriented along parallel axes with respect to one another, each said articulating member having a first outer end pivotally secured to one of said upper and lower mounts of a respective peripherally adjacent said support member.