Patent ID: 6505707
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: A01M,E06C

Abstract:
A portable and collapsible user enclosure, comprising:a platform configured to support a user thereon within the user enclosure; a top frame member defining an upward opening of the user enclosure; a first hinge assembly having an upper first hinge member with an upper end portion pivotally connected to the top frame member and a lower end portion, and a lower first hinge member with a lower end portion pivotally connected to the platform and an upper end portion pivotally connected to the lower end portion of the upper first hinge member; a second hinge assembly having an upper second hinge member with an upper end portion pivotally connected to the top frame member and a lower end portion, and a lower second hinge member with a lower end portion pivotally connected to the platform and an upper end portion pivotally connected to the lower end portion of the upper second hinge member, the first and second hinge assemblies being foldable to move one of the top frame member and the platform toward the other to collapse the user enclosure; and a telescoping ladder pivotally attachable to the platform, the ladder having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of ladder sections telescopically connected together and movable along the ladder axis between a fully extended position and a fully collapsed position, each ladder section including first and second side rails and a rung extending therebetween, adjacent pairs of ladder sections having one of the pair of ladder sections with the first and second side rails thereof positioned inward of the first and second side rails of the other of the pair of ladder sections, the first and second side rails of the one of the pair of ladder sections being slidably retained by the respective first and second side rails of the other of the pair of ladder sections for sliding movement along the ladder axis, the first and second side rails of the one of the pair of ladder sections having first lock members, each with a laterally outward facing locking engagement face, and the first and second side rails of the other of the pair of ladder sections having second lock members, each with a laterally inward facing locking engagement face, the first lock member engagement faces being positioned on the first and second side rails of the one of the pair of ladder sections and the second lock member engagement faces being positioned on the first and second side rails of the other of the pair of ladder sections to position the first lock member engagement faces in face-to-face engagement with the respective second lock member engagement faces to lockably engage each other to prevent movement of the first and second side rails of the pair of ladder sections along the ladder axis when the ladder is in the fully extended position, at least one of the first side rails of the pair of ladder sections being laterally movable relative to the other first side rail to move the first and second lock member engagement faces of the first side rails of the pair of ladder sections into face-to-face locking engagement with each other, and at least one of the second side rails of the pair of ladder sections being laterally movable relative to the other second side rail to move the first and second lock member engagement faces of the second side rails of the pair of ladder sections into face-to-face locking engagement with each other.