UNITARY, COLLAPSIBLE TRI-PANEL STRUCTURES__

Abstract: Three canvas panels (2, 3, 4), each framed by a flexible wire loop, are hingedly connected to one another in a continuous sequence to form a collapsible and foldable triangular, or A-frame shelter structure. The edge (5) of one of the panels is hingedly connected to an outer (7), central portion of another panel in order to allow all the panels to conveniently fold against one another into a compact and flexible flat assembly. The construction technique is applicable to a variety of structure shapes using different types of polygonal or circular panels.

Description: S p e c i f i c a t i o n Be It Known That We, WAI HANG LOUIE a citizen of Hong Kong, resident of Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, and GENEVIEVE KY SHIϋ a citizen of Great Britain, resident of Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong have invented a new and useful UNITARY, COLLAPSIBLE TRI-PANEL STRUCTURES of which che following is a specification: Field of the Invention This invention relates to tents and other light, temporary structures made of canvas stretched over foldable armatures . Background of The Invention There is disclosed in the prior art, several types of collapsible and foldable tents and similar structures which use armatures made of wire loops that can be conveniently twisted and folded into compact shapes for easy storage and transport. When a A-frame structure is made of several wire-framed, interconnected panels, it becomes very difficult to twist and fold the device into a compact shape. As disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,778,915 Zheng, it has been found necessary to provide breakable connections between separate wall or floor components in order to facilitate the folding process. If only two panels are used, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,137,044 Brady, anchoring ground stakes are recommended to pull the fabric taut and to further stabilize the structure. The instant invention results from an attempt to reduce the amount of panel and armature material as well as the number of wall components and fasteners, and to improve the structure foldability without compromising its volume and stability. Summary of the Invention The principal and secondary objects of this invention are to provide a simple, lightweight, stable, yet easily collapsible and pliable tent structure in a completely unitary and fully integrated configuration that does not require any fastening of separate components or anchoring to a supporting surface. These and other valuable objects are achieved by using only three wire loop panels to form the t sides and floor of a triangular tent. The panels are hingedly interconnected in a continuous sequence. The connection between two of the panels is provided by a strap attached at one end to one edge of one of those panels, and, at an opposite end, to the center of the other panel. When the tent is deployed, the opposite parallel edges of each panel are brought and maintained in a stable, contiguous position with the edges of the adjacent panel. Brief Description of the Drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tent structure according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the tent in the semi-folded state; Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the tent in the fully folded state; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a diagrammatical view of a compound structure shown in near full deployment. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third alternate embodiment of the invention; Figure a is a perspective view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a front view of that embodiment in the t folded state; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention. Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in Figure 1, a tent structure 1 which comprises a first roof panel 2, a second roof panel 3 and a third floor panel 4. Each of those panels is made of a wire loop frame covered by a fabric-like material. The panels are similar to those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,778,915 Zheng which patent is hereby incorporated in the specification by this reference. Each piece of fabric-like material which is spread across and attached to a wire frame, may be canvas, a light cloth, a natural or synthetic non-woven fabric, or a mylar film. Each panel has first and second opposite, horizontal edges 5, 6 which are spaced apart by a distance D. That distance is substantially the same for all three panels. The first and second panels are permanently joined along their top or first edges 5, 7 by stitching together the upper section of the sleeves that hold the wire frames. This type of attachment allows the panels to move in an articulated or hinged configuration in relation to each other. The bottom or second edge 8 of the first panel is similarly joined to the second, longitudinal edge 9 of the floor or third panel 4. There is no connection between the second edge 6 of the second panel 3 and the first lateral edge 10 of the floor panel 4. However, the first edge 10 of the floor panel is automatically and securely positioned contiguously to the second edge 6 of the second panel by a foldable strap 11 which has a first end 12 attached to the outer mid-section area 13 of the third panel . The point of attachment is equidistant from the two lateral edges 8, 10 of that panel. The opposite end 14 of the strap is secured to the second edge 6 of the second panel 3. The length of the strap 11, or more specifically, the orthogonal distance between the point of attachment of the end 12 to the third panel and the second edge 6 of the second panel is substantially equal to half the width D of the panels. Accordingly, when the structure is deployed, the first edge 10 of the third panel is conveniently brought against the second edge 6 of the second panel and securely held in that position by the strap 11. Moreover, the combination of the strap and the third panel securely position and hold the bottom edges 6, 8 of the first and second panels in the absence of any ground stake or any other means of anchoring the device to a support surface. A triangular wall 15 of fabric-like material is secured along two sides to the first and second panels. A slit opening 18 can be provided for access to the structure. It should be understood that a similar wall can be provided to close the back of the structure. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the structure can be folded by rotating the third panel 4 about its hinged connection 19 with the first panel until its top surface 20 is brought in contact with the inner surface 21 of the first panel. During this process, the strap 11 pulls the bottom edge 6 of the second panel until that panel comes in contact with the bottom side 22 of the third panel. Once the structure is in the folded configuration shown in Figure 3, it can be twisted and folded into a compact assembly as taught in the above-referenced U.S. Patent No. 5,778,915 Zheng and illustrated in Figures 5C-5E of that document. It should be noted that the various wall panels of the structure may not necessarily be rectangular but may take a variety of quadrangular shapes as exemplified by the roof panels 23, 24 in the alternate embodiment of the invention 25 illustrated in Figure 4. In this embodiment, several straps 26, 27 are used between points 28 located anywhere on the outer side of the second panel and the median line 29 of the floor panel. As shown in Figure 5, a number of framing structures similar to the one disclosed in connection with the above- described embodiments can be used to form a large tent structure. In this case, the fabric cover may be omitted across the two central panels 31 and 32. Illustrated in Figure 6, is a second embodiment of the invention 33 in which three triangular panels 34, 35 and 36 are used to form the walls of the shelter structure. The first, or back panel 34 in the drawing is permanently, that is in a non-detachable manner such as by stitching together contiguous panel edges, rotatively connected to the second and third panels 35 and 36. The attachment between the second panel 35 and the third panel 36 is done by means of members 37, each having one end 38 attached to the outer central or median line 39 of one of the panels, in this case, the second panel 35. As disclosed in connection with the first alternate embodiment of the invention, the other, opposite end of the member 37 can be secured either to the edge 41 of the other or third panel 36 that is abutting an edge 42 of the second panel, or to any point 43 on the outer surface of the that other third panel. An access door 44 can be cut into any one of the three panels. The non-detachable straps 37 that are used to connect the two adjacent panels 35, 36 while allowing their abutting lateral edges 41, 42 to separate during the collapsing and folding process, can be made from a resiliently expandable, i.e., elastic material. In which case, their end connecting points need not be located on the median line 39 of the second panel 35. In some embodiments, both ends of each elastic strap can be connected near or at the lateral edges 41, 42. The embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, uses three polygonal panels of different shapes to create an A-frame structure 45. It should be noted that none of the three panel interconnections 46, 47, 48 is parallel to any other as was the case in the second alternate embodiment 33 of the invention, and contrary to the interconnections of the previously-described embodiments 1 and 25. The unitary, tri-panel structure illustrated in Figure 8 comprises panels having whimsically different shapes. Such a structure is particularly useful in playground equipment and other toys. The first or back panel 50 has a substantially trapezoidal shape. The second or front panel 51 has a generally triangular shape with a pointed, tongue- shaped side end 52. The third or side panel 53 has a trapezoidal or quasi-rectangular shape, and is provided with a slot 54 positioned, shaped, and dimensioned to be engaged by the pointed side end 52 of the second panel 51 during the folding process as more particularly illustrated in Figure 9 c The strap 55 which is connected at one end to the edge 56 of the third panel and, at its other end, to a median area 57 of the outer surface of the second panel 51 is long enough, or resiliently stretchable to allow complete folding of the second panel 51 against the first panel 50, and of the third panel 53 against the second panel 51. In the embodiment of the invention 56 illustrated in Figure 10, a more whimsical combination of three disparate panels is used. The front panel 57 has a circular or ellipsoidal shape and can be folded either against the second triangular panel 58 or, alternately, against the trapezoidal panel 59. Straps 60 and 61 are each connected at one end to a median line 62 of the first panel, and, at the other end, to the edges of the respective adjacent panels . While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, modifications can be made and other embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

Claims: 1. A collapsible shelter which comprises: at least three sequentially interconnected panels, each one of said panels having first and second lateral edges abutting first lateral edges of two adjacent ones of said panels; a plurality of non-detachable tying members, each connected to a pair of said panels for placing and holding abutting lateral edges of said pair of panels in a parallel and contiguous position; wherein at least one of said non-detachable tying members is formed, shaped, sized and positioned to allow the collapsing and folding of all of said panels one against the others into a substantially flat configuration. 2. The collapsible shelter of Claim 1, wherein at least a foldable one of said non-detachable tying member connecting two adjacent panels is formed, shaped and dimensioned to allow separation of abutting lateral edges of said adjacent panels during collapsing and folding of the shelter while maintaining a permanent interconnection between said two adjacent panels. 3. A collapsible shelter of Claim 2, wherein: said panels comprise: first, second and third substantially quadrangular panels, each panel having first, second, third and fourth edges wherein said first and second and said third and fourth edges are opposite to each other; the first and second edges of said first panel being separated by a given width; said third panel having and outer central part equidistant from the first and second edges of said third panel, and said edges being separated by a distance no greater than the given width of the first panel; said tying members comprises: first means for hingedly joining the first edges of said first and second panels; second means for hingedly joining the second edges of said first and third panels; at least one tying member having first and second opposite ends; third means for hingedly joining said first end to the second edge of said second panel; fourth means for hingedly joining said second end to the outer central part of said third panel; whereby said third panel can be folded against said first panel about said second means for joining, and said second panel can be folded against said third panel about said first means for joining. 4. The shelter of Claim 3, wherein at least one of said panels comprises: a filiform, flexible loop frame; and a piece of fabric-like material spread across said frame . 5. The shelter of Claim 2, wherein said tying member comprises a strip of fabric-like material. 6. The shelter of Claim 4, wherein each of said panels comprises: a filiform, flexible loop frame; and a piece of fabric-like material spread over said frame. 7. The shelter of Claim 2, which further comprises means for securely positioning the first lateral edge of said third panel contiguously to the second lateral edge of said second panel in the absence of any releasable fastener between said edges or anchoring means to a support surface. 8. The shelter of Claim 3, which further comprises at least one triangular wall secured along two sides to two of said panels. 9. The shelter of Claim 8, wherein said means for securely positioning and holding comprise said tying member having a length equal to half said distance. 10. The shelter of Claim 6, wherein said first, second and third panels are substantially commensurate. 11. The shelter of Claim 6, wherein said first, second and third panels are substantially rectangular. 12. The shelter of Claim 6, wherein said first and third panels are substantially trapezoidal, and said third panel is substantially rectangular. 13. A collapsible shelter which comprises: three flat panels, each panel having first and second substantially parallel, opposite edges spaced apart by a given distance; said panels being articulately and non-detachably joined in a side-by-said configuration wherein the first edge of said first panel is contiguous to the first edge of said ..econd panel, and the second edge of said first panel is contiguous to the second edge of said third panel; a strap attached, at a first end, to said second panel, and. at an opposite second end, to a median outer section of said third panel. 14, The shelter of Claim 13, wherein at least one of said panels comprises: a filiform, flexible loop frame; and a piece of fabric-like material spread across frame. 15. The shelter of Claim 13, which further comprises means for securely positioning and holding the first edge of said third panel contiguously to the second edge of said second panel in the absence of any releasable fastener between said edges, or anchoring means to a support surface. 16. The shelter of Claim 13, which further comprises at least one triangular wall secured along two sides to two of said panels. 17. The shelter of Claim 15, wherein said means for securely positioning and holding comprises said tying member having a length equal to half said distance. 18. The shelter of Claim 2, wherein said panels consists of three interconnecting panels, each panel having at least three sides. 19. The shelter of Claim 18, wherein said non-detachable tying members comprise a first and second means for hingedly connecting two edges of a first of said panels to the first edges of a second and third panels; and an oblong member connected at one end to an outer central part of a second of said panels and at another opposite end to a third of said panels. 20. The shelter of Claim 19, wherein said oblong member comprises a strap connected at said opposite end to a second edge of one of said second and third panels. 21. The shelter of Claim l, wherein said panels consist of three panels wherein at least one panel defines a polygon having more than four sides. 22. The shelter of Claim 2, wherein said foldable tying member is made from resiliently expandable material. 23. The shelter of Claim 21, wherein one of said panels comprises a tongue-shaped lateral projection having a distal edge held against an edge of an adjacent panel by said variable tying member; and said adjacent panel has a slot positioned, shaped and dimensioned to be engaged by said lateral portion during folding of the structure. 24. The shelter of Claim 2, wherein said panels consist of three panels wherein at least one panel defines a circular shape. 25. The shelter of Claim 2, wherein at least one of said panels defines a flat surface.

Inventors: LOUIE WAI-HANG, SHIU GENEVIEVE, LOUIE, WAI-HANG, SHIU, GENEVIEVE
Applicants: BILLWIN LTD, CARILLON INTERNAT LTD, GOODMAN CHRISTOPHER, BILLWIN LIMITED, CARILLON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, GOODMAN, CHRISTOPHER
Application year: 2000
Main classification: E04H15
IPC codes: A01J5, A01J7, E04H15