Patent Publication Number: US-7900646-B2

Title: Collapsible Support Structure

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS &amp; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is a PCT application which claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/831,884, entitled “COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE,” filed Jul. 19, 2006. This related application is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. If any conflict arises between the disclosure of the invention in this PCT application and that in the related provisional application, the disclosure in this PCT application shall govern. Moreover, the inventor incorporates herein by reference any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents, hard copy or electronic, cited or referred to in this application, including U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,962 and pending U.S. Ser. No. 10/726,003, filed Nov. 12, 2003. 
    
    
     DEFINITIONS 
     The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. 
     BACKGROUND 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,962 discloses a collapsible support structure of the inventor&#39;s. The invention disclosed herein is an improvement in this collapsible support structure. 
     SUMMARY 
     My collapsible support structure has one or more of the features depicted in the embodiments discussed in the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS.” The claims that follow define my collapsible support structure, distinguishing it from the prior art; however, without limiting the scope of my collapsible support structure as expressed by these claims, in general terms, some, but not necessarily all, of its features are: 
     One, my collapsible support structure includes a plurality substantially triangular frame sections each having corners connected by flexible joints. Each frame section has a pair of elongated rigid tubular members having at opposed ends a pair of openings adjacent the ends of the tubular members. The rigid tubular members may be one-piece. The individual openings of each pair of openings may be in substantial alignment. Each frame section also includes a collapsible elongated tubular member having a rigid state and a collapsed state, so the support structure is foldable when the collapsible member is collapsed. An elongated flexible tensioning member passing through the tubular members forms the flexible joints interconnecting adjacent frame sections. The frame sections may be interconnected to form a portion of a geodesic structure, a portion of a truncated icosahedron, or other geometrical three-dimensional structures. Some of the ends of the rigid tubular members and the collapsible tubular members may be beveled. 
     Two, at least some of the interconnected frame sections may share the collapsible tubular member thereof as one side of the interconnected triangular frame sections and at least some of the ends of the rigid tubular members may be disposed between adjacent shared collapsible tubular members of the interconnected frame sections. The elongated flexible tensioning member may extend through the shared collapsible tubular members and outward from the opposed open ends thereof and through the pair of openings in the ends of the rigid tubular members disposed between adjacent shared collapsible tubular members of the interconnected frame sections. 
     Three, my collapsible support structure may include a frame roof formed from a predetermined number of the frame sections. The frame roof may include a flexible line passing through the pairs of openings in tubular members forming the frame roof to provide a flexible joint at an apex. This enables the frame roof to fold inward without untying the flexible line when the collapsible tubular members are collapsed. A substantially annular configured connector member may be used through which the flexible line is wound and past through openings of the pairs in ends of the tubular members nearby the apex. 
     Four, my collapsible support structure may also include a frame sidewall formed from a predetermined number of the frame sections. The sidewall may have a top segment including the collapsible tubular member of each frame section forming the frame roof and a bottom segment including the collapsible tubular member of alternate frame sections forming the frame sidewall. The collapsible tubular members of each frame section forming the frame roof and frame sidewall may be oriented from end to end and through which extends the elongated flexible tensioning member. 
     Five, the flexible tensioning member is within the collapsible elongated tubular members of each triangular frame section, extending outward from their opposed open ends and through the openings in the ends of an adjacent rigid tubular member, and into and through a collapsible elongated tubular member of an adjacent frame section. The elongated flexible tensioning member may have opposed ends that are tied, one of which normally remains tied and one of which is untied and loosened when the support structure is an upright state to collapse the support structure. A portion of the tensioning member may include a pair of knots straddling outer extremities of collapsible elongated tubular member so a pair of axially aligned rigidizing tubular members of the collapsible member do not move a substantial distance laterally along the tensioning member upon the collapse of the collapsible elongated tubular. 
     These features are not listed in any rank order nor is this list intended to be exhaustive. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Some embodiments of my collapsible support structure are discussed in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the following figures (Figs.), with like numerals indicating like parts: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the collapsible support structure of this invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a fragmentary perspective view of the collapsible support structure shown in  FIG. 1  in a partially collapsed state. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken along line  2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 1  showing a collapsible tubular member about to be collapsed. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken along line  4  of  FIG. 1  showing one corner of the collapsible support structure of this invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 4  showing the corner in a collapsed state. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the underside of the apex of the frame roof of the collapsible support structure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  is cross-sectional view taken along line  5 A- 5 A of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the underside of the apex similar to that of  FIG. 5  showing a flexible line partially threaded through ends of the tubular members forming the apex. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view similar to that of  FIG. 6  showing the flexible line almost completely threaded through ends of the tubular members forming the apex. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken along line  8  of  FIG. 1  showing opposed ends of flexible tensioning member tied together. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 8  showing the opposed ends of flexible tensioning member untied. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the collapsible support structure depicted in  FIG. 1  in a partially collapsed state. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the collapsible support structure depicted in  FIG. 1  in a completely collapsed state and folded into a compact assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     One embodiment of the collapsible support structure of this invention is identified by the numeral  10 . This collapsible support structure  10  has an upright state shown in  FIG. 1 , a collapsed state shown in  FIG. 11 , and a partially collapsed state is shown in  FIG. 10 . The collapsible support structure  10  comprises a plurality of interconnected substantially triangular frame sections  12 , each having corners connected by flexible joints J ( FIG. 1 ). Some of the interconnected frame sections  12  form a frame roof R and others form a frame sidewall SW ( FIG. 10 ). Each frame section  12  includes a pair of rigid tubular members  14  and a collapsible tubular member  18  having a rigid state and a collapsed state. The tubular members  14  and  18  may be hollow cylinders made, for example, of a metal such as aluminum or steel having an outside diameter of substantially from ½ to 2 inches, and a length substantially from 3 to 15 feet. The support structure  10  is foldable into a compact assembly, as shown in  FIG. 11 , when the collapsible tubular members  18  are collapsed and all the tubular members  14  and  18  are folded inward. 
     The frame sections  12  are essentially equilateral triangles. The rigid members  14  and the collapsible members  18  of each frame section  12  are joined at the flexible joints J ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) by an elongated tensioning member  26  along a junction  24  or an elongated tensioning member  26 ′ along a base B ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ), as the case may be. The tensioning members  26  and  26 ′ may be, for example, a cord, cable, rope, etc. The elongated tensioning members  26  and  26 ′ passes through axially aligned collapsible members  18 . Portions of the tensioning members  26  and  26 ′ passing from one triangular frame sections  12  to an adjacent frame section at the corners form the flexible joints J, which act as a hinge. Consequently, no other mechanism is required to form the hinges or joints J. Thus, the tensioning members  26  and  26 ′ serve the dual function of connecting the triangular frame sections  12  at corners and of acting as hinges at the corners upon collapse of the collapsible support structure  10 . 
     All the rigid tubular sidewall members  14  are essentially identical, and each has an upper end E 1  and a lower end E 2 . Each upper end E 1  has an open terminal tip T and is beveled, and each upper end has a single opening  16   c  ( FIG. 4A ) in a sidewall of the tubular member  14  adjacent the open terminal tip T. Thus, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 4A , a line such as, for example, the flexible tensioning member  26 , may pass through the opening  16   c  and another opening formed by the open terminal tip T. In the lower ends E 2  there are a pair of substantially aligned openings  16   a  and  16   b  adjacent these ends E 2  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The ends E 2  may be covered by a cap  20  that may, for example, be made of a plastic. The cap  20  functions as a guard minimizing any damage to a tent awning  22  ( FIG. 1 ) supported by the support structure  10 , or otherwise avoiding injury to a user. 
     All the collapsible tubular members  18  are essentially identical. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each collapsible tubular member  18  includes a rigidizing sleeve member  18   c  and pair of tubular rigidizing members  18   a  and  18   b  extending along a portion of one elongated flexible tensioning member  26  or  26 ′, as the case may be. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rigidizing members  18   a  and  18   b  are essentially axially aligned when the tubular member  18  is in a rigid, non-collapsed state. In this rigid state, an outer open end E 5  of the rigidizing members  18   a  and  18   b  bear against an adjacent rigid member  14  and their respective right angle cut inner ends E 6  ( FIG. 3 ) abut each other. The tensioning member  26  passes through the hollow interiors of the rigidizing members  18   a  and  18   b  and out opposed outer ends E 5  of the rigidizing members  18   a  and  18   b . The outer ends E 5  may be beveled. The rigidizing sleeve member  18   c  is slideably mounted on the rigidizing members  18   a  and  18   b . The inside diameter of the sleeve member  18   c  is slightly greater than the outside diameters of the rigidizing members  18   a  and  18   b , which have essentially the same outside diameters. Thus, the sleeve member  18   c  is sized to engage slideably both rigidizing members  18   a  and  18   b  to form the collapsible elongated tubular member  18 . 
     At least some of the interconnected frame sections  12  share as a common one side of their triangular configuration a tubular member  14 . Other interconnected frame sections  12  share as a common one side of their triangular configuration a collapsible tubular member  18 . The frame roof R and frame sidewall SW meet at a common segment that forms the junction  24 . This junction  24  comprises the collapsible tubular members  18  of alternate frame sections  12  forming the frame roof R and frame sidewall SW that are aligned and oriented from end to end ( FIGS. 1 and 10 ). The one elongated flexible tensioning member  26  extends lengthwise through the hollow interiors of each of the collapsible tubular members  18  forming the junction  24 , and it has opposed ends E 3  and E 4  that are tied when the structure  10  is upright as depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 10 , the collapsible support structure  10  is collapsed as the rigidizing sleeve members  18   c  are moved laterally to allow the rigidizing members  18   a  and  18   b  to be folded were their ends meet, collapsing the tubular members  18 . A bottom segment of the frame sidewall SW forming the base B comprises the collapsible tubular member  18  of alternate frame sections  12  forming the frame sidewall SW. The collapsible tubular members  18  of the base B are aligned and oriented from end to end. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the elongated flexible tensioning member  26 ′ extends lengthwise through the hollow interiors of each of the collapsible tubular members  18  forming the base B. The opposed ends E 3 ′ and E 4 ′ of the tensioning member  26 ′ are tied in a knot K 1  and remain so regardless of the upright or collapsed state of the structure  10 . The tensioning member  26  extends through each of the collapsible tubular members  18  forming the junction  24  and, as shown in  FIG. 9 , has its opposed ends E 3  and E 4  connected in a manner so the end E 3  may be disconnected when the collapsible support structure  10  is to be collapsed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , this manner of connecting and disconnecting the ends E 3  and E 4  of the tensioning member  26  is illustrated. One rigid tubular member identified by the numeral  14   c  of the frame roof R is disposed between the beveled ends E 1  of the rigid tubular members respectively identified by the numerals  14   a  and  14   b  of adjacent frame sections  12  forming a portion of the sidewall SW. A portion P 1  of tensioning member  26  near the end E 3  is secured as shown in  FIG. 8  when the support structure  10  is upright ( FIG. 1 ) and unloosened as shown in  FIG. 9  to allow the support structure to be folded up as shown in  FIG. 11 . The portion P 1  of tensioning member  26  passes through a ring  30 , and an enlarged knot K 2  near the tip of the end E 3  acts as a stop to prevent the end E 3  from passing through the ring  30  when the collapsible support structure  10  is being collapsed. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 9 , the adjacent collapsible tubular members identified by the numerals  18 ′ and  18 ″ of the junction  24  provide a space S where the end E 4  of the tensioning member  26  is tied to the ring  30  in the knot K 3  ( FIG. 8 ). The end E 4  remains so tied regardless of the upright or collapsed state of structure  10 . As depicted in  FIG. 8 , when the portion P 1  of the tensioning member  26  is wrapped around the rigid tubular members respectively identified by the numerals  14   a  and  14   b  of adjacent frame sections  12  forming the portion of the sidewall SW nearby the space S, the end E 3  is tied and secured in position and the collapsible support structure  10  is upright as shown in  FIG. 1 . This imparts rigidity to the structure  10  because the all the tubular members  18 , including members  18 ′ and  18 ″, are aligned with adjacent ends abutting, not allowing the structure to come down on itself until the end E 3  is unloosened or untied. Upon unloosening the end E 3 , the ring  30  slides along the portion P 1  until meeting the knot K 2  near the end E 3 , which acts as a stop. 
     Initially during assembly, neither end E 3  or E 4  of the tensioning member  26  is tied in any fashion, and the end E 4  is fed through the aligned collapsible tubular members  18  and tied to the ring  30 . The end E 4  is fed through the open beveled end E 5  of the collapsible tubular member  18 ″ and past through the opening  16   c  in the rigid member  14   b  and then out the tip T of the open beveled end E 1  of the rigid member  14   b , then through the aligned pair of openings  16   a  and  16   b  in the rigid member  14   c  and into the tip T of the open beveled end E 1  of the rigid member  14   a  and out the opening  16   c  in the end E 1  of the rigid member  14   a  and finally tied to the ring  30  as the knot K 3 . 
     The ring  30  including the knot K 3  acts as a stop when the tensioning member  26  is placed in tension. As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the collapsible support structure  10  is placed in the upright state (FIG.  1 ), the end E 3  is pulled downward through ring  30  and the portion P 1  is wound over the tubular member  14   c , down and around the tubular members  14   a  and  14   b , and cinched up tightly, wrapping the portion P 1  around these abutting members as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . This holds securely the tensioning member  26  in tension and the portion P 1  and the one end E 3  of the tensioning member  26  hangs loose in a generally vertical orientation. When the structure  10  is to be collapsed, the end E 3  is unwound and the portion P 1  is loosened and slid through ring  30  until the knot K 2  contacts the ring  30 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , the rigid tubular members of the frame sections  12  forming the frame roof R, and identified by the numeral  14   c ,  14   d ,  14   e ,  14   f , and  14   g , are essentially identical, being of the same length as the rigid tubular members  14  forming the sidewall SW. Each of the respectively ends E 1  of rigid tubular members  14   c ,  14   d ,  14   e ,  14   f , and  14   g  are not beveled, and are tied together to form an apex A. A connector member  31  having a substantially annular configuration and a flexible line  32  are used to connect these ends E 1  together. The line  32  passes through the pair of openings  16   a  and  16   b  and each open end E 1  of each tubular member  14   c  through  14   g , as the case may be, of the frame sections  12  forming the frame roof R to provide a flexible joint or hinge at the apex A. This enables the frame roof R to fold inward ( FIG. 10 ) without untying the flexible line  32  when the collapsible tubular members  18  of the frame sections  12  along the junction  24  are collapsed. The line  32  is sequentially threaded through the ends E 1  of the tubular member  14   c  through  14   g  and wrapped around the connector member  31 . 
     For example as depicted in  FIG. 6 , the one end E 7  of the line  32  extends through the one opening  16   b  of the pair of openings  16   a  and  16   b  in the rigid member  14   e , then through the open end E 1  of this rigid tubular member  14   e  and around the connector member  31 , and then back through the open end E 1  and finally out the other opening  16   a . This procedure is repeated as illustrated in  FIG. 7  until the ends E 7  and E 8  of the line  32  are respectively threaded through the opening  16   b  and  16   a  of the rigid member  14   f  and out its open end E 1 . The end E 7  is passed under the connector member  31  and out the top of the apex A and tied into a knot K 4  ( FIGS. 1 and 5A ). The end E 8  is passed over and around the connector member  31 , hanging loose out the bottom of the apex A in a vertical orientation. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1A , the collapsible tubular member  18 ′ provides a terminal end member along the junction  24  that is prevented from slipping off tensioning member  26  by a pair of knots K 5  and K 6 . A portion P 2  of the tensioning member  26  passes through the tubular member  18 ′ and each knot K 5  and K 6  abuts one outer extremity X or Y of this tubular member  18 ′, as the case may be. The knots K 5  and K 6  are sufficiently large to prevent the portion P 2  of the tensioning member  26  passing through the tubular member  18 ′ from moving laterally. Thus, with these knots K 5  and K 6  straddling the terminal end member  18 ′ and each abutting one of the outer extremities X and Y of the terminal end member, the pair of axially aligned rigidizing tubular members  18   a  and  18   b  do not move a substantial distance laterally along the tensioning member  26  upon the collapse of the terminal end member  18 ′ when the sleeve  18   c  is moved laterally. Consequently, all the rigidizing members  18   a  and  18   b  remain more or less in the same relative position along the tensioning member  26 , but are foldable relative to each other upon moving the sleeve members  18   c  laterally. These benefits include, but are not limited to, a collapsible support structure using (a) tubular members having flexible tensioning members passing along hollow interiors of the tubular members or through ends of the tubular members to provide a simplified and low cost way to connect these tubular members into a plurality of substantially triangular frames that are interconnected at flexible, hinged, joints at corners formed by the tensioning members and (b) forming a frame roof by connecting ends of the tubular members with a flexible line to provide a flexible apex in the frame roof. 
     SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
     The above presents a description of the best mode I contemplate of carrying out my collapsible support structure, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use my collapsible support structure. My collapsible support structure is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from the illustrative embodiments discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit my collapsible support structure to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, my intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of my collapsible support structure as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of my invention: