Patent ID: 7185666

Claim:
A collapsible structure comprising: a plurality of pole members having top ends and bottom ends; an upper hub member to which the top ends of the pole members are pivotally attached; a lower hub member positioned beneath the upper hub member; a plurality of strut members having inner and outer ends, the outer end of each strut member being pivotally attached to an pole member and the inner end of each strut member being pivotally attached to the lower hub member; a flexible covering disposed upon and traversing between the pole members; and first and second pull cords that are attached to the lower hub member and extend through openings formed at locations in the upper hub member; said structure being alternately disposable in a) a constructed configuration wherein the lower hub member is in abutment with the upper hub member and the flexible covering is drawn taut between the pole members and b) a collapsed configuration wherein the lower hub member is a spaced distance below the upper hub member, the pole members are closer together than they are when the structure is in its constructed configuration and the flexible covering is loosely disposed between the pole members; and wherein pulling of the first and second pull chords pulls the structure into the constructed configuration by pulling the lower hub member upwardly into abutting contact with the upper hub member and causing the inner ends of the strut members to elevate to positions that are above the outer ends of the strut members such that the structure will be retained in its constructed configuration.