Patent ID: 7290378

Claim:
A folding, expandable platform base structure, comprising: a lower hub to form a base of said structure, said lower hub including a central axis; a upper hub to form a top of said structure, said upper hub including a central axis; at least three hub blades which are rotatably attached to said lower hub, said hub blades having a hub end and a track end, said hub end rotatably attached about said central axis of said lower hub, said hub blades having a rotation path about said central axis of said lower hub; a stop as part of said lower hub along said rotation path about said central axis of said lower hub for each of said hub blades, each of said stops associated with only one particular hub blade to allow folding of other of said hub blades other than said particular hub blade past said stop when said structure is in a folded configuration, said stops positioned to interact and stop said particular hub blade along said rotation path about said central axis of said lower hub when said structure is in an unfolded configuration; a track attached to each of said hub blades to further define said base of said structure, said track having a inner end attached to said track end of said hub blade, said track having in outer end; a mast attached to each of said tracks, said mast slidable along said track and foldably attached to said track, said mast having a track end and a rafter end, said mast in an upright position when said track end of said mast is near said outer end of said track, said mast in a folded position along said track when said track end of said mast is near said inner end of said track; a rafter attached to each of said masts, said rafter having a mast end and a hub end, said mast end of said rafter foldably attached to said mast, said hub end of said rafter attached to said upper hub, said hub end of said rafter rotatably about said central axis of said upper hub, said hub end of said rafter foldably attached to said upper hub to allow said structure to fold and unfold; and wherein said tracks, said masts and said rafters are adapted to allow attachment of coverings to enclose said structure and allow access to said structure.