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US 10,934,736 B2Granted
Collapsible structure
Assigneetrac9, LLC
InventorGreg Laue
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Collapsible structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, the collapsible structure includes a plurality of hinges and a plurality of panels. The plurality of panels are swingably connected by the plurality of hinges so as to form at least one arch when the collapsible structure is in an erected state and so as to become at least one stack of the plurality of panels in a collapsed state. The panels allow for the collapsible structure to maintain its structural integrity when erected but to have a compact and transportable configuration when collapsed.
Claims17
A collapsible structure, comprising:
- a plurality of hinges;
- a plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of panels are swingably connected by the plurality of hinges so as to form at least one arch when the collapsible structure is in an erected state and so as to become at least one stack of the plurality of panels in a collapsed state, wherein the plurality of panels comprise a first row of panels and a second row of panels that are adjacent to the first row of panels, the first row of panels being directly connected to the second row of panels by at least one of the plurality of hinges;
- wherein, the at least one of the plurality of hinges is configured to connect the first row of panels and the second row of panels such that a first stack of the at least one stack of panels includes both the first row of panels and the second row of panels in the collapsed state and such that panels of the first row of panels and panels of the second row of panels are interleaved in the first stack in the collapsed state, and such that the plurality of panels form layers of the first stack, wherein the layers alternate between a layer comprising a panel of the first row of panels and a layer comprising a panel of the second row of panels;
- and
- wherein the at least one of the plurality of hinges directly connects a first panel of the first row of panels to a first panel of the second row of panels, wherein in the erected state, the at least one of the plurality of hinges is configured to position an edge of the first panel of the first row of panels colinearly with an edge of the first panel of the second row of panels, and wherein in the collapsed position, the edge of the first panel of the first row of panels is spaced apart from the edge of the first panel of the second row of panels.
2 more elements
A collapsible structure, comprising:
- a plurality of hinges;
- a plurality of panels that are swingably connected by the plurality of hinges, wherein the plurality of panels are arranged so as to collapse the plurality of panels into at least one stack in a collapsed state and so as to form a shelter in the erected state;
- wherein each panel of the plurality of panels defines a pair of connection edges such that the pair of connection edges are non-parallel, and wherein the plurality of panels form layers of the at least one stack, wherein the layers alternate between a layer comprising a panel of a first row of panels and a layer comprising a panel of a second row of panels;
- and
- wherein the at least one of the plurality of hinges directly connects a first panel of the first row of panels to a first panel of the second row of panels, wherein in the erected state, the at least one of the plurality of hinges is configured to position a first connection edge of the first panel of the first row of panels colinearly with a first connection edge of the first panel of the second row of panels, and wherein in the collapsed position, the first connection edge of the first panel of the first row of panels is spaced apart from the first connection edge of the first panel of the second row of panels.
2 more elements
A collapsible structure, comprising:
- a plurality of hinges;
- a plurality of panels that are swingably connected by the plurality of hinges, wherein the plurality of panels are arranged so as to collapse the plurality of panels into at least one stack in a collapsed state and so as to form a shelter in the erected state, wherein the plurality of panels comprise a first row of panels and a second row of panels that are adjacent to the first row of panels, the first row of panels being directly connected to the second row of panels by at least one of the plurality of hinges;
- wherein, the at least one of the plurality of hinges is configured to connect the first row of panels and the second row of panels such that a first stack of the at least one stack of panels includes both the first row of panels and the second row of panels in the collapsed state and such that panels of the first row of panels and panels of the second row of panels are interleaved in the first stack in the collapsed state, and such that the plurality of panels form layers of the first stack, wherein the layers alternate between a layer comprising a panel of the first row of panels and a layer comprising a panel of the second row of panels;
- wherein each panel of the plurality of panels defines a pair of connection edges such that the pair of connection edges are non-parallel;
- and
- wherein the at least one of the plurality of hinges directly connects a first panel of the first row of panels to a first panel of the second row of panels, wherein in the erected state, the at least one of the plurality of hinges is configured to position a first connection edge of the first panel of the first row of panels colinearly with a first connection edge of the first panel of the second row of panels, and wherein in the collapsed position, the first connection edge of the first panel of the first row of panels is spaced apart from the first connection edge of the first panel of the second row of panels.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.