Collapsible polyhedron

A collapsible, self-expanding polyhedron comprising:

• a plurality of side members, each side member having a polygonal outside face with a plurality of side edges, each side member further having a side wall connected directly to and projecting inwardly from each side edge of the polygonal outside face thereof, each side member further having at least one aperture traversing each side wall thereof;
• and
• at least one elastic band traversing each side wall of each side member at the at least one aperture and sized to urge each side wall of adjacent side members of the plurality of side members together;
• whereby in an expanded configuration the at least one elastic band retracts to a minimum length and each side member abuts at least one other side member such that each polygonal outside face abuts a plurality of other polygonal outside faces to form the polyhedron, and wherein the polyhedron when compressed on two opposing side members of the plurality of side members thereof causes the side members to separate into a collapsed configuration to expand the at least one elastic band to a maximum length with maximum tension therein, whereby upon release the at least one elastic band urges the side members back into the expanded configuration.

A collapsible, self-expanding polyhedron comprising:

• a plurality of side members, each side member having a polygonal outside face with a plurality of side edges, each side member further having a side wall projecting inwardly from each side edge of the polygonal outside face thereof, each side member further having at least one aperture traversing each side wall thereof;
• and
• at least one elastic band traversing each side wall of each side member at the at least one aperture and sized to urge each side wall of adjacent side members of the plurality of side members together;
• whereby in an expanded configuration the at least one elastic band retracts to a minimum length and each side member abuts at least one other side member such that each polygonal outside face abuts a plurality of other polygonal outside faces to form the polyhedron, and wherein the polyhedron when compressed on two opposing side members of the plurality of side members thereof causes the side members to separate into a collapsed configuration to expand the at least one elastic band to a maximum length with maximum tension therein, whereby upon release the at least one elastic band urges the side members back into the expanded configuration;
• wherein an angle between each side wall and the polygonal outside face of each side member is 90−180/N, N being the number of polygonal outside faces around an outside diameter of the polyhedron.