Collapsible mat with removable portion and method of making same

A collapsible apparatus, comprising:

• a frame configured to form a closed loop, the frame being moveable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration;
• a plurality of interface membranes coupled substantially about said frame, the frame and plurality of interface membranes defining an opening within at least a portion of the closed loop;
• and
• a plurality of attachment mechanisms each being coupled to an interface membrane from the plurality of interface membranes.

A collapsible apparatus, comprising:

• a frame configured to form a closed loop, the frame being moveable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration;
• a fabric member coupled to said frame;
• and
• an attachment mechanism coupled to said fabric member and configured to removably couple a body membrane to said fabric member.

A collapsible apparatus, comprising:

• a frame configured to form a closed loop, the frame being moveable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration;
• a sleeve configured to receive said frame and defining an opening within at least a portion of the closed loop;
• and
• a membrane attachment mechanism coupled substantially about the periphery of the sleeve.

A collapsible apparatus comprising:

• a frame configured to form a closed loop, the frame being moveable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration;
• a sleeve configured to receive said frame and defining an opening within at least a portion of the closed loop;
• and
• a membrane removably couplable to said sleeve within said opening.

A method of making a plurality of collapsible apparatuses each having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, each having a sleeve configured to receive a frame;

• and each having a fabric member having a body membrane, the fabric member configured to be removably coupled to the sleeve, said method comprising:
• cutting a first fabric member and a second fabric member from a first sheet of material;
• cutting a first body membrane and a second body membrane from a second sheet of material, the second sheet of material having a length-wise centerline axis, the first body membrane being a mirror image of the second body membrane along the lengthwise centerline axis;
• and
• attaching one of the body membranes to one of the fabric members.

A method of making a plurality of collapsible apparatuses each having a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration, each having a sleeve configured to receive a frame;

• and each having a fabric member having a body membrane, the fabric member configured to be removably coupled to the sleeve, said method comprising:
• cutting the fabric members from a first sheet of material;
• cutting the body membranes from a second sheet of material, said body membranes being shaped such that opposing sides of adjacent body membranes are nested and substantially equidistant;
• and
• attaching one of the body membranes to one of the fabric members.

A method of making a plurality of collapsible apparatuses each having a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration, each having a sleeve configured to receive a frame;

• and each having a fabric member having a body membrane, the fabric member configured to be removably coupled to the sleeve, said method comprising:
• cutting the fabric members from a first sheet of material;
• cutting the body membranes from a second sheet of material such that at least a portion of a side of adjacent body membranes are formed by a single cut;
• and
• attaching one of the body membranes to one of the fabric members.

A collapsible apparatus, comprising:

• a frame configured to form a closed loop;
• a sleeve configured to receive said frame and defining an opening within at least a portion of the closed loop;
• and
• a membrane, the membrane being removably coupled to said sleeve such that:
• when said membrane is coupled to said sleeve, said frame is shaped substantially similar to said membrane, and
• when said membrane is removed from said sleeve, said frame is shaped differently from said membrane.