Frame structure

A multi-hinge for use in a collapsible free-standing frame structure, comprising:

• a hinge body;
• N leg interconnectors for interconnecting N bowable resilient legs to said hinge body, said N leg interconnectors being pivotally mounted to said hinge body for limited pivotal motion between closed positions, in which the interconnected legs are clustered around a central longitudinal axis which extends through said hinge body, and open positions, in which the interconnected legs extend radially relative to said central axis, each of said leg interconnectors being pivotable about a leg axis extending transversely of, and being spaced from, said central axis;
• and
• a pivot stop for preventing said leg interconnectors from pivoting beyond said open positions.

A collapsible frame structure comprising:

• N legs, where N is an integer greater than one, said legs being deformable between a first generally linear configuration and a second generally arched configuration, said legs each also being pivotable about a pivot location located proximate respective attachment end portions of each of said legs, between:
• (a) a first orientation such that when said N legs are in said first configuration said legs are generally positioned in a parallel relation to each other about a longitudinal axis and are oriented generally in a first longitudinal direction;
• and
• (b) a second orientation such that when said N legs are in said second configuration said legs are generally positioned in a non-parallel relation to each other about said longitudinal axis
• such that when each of said N legs is in said second orientation and each of said N legs is in said second configuration, said frame structure is freely supported on said N legs.

A collapsible free-standing frame structure kit, comprising:

• a) a frame structure device comprising
• i) N bowable resilient legs, where N is an integer greater than one;
• ii) a multi-hinge comprising a hinge body, N leg interconnectors for interconnecting said N bowable resilient legs to said hinge body, said N leg interconnectors being pivotally mounted to said hinge body for limited pivotal motion between closed positions, in which the interconnected legs are clustered around a central axis which extends through said hinge body, and open positions, in which the interconnected legs extend radially relative to said central axis, each of said leg interconnectors being pivotable about a leg axis extending transversely of, and being spaced from, said central axis, and a pivot stop for preventing said leg interconnectors from pivoting beyond said open positions;
• and
• b) a leg restraint for releasable attachment to distal ends of said N bowable resilient legs,
• said legs of said frame structure device [having] movable between a collapsed position wherein said leg interconnectors are in said closed positions, and an erected position in which said leg interconnectors can be placed in said open positions and said interconnected legs can be bowed against said pivot stop and said distal ends of said N bowed legs can be attached to said leg restraint so as to maintain said legs in said bowed position.

A method of erecting a collapsible frame structure, said frame structure comprising:

• N legs each having an attachment end portion and a distal end portion, where N is an integer greater than one, said legs being deformable between a first generally linear configuration and a second generally arched configuration, said legs also each being pivotable about a respective pivot location located proximate said attachment end portions of each of said legs, between:
• a) a first orientation such that when said N legs are also in said first configuration said legs are generally positioned in a parallel relation to each other about a longitudinal axis, each said N legs having said distal end portions oriented generally in a first common longitudinal direction;
• and
• b) a second orientation such that when said legs are in said second configuration said legs are generally oriented in non-parallel relation to each other about said longitudinal axis;
• said method comprising:
• i) pivoting each of said N legs about said respective pivot locations from said first orientation to said second orientation;
• and
• ii) deforming each of said legs from said first generally linear configuration to said second generally arched configuration.

A frame structure comprising:

• N legs each having an attachment end and a distal end, where N is an integer greater than one, said legs being deformable between a first generally linear configuration and a second generally arched configuration, said N legs also each being pivotable about a respective pivot location located proximate said attachment ends of each of said legs, between:
• a) a first orientation such that when said N legs are in said first configuration said legs are generally positioned in a parallel relation to each other about a longitudinal axis, each said legs having said distal ends oriented generally in a first longitudinal direction;
• and
• b) a second orientation such that when said legs are in said second configuration said legs are generally oriented in non-parallel relation to each other about said longitudinal axis;
• said frame structure being operable such that said legs can be pivoted about said pivot location from said first orientation to said second orientation and each of said legs can be deformed from said first generally linear configuration to said second generally arched configuration and such that said legs are oriented generally in a longitudinal direction that is opposite to said first longitudinal direction, so as to support said frame structure on said legs.