US 5,975,101 A · Collapsible sunshields, partitions and shade structures having overlapping support loops

Abstract

A collapsible structure is provided that includes at least a first panel, a second panel and a third panel. Each panel includes a flexible loop member that is adapted to assume an expanded position and a collapsed position, and a fabric for substantially covering the loop member. The loop members of the first and second panels overlap each other at a first overlapping point along the upper edges of the loop members of the first and second panels, and at a second overlapping point along the bottom edges of the loop members of the first and second panels, with the overlapping loop members defining a hinge portion about which the first and second loop members of the first and second panels are pivotable. One side of the third panel is hingedly connected to either the left side or the right side of the first panel. The loop members and their associated fabric are foldable on top of each other about their respective hinge portions to have the loop members and their associated fabric overlaying each other, and the overlaying loop members are collapsible to the collapsed positions by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings and layers of fabric to substantially reduce the size of the structure in the collapsed position.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A structure comprising:

(a) a first panel, a second panel and a third panel, wherein each of the panels includes:
a flexible loop member defining a closed loop and having a first edge and an opposing second edge, the loop member adapted to assume an expanded position and a collapsed position;
a fabric covering at least a portion of the loop member, with the loop member substantially supporting the fabric so that the fabric assumes the particular configuration of the loop member when in the expanded position of the loop member;
and
a left side and a right side defined by the loop member and the fabric;
(b) wherein the loop members of the first and second panels overlap each other at a first overlapping point along the first edges of the loop members of the first and second panels, and at a second overlapping point along the second edges of the loop members of the first and second panels, the overlapping loop members defining a hinge portion about which the first and second loop members of the first and second panels are pivotable;
and
(c) wherein one side of the third panel is hingedly connected to one side of the first panel.

5 more elements

A structure comprising:

(a) a first end panel, a second end panel, first and second left panels, and first and second right panels, wherein each of the panels includes:
a flexible loop member defining a closed loop and having a first edge and an opposing second edge, the loop member adapted to assume an expanded position and a collapsed position;
a fabric covering at least a portion of the loop member, with the loop member substantially supporting the fabric so that the fabric assumes the particular configuration of the loop member when in the expanded position of the loop member;
and
a left side and a right side defined by the loop member and the fabric;
(b) wherein the loop members of the left panels overlap each other at a first overlapping point along the first edges of the loop members of the left panels, and at a second overlapping point along the second edges of the loop members of the left panels, the overlapping loop members of the left panels defining a first hinge portion about which the loop members of the left panels are pivotable;
(c) wherein the loop members of the right panels overlap each other at a third overlapping point along the first edges of the loop members of the right panels, and at a fourth overlapping point along the second edges of the loop members of the right panels, the overlapping loop members of the right panels defining a second hinge portion about which the loop members of the right panels are pivotable;
(d) wherein the left side of the first end panel is hingedly connected to the right side of the first left panel, and the right side of the first end panel is hingedly connected to the left side of the first right panel;
and
(e) wherein the left side of the second end panel is hingedly connected to the right side of the second right panel, and the right side of the first end panel is hingedly connected to the left side of the second left panel, whereby the connected panels form an enclosed space.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Collapsible sunshields, partitions and shade structures having overlapping support loops

Life of this patent

Collapsible sunshields, partitions and shade structures having overlapping support loops

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14