Folding frame system with foldable leg assembly and method of erecting a folding frame system

A folding leg assembly for a folding frame system, the folding frame system including at least three pivotably attached strut pairs, the folding frame system being movable between a folding frame closed position in which struts of the at least three strut pairs are disposed parallel to each other and a folding frame open position in which struts of the at least three strut pairs are locked in non-parallel positions and ends of the struts of each strut pair of the at least three strut pairs define a rectangle, the leg assembly comprising:

• at least one leg strut assembly, the leg strut assembly including a top leg strut and a tubular bottom leg strut in which the top leg strut is telescopingly slidable between a top leg strut closed position and a top leg strut open position, a top end of the top leg strut including a joint for pivotable attachment to an end of a strut of a strut pair of the at least three strut pairs of the folding frame system;
• a lock for locking the top leg strut in the top leg strut open position;
• at least one arm strut assembly, the arm strut assembly being pivotably attached at a bottom end to a point on the bottom leg strut, a top end of the arm strut assembly including a joint for pivotable attachment to the folding frame system,
• wherein each folding leg assembly includes two leg strut assemblies and two arm strut assemblies, one arm strut assembly of the two arm strut assemblies being pivotably attached to one leg strut assembly of the two leg strut assemblies, the two leg strut assemblies being pivotably attached to each other at bottom ends of bottom leg struts of the two leg strut assemblies, top ends of top leg struts of the two leg strut assemblies each including a joint for pivotable attachment to top ends of struts of a strut pair of the at least three strut pairs, top ends of arm strut assemblies of the two arm strut assemblies each including a joint for pivotable attachment to bottom ends of the struts of the strut pair,
• a bracket for pivotably attaching the two leg strut assemblies to each other at bottom ends of the bottom leg struts of the two leg strut assemblies, the bracket permitting universal pivotal movement of the two leg strut assemblies,
• wherein the bracket includes a U-shaped central member having two legs connected by a web, and two U-shaped foot members each having two legs connected by a web, the webs of the two U-shaped foot members each being attached to opposite legs of the U-shaped central member by a pin and being rotatable about the pin, each U-shaped foot member of the U-shaped foot members receiving one of the bottom ends of the bottom leg struts of the two leg strut assemblies between the two legs of the U-shaped foot member, the bottom ends of the bottom leg struts of the two leg strut assemblies being pivotably attached to the U-shaped foot member by a foot pin.

A method for erecting a folding frame system, comprising the steps of:

• unfolding a roof assembly including at least three pivotably attached strut pairs, adjacent pairs of the at least three pivotably attached strut pairs defining at least three corners of the roof assembly, from a roof assembly closed position in which struts of the at least three strut pairs are disposed parallel to each other to a roof assembly open position in which struts of the at least three strut pairs are disposed in non-parallel positions and ends of the struts of each strut pair of the at least three strut pairs define a rectangle;
• locking the roof assembly in the roof assembly open position;
• after locking the roof assembly in the roof assembly open position, unfolding folding leg assemblies disposed at each of the at least three corners of the roof assembly, each folding leg assembly including a leg strut assembly, the leg strut assembly including a top leg strut and a tubular bottom leg strut in which the top leg strut is telescopingly slidable between a top leg strut closed position and a top leg strut open position, a top end of the top leg strut including a joint pivotably attaching the top end of the top leg strut to an end of a strut of a strut pair of the at least three strut pairs, and at least one arm strut assembly, the arm strut assembly being pivotably attached at a bottom end to a point on the bottom leg strut, a top end of the arm strut assembly including a joint pivotably attaching the top end of the arm strut assembly to at least one strut of the strut pair to which the top end of the top leg strut is pivotably attached by sliding the top leg strut from the top leg strut closed position to the top leg strut open position;
• and
• locking the top leg strut in the top leg strut open position.