US 6,349,732 B1Granted

Collapsible small vehicle enclosure

OwnerMark T. Cooperinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A collapsible enclosure that generally comprises a symmetrical pair of base members and a pliable protective cover supported by a plurality of internal frame members pivotally connected on the axis of the hinge points for the base members. By manually rotating the first frame member about its axis, the protective cover and additional frame members unfurl over the base members and surround a vehicle or object in a shell-shaped enclosure. To store or transport the enclosure, the protective cover and frame members collapse in an accordion-like fashion and sandwich between the folded base members.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A collapsible storage enclosure comprising:

first and second base members, each said base member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a straight side edge, each said straight side edge having a first and a second opposed end, and a peripheral edge connecting said first and second opposed straight side edge ends around said top and bottom surfaces;
means for pivotally joining said straight edges of said first and second base members with said straight side edges substantially adjacent one another for pivotal movement of said first and second base members from a closed position with said top surfaces of said first and second base members substantially adjacent one another to an open horizontal position to form a platform;
a plurality of arched frame members, each said arched frame member terminating in a first and second opposed end, each said first end of each said arched frame member pivotally mounted adjacent said first ends of said substantially abutted straight side edges of said first and second base members, and each said second end of each said arched frame member pivotally mounted adjacent said second ends of said substantially abutted straight side edges of said first and second base members, each said arched frame member being mounted for rotational movement from a collapsed position substantially adjacent said top surface of said first base member to a raised position in a predetermined spaced apart arrangement above said top surfaces of said first and second base members when said first and second base members are in an open horizontal position to form a platform;
and
a pliable cover arranged and secured to each of said plurality of arched frame members at predetermined spaced positions such that when said arched frame members are in a collapsed position said pliable cover folds and when said first and second base members are in a closed position with said top surfaces substantially adjacent one another said pliable cover folds and collapses substantially between said first and second base members, and when said first and second base members are in an open horizontal position to form a platform and said arched frame members are pivotally rotated to said raised position said pliable cover unfurls between said arched frame members and above said top surfaces of said first and second base members to form a storage enclosure.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A collapsible storage enclosure comprising:

first and second base members, each said base member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a straight side edge, each said straight side edge having a first and a second opposed end, and a peripheral edge connecting said first and second opposed straight side edge ends around said top and bottom surfaces;
means for pivotally joining said straight edges of said first and second base members with said straight side edges substantially adjacent one another for pivotal movement of said first and second base members from a closed position with said top surfaces of said first and second base members substantially adjacent one another to an open horizontal position to form a platform;
a plurality of arched frame members, each said arched frame member terminating in a first and second opposed end, each said first end of each said arched frame member pivotally mounted adjacent said first ends of said substantially abutted straight side edges of said first and second base members, and each said second end of each said arched frame member pivotally mounted adjacent said second ends of said substantially abutted straight side edges of said first and second base members, each said arched frame member being mounted for rotational movement from a collapsed position substantially adjacent said top surface of said first base member to a raised position in a predetermined spaced apart arrangement above said top surfaces of said first and second base members when said first and second base members are in an open horizontal position to form a platform;
and
a pliable cover arranged and secured to each of said plurality of arched frame members at predetermined spaced positions such that when said arched frame members are in a collapsed position said pliable cover folds and when said first and second base members are in a closed position with said top surfaces substantially adjacent one another said pliable cover folds and collapses substantially between said first and second base members, and when said first and second base members are in an open horizontal position to form a platform and said arched frame members are pivotally rotated to said raised position said pliable cover unfurls between said arched frame members and above said top surfaces of said first and second base members to form a storage enclosure.

2 more elements