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US 9,850,682 B2Granted
Foldable structure
OwnerWilliam Coleman Layinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides for the first time a foldable structure comprising a resilient frame and a coiling-assist assembly for facilitating coiling the resilient frame while folding. The coiling-assist assembly comprises a releasable grasp coupled to the resilient frame at a pre-determined first location. The releasable grasp temporarily holds the resilient frame in a first folding configuration, whereby the pre-determined second location of the resilient frame is diametrically opposed to the pre-determined first location of the resilient frame.
Claims30
A foldable structure comprising:
- I) a resilient frame defining a closed circumference and having a plurality of pre-determined locations disposed on the resilient frame, each pre-determined location of the plurality of pre-determined locations being different from each other pre-determined location, the plurality of pre-determined locations comprising:
- a) a pre-determined first location on the resilient frame;
- b) a pre-determined second location on the resilient frame;
- c) a pre-determined third location on the resilient frame;
- d) a pre-determined fourth location on the resilient frame;
- e) a pre-determined fifth location on the resilient frame;
- f) a pre-determined sixth location on the resilient frame;
- g) a pre-determined seventh location on the resilient frame;
- II) a coiling-assist assembly moving the resilient frame from an unfolded configuration for use to a folded configuration for storage, the coiling-assist assembly comprising:
- a) a releasable grasp coupled to the resilient frame at the pre-determined first location of the resilient frame;
- and
- b) the pre-determined second location on the resilient frame is generally diametrically opposed to the pre-determined first location on the resilient frame when the resilient frame is in the unfolded configuration, the pre-determined first location and the pre-determined second location defining a generally diametric line passing either through or proximate to a center point of the closed circumference, the releasable grasp temporarily grasps the resilient frame at the pre-determined second location and holds the resilient frame in a first folding configuration differing from the unfolded configuration, the releasable grasp temporarily grasps the resilient frame until a force is applied either directly or indirectly to the releasable grasp that is sufficient to cause the releasable grasp to release hold of the predetermined second location.
9 more elements
A foldable structure comprising:
- I) a resilient frame defining a closed circumference and having a plurality of pre-determined locations disposed on the resilient frame, each pre-determined location of the plurality of pre-determined locations being different from each other pre-determined location, the plurality of pre-determined locations comprising:
- a) a pre-determined first location on the resilient frame;
- b) a pre-determined second location on the resilient frame;
- c) a pre-determined third location on the resilient frame;
- d) a pre-determined fourth location on the resilient frame;
- e) a pre-determined fifth location on the resilient frame;
- f) a pre-determined sixth location on the resilient frame;
- and
- g) a pre-determined seventh location on the resilient frame;
- II) the pre-determined second location being disposed on the resilient frame generally diametrically opposed to the pre-determined first location when the resilient frame is in an unfolded configuration, a line passing through the pre-determined first location and the pre-determine second location generally divides the resilient frame into a first semi-circumference of the resilient frame and a second semi-circumference of the resilient frame;
- and
- III) a coiling-assist assembly moving the resilient frame from the unfolded configuration for use, to a first folding configuration, to a second folding configuration differing from the first folding configuration, to a folded configuration for storage, the coiling-assist assembly comprising:
- a) a latch coupled to the resilient frame at the pre-determined third location, the pre-determined third location being disposed on the first semi-circumference of the resilient frame;
- and
- b) a releasable fastener coupled to the resilient frame at the pre-determined fourth location, the pre-determined fourth location being disposed on the second semi-circumference of the resilient frame, the releasable fastener removably connects with the latch for temporarily holding the resilient frame in the second folding configuration.
12 more elements
A foldable structure comprising:
- I) a resilient frame defining a closed circumference and having a plurality of pre-determined locations disposed on the resilient frame, each pre-determined location of the plurality of pre-determined locations being different from each other pre-determined location, the plurality of pre-determined locations comprising:
- a) a pre-determined first location on the resilient frame;
- b) a pre-determined second location on the resilient frame;
- c) a pre-determined third location on the resilient frame;
- d) a pre-determined fourth location on the resilient frame;
- e) a pre-determined fifth location on the resilient frame;
- and
- f) a pre-determined sixth location on the resilient frame;
- II) the pre-determined second location being disposed on the resilient frame generally diametrically opposed to the pre-determined first location, a line passing through the pre-determined first location and the pre-determined second location generally divides the resilient frame into a first semi-circumference of the resilient frame and a second semi-circumference of the resilient frame;
- and
- III) a coiling-assist assembly moving the resilient frame from an unfolded configuration for use, to a first folding configuration, to a second folding configuration differing from the first folding configuration, to a folded configuration for storage, the coiling-assist assembly comprising:
- a) a restraining member having a proximal end and a distal end portion, the proximal end and the distal end portion of the restraining member are coupled to the resilient frame, the restraining member constrains at least a portion of the resilient frame while the resilient frame moves to a first folding configuration;
- b) a releasable fastener coupled to the distal end portion of the restraining member, the releasable fastener removably connects with a latch;
- and
- c) a slip member coupled to the resilient frame at the pre-determined fourth location, the pre-determined fourth location being disposed on the second semi-circumference of the resilient frame, the distal end portion of the restraining member slidably engages the slip member.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.