Collapsible and foldable structure

Details Collapsible and foldable structure Collapsible and foldable structure

1998-10-30

2001-03-13

Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)

Beds

Ground mat

C005S418000, C005S655000, C135S125000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06199229

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a collapsible and foldable structure and, in particular, although not necessarily solely, such a structure for use in providing an activity area for young children.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A number of items exists in the marketplace for providing an activity area for young children, particularly babies. The intention for such structures is to provide an area for a baby to play which can be transported to an outdoor location.
Typically, existing items may provide some form of ground sheet for placement on the ground and a support frame to support an overhead cover or to hang toys or other items for the child's amusement over the ground sheet. The difficulty with existing items is that they generally require assembly and disassembly to package for transportation. Not only is this a time consuming task but also leads to the risk of pieces going missing or being left behind.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible and foldable structure which does not require disassembly and provides an opportunity for placement of covers, toys or other articles over a young child. It is at least an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible and foldable structure which provides the public with a useful choice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a collapsible and foldable structure including:
at least a first loop of flexible material;
a second loop of flexible material connected adjacent to said first loop about a portion of the circumferences of said loops; and
at least a first sheet of material attached to a portion of the free non-interconnected portions of said first and second loops.
Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a foldable and collapsible structure including:
at least a first loop of flexible material;
biasing means connected at discreet points about said loop to bias said loop into a non-planar configuration; and
at least a first sheet of material attached to a portion of said loop.
Further aspects of this invention will be apparent to those skill in the art to which the invention relates on reading the following description.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4858634 (1989-08-01), McLeese
patent: 5056172 (1991-10-01), Kaiser et al.
patent: 5059463 (1991-10-01), Peters
patent: 5249592 (1993-10-01), Springer et al.
patent: 5337772 (1994-08-01), Habchi
patent: 5385165 (1995-01-01), Hazinski et al.
patent: 0487642B1 (1998-09-01), None

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