SELFERECTING STRUCTURE

Abstract

A selferecting structure includes a frame formed by one or two flexible continuous contours of rod or tube material possessing round cross section, each contour having two figure eight loops longitudinally formed as a double figure eight type continuous contour, and sheet material extending over the frame and attached to the rod or tube material. Two flexible continuous contours will be connected together side by side, parallel to each other through four binding tube sleeves to form one foldable structure. Three fixing tube sleeves respectively placed at a crossing of rod or tube of each flexible continuous contour, where the length and the inner size of the fixing tube sleeve define the level of friction of the frame rod or tube material inside the sleeve when unfolding the structure, thus defining a safety rate of the selferecting speed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/350,121, filed on Jan. 7, 2009, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/313,918, filed on Dec. 22, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a selferecting structure and, more particular, to a multi-purpose structure made of flexible frame elements and sheet material to form different shade providing devices or antimosquito net frames.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Structures, which are composed of one or more continuous flexible figure eight loops with fabric extending over and between sections of the loops to define a partial or full enclosure, have been developed, which can be quickly erected or collapsed. Such devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,127; U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,463, the disclosures of which are incorporated in the parent application Ser. No. 11/313,918.

[0004] The simplest of the structures disclosed in the aforementioned patents is formed by a single figure eight frame made of continuous band. Structures using this frame construction are not stable in the erected position and especially when placed on steep slopes, because of the two support points to ground and not stable frame construction at the same time (there is no enough extending (unfolding) force to keep their construction steady upright). This is because the continuous band of which their frame is made does not have the possibility to accumulate much unfolding power when folded. Folding these structures by coiling is not too easy, because of the big diameter of their loops. Unfolding of those structures is not fully independent. The next structure is formed by a single figure eight frame made of continuous material with preferably asymmetric cross section. However "Round or square tubing or solid stock, while less preferred, can also be employed." If so the structures using this frame are not stable in the erected position too, because they have two support points to ground and not steady construction at the same time, due to the big diameter of the loops of the frame (that is why they are not preferred--a frame constructed of a material with round cross section can not possess big loops and be steady at the same time). Folding here is not easy, because of the same big diameter of the loops. Unfolding can be at dangerous rates. There is a structure, that is constructed by two figure eight frames, placed at a distance from each other, but the separate frames are not connected steady and firmly between them in one rigid frame and so need additional strengthening, tightening and fastening elements like pegs, ropes and fabric as a linking element to keep the structure upright. Folding is heavy and unfolding could be dangerous if the frames have a round cross section and thus a big unfolding force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is directed to a structure including a frame, formed of one or two continuous contours made of rod or tube material possessing round cross section, each including two figure eight loops, selfconnected on their longitudinal axis one after another (hereafter referred as a double figure eight type continuous contours), to form one rigid structure, covered by sheet material, extending over loops and sewed to the rod material. The places of the crossings of the rod or tube material are accumulating the energy, when folded, that is needed for the unfolding of the structure. In the places of the crossings of the rod or tube material are placed with fixing tube sleeves, having the role to define the rate of the unfolding speed.

[0006] The advantages of thus presented invention are because of the use of one or two contours in the form of double figure eight formations of flexible rod or tube material, alone or connected together side by side, parallel to each other by the means of the binding tube sleeves and with the help of the sheet material on them, form a rigid and stable construction with huge extending (unfolding) force, keeping them steady and having two (but with a larger contact area to ground) or four support points to ground. The inner useful space is enlarged and the space, needed when in folded position, is low to a level, that they can be placed in a personal bag. Folding is easy, because of the smaller diameter of the loops. Unfolding is fully automatic and its speed is kept in a safety limits by the means of the fixing tube sleeves positioned at a crossing of two adjacent round rods or tubes of the flexible continuous contour.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention is to provide an improved structure, defined by a frame of one or two selfconnected continuous double figure eight type contours, composed of crossed rod material and sheet material, extending over the loops. Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

[0008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] These, as well as other features of the present invention, will become apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a selferecting structure consisting of one double eight figure type continuous contour.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view showing a selferecting structure consisting of one double figure eight type continuous contour.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a selferecting structure consisting of one double eight figure type continuous contour.

[0013] FIG. 4 is showing a cross section of a fixing tube sleeve on a crossing I in FIG. 2 of the round rods of a selferecting structure consisting of one double eight figure type continuous contour.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a front view showing a selferecting structure consisting of two double eight figure type continuous contours which are connected together side by side, parallel to each other.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a top view showing a selferecting structure consisting of two double figure eight type continuous contours.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a selferecting structure consisting of two double eight figure type continuous contours.

[0017] FIG. 8 is showing a cross section of a fixing tube sleeve on a crossing II in FIG. 5 of the round rod of a selferecting structure consisting of two double eight figure type continuous contours.

[0018] FIG. 9 is showing a cross section of a binding tube sleeve connecting two loops as indicated III in FIG. 5 of the two contours of a selferecting structure consisting of two double eight figure type continuous contours.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the frame of one preferred embodiment for the present selferecting structure 1 is constructed with one contour 3 made of flexible continuous rod or tube material with round cross section and a sheet material 2 extends over the frame and attached to the contour 3. The contour 3 includes two figure eight loops formed as a double figure eight type contour with four loops longitudinally arranged one by one in a row so that when the frame is unfolded as shown in FIGS. 1-3, each figure eight loops with the sheet material 2 form an inclined surface of an inverse-V-shaped roof of the selferecting structure 1 and a door 15 is formed on a lower loop of one figure eight loop. A fixing tube sleeve 4 is placed on the crossing of two adjacent round rods which pass through inside the sleeve 4 crosswise as shown in FIG. 4, so that the rate of automatic unfolding speed of the selferecting structure 1 is defined. Actually, the length and the inner size of the fixing tube sleeves 4 define the level of friction of the frame rod material inside those sleeves 4 when unfolding the structure. The structure 1 is folded by folding the continuous contour in the middle and the two such formed figure eight loops are folded in the middle again to form a hoop. Then the one end of thus formed hoop is twisted 180 degrees relative to the other end and now formed figure eight loops are folded in the middle to form a hoop. Thus folded structure is placed in a bag possessing similar dimensions. The structure unfolds automatically when pulled out of the containing bag.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the frame of another preferred embodiment for the present selferecting structure 1 is constructed with two contours 3 made of flexible continuous round rod and a sheet material 2 extends over the frame and attached to the contour 3. Each contour 3 includes two figure eight loops longitudinally formed as a double figure eight type contour. The two contours 3 are arranged side by side to be connected together in parallel by means of four binding tube sleeves 5 as shown in FIG. 9. Similarly, each contour 3 includes two figure eight loops longitudinally formed as a double figure eight type contour 3. The fixing tube sleeve 4 is placed on the crossing of two adjacent round rods of the continuous contour 3, which pass through the sleeve 4 crosswise as shown in FIG. 8, so that the rate of automatic unfolding speed of the selferecting structure 1 is defined. Actually, the length and the inner size of the sleeves 4 define the level of friction of the frame rod material inside those sleeves 4 when unfolding the structure. The structure 1 is folded by folding in the middle the contour nearest to the door opening 25, then folding it over the second contour and the four thus formed figure eight loops are folded in the middle again to form a hoop. Then the one end of thus formed hoop is twisted 180 degrees relative to the other end and now the formed figure eight loops are folded in the middle to form a hoop. Thus folded structure is placed in a bag possessing similar dimensions. The structure unfolds automatically when pulled out of the containing bag.

[0022] The structures of this invention are useful as tents, shelters, sunshade covers.

[0023] Thus, improved selferecting structures with greater stability, improved form, easy folding and fully automatic unfolding are disclosed. While embodiments and applications of this invention have been disclosed, it would be apparent to those, skilled in the art, that many more modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore is not to be restricted, except in the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A selferecting structure comprising: a frame formed by one flexible continuous contour of rod or tube material possessing round cross section, the contour including two figure eight loops formed as a double figure eight type contour with four loops longitudinally arranged one by one in a row; three fixing tube sleeves each placed at a crossing of two adjacent round rods or tubes of the flexible continuous contour, which crosswise pass through inside each fixing tube sleeve; and a sheet extending over and attached to the frame so that when the frame is unfolded, each figure eight loop with the sheet material forms an inclined surface of an inverse-V-shaped roof of the selferecting structure; thereby a rate of automatic unfolding speed of the selferecting structure is defined as the length and the inner size of the fixing tube sleeve define the level of friction of the frame rod material inside the fixing tube sleeve when unfolding the structure.

2. A selferecting structure as recited as in claim 1, wherein a door 15 formed on a lower loop of one figure eight loop.

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