초록 ▼

An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a collapsible support structure strut, which may include a strut member; a hollow tubular terminal end portion of the strut member having an inner surface; and a detachable looped eyelet having at least one loop and a pair of extending legs, the leg

An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a collapsible support structure strut, which may include a strut member; a hollow tubular terminal end portion of the strut member having an inner surface; and a detachable looped eyelet having at least one loop and a pair of extending legs, the legs being springedly biased to engage the tubular terminal end of the strut, thereby frictionally holding the looped eyelet in place at the terminal end of the strut. The apparatus and method may also employ a holding plug, with first and second holding groove opposingly placed in the periphery of the holding plug, having at least a portion thereof that is shaped and sized to frictionally engage the inner surface of the tubular terminal end of the strut, to frictionally hold the holding plug in engagement with the strut. The detachable looped eyelet may also have at least two loop.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A collapsible support structure comprising a plurality of essentially triangular frame sections each including a collapsible tubular member, a first predetermined number of said frame sections arranged upright to form a substantially vertical structural portion includin

The invention claimed is: 1. A collapsible support structure comprising a plurality of essentially triangular frame sections each including a collapsible tubular member, a first predetermined number of said frame sections arranged upright to form a substantially vertical structural portion including a side wall having a top including a plurality of said collapsible tubular members from at least some of the frame sections forming the side wall, and a base including a plurality of said collapsible tubular member of the other frame sections alternatively forming the side wall, an elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member passing through adjacent, collapsible tubular members in the top to connect adjacent frame sections to each other at corners thereof to form flexible joints at said connected corners, said collapsible tubular members in the top connected from end to end by said flexible tensioning member to form the collapsible tubular members into a polygon configuration having a circumference that is changed upon moving said frame sections from a condition forming the support structure into a collapsed condition, and a second predetermined number of said frame sections forming a roof having an edge in common with the top and including said collapsible tubular members forming the top, said roof being folded into the vertical structural portion as said support structure assumes the collapsed condition. 2. The collapsible support structure of claim 1 where the flexible tensioning member has opposed terminal ends that are drawn together to decrease the circumference of the polygon structure and loosened to increase said circumference. 3. A collapsible support structure comprising a first predetermined number of essentially triangular frame sections, each triangular frame section including a pair of rigid members and a collapsible tubular member, and said triangular frame sections forming a substantially vertical structural portion including a side wall that has a base including the collapsible tubular members from some of the triangular frame sections in said first predetermined number and a top including the collapsible tubular members from other triangular frame sections in said first predetermined number, and a second predetermined number of triangular frame sections forming a roof having an edge in common with the top and including said collapsible tubular members from the top of said side wall, a first elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member passing through adjacent, collapsible tubular members in the top and a second elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member passing through adjacent, collapsible tubular members in the base, said collapsible tubular members in the top connected from end to end by said first flexible tensioning member to form the collapsible tubular members into a polygon configuration having a circumference that is changed upon moving said frame sections from a condition forming the support structure into a collapsed condition, said first and second tensioning members connecting adjacent frame sections to each other at corners thereof to form flexible joints at said connected corners, and said first flexible tensioning member having opposed terminal ends that are drawn together to decrease the circumference of the polygon structure and loosened to increase said circumference so that said roof is folded into the vertical structural portion as said support structure assumes the collapsed condition. 4. The collapsible support structure of claim 3 where the collapsible members are rigidized by tightening the first flexible tensioning member to place said collapsible members in a rigid state and into compression. 5. The collapsible support structure of claim 4 where the second predetermined number of triangular frame sections forming the roof extend upward to form a roof apex while tightening the first flexible tensioning member. 6. A collapsible support structure comprising a plurality of essentially triangular frame sections forming an upright side wall with adjacent frame sections connected at corners, each triangular frame section including a pair of elongated rigid members and a tubular member having a collapsed state and a rigid state, said side wall having a top with an expandable perimeter and a base and comprising said triangular frame sections arranged in a predetermined manner where one triangular frame section is adjacent another triangular frame section and the one frame section has one corner at the top and its other corners along the base and the other frame section adjacent said one frame section has a pair of corners at the base and one corner along the top, said adjacent triangular frame sections having a rigid member in common and said rigid members of the triangular frame sections forming the side wall extending between the top and the base, said triangular frame sections positioned relative to each other so that the tubular members along the top, while in a rigid state, are aligned from end to end, and the tubular members along the base, while in a rigid state, are aligned from end to end, and along the top an elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member passing through adjacent tubular members out an end of one tubular member and into an end of an adjacent tubular member to connect adjacent frame sections to each other at the corners thereof to form from a portion of the tensioning member a flexible joint between adjacent connected corners, said flexible tensioning member upon being tightened, and while said tubular members are in a rigid state, pulls together the tubular members along the top and forms the upright side wall and allowing adjacent ends of adjacent the tubular members to separate and expand the perimeter of the top upon being loosened the tensioning member. 7. The collapsible support structure of claim 6 where a plurality of second interconnected triangular frame sections form a roof that is connected to the side wall by the flexible tensioning member, each of said second triangular frame sections including a pair of elongated rigid members and a tubular member having a collapsed state and a rigid state, said tubular members of said second triangular frame sections being along the top and in common with at least some of the tubular members of the triangular frame sections forming the side wall, said roof extending upward to form a roof apex upon tightening the flexible tensioning member. 8. The collapsible support structure of claim 7 where the second triangular frame sections have corners along the top that are in common with corners of the triangular frame sections forming the side wall and that are along said top, said flexible tensioning member connecting said corners along the top of the triangular frame sections forming the side wall and forming the roof. 9. A collapsible support structure comprising a plurality of interconnected essentially triangular frame sections, each triangular frame section comprising a plurality of strut elements, one of the strut elements of each triangular frame section being collapsible and hollow from one end to another end, said triangular frame sections forming a side wall where adjacent triangular frame sections are inverted with respect to each other so along a top of the side wall a corner of one triangular frame section is between the sides of a pair of triangular frame sections and along a bottom of the side wall one side of said one triangular frame section is along the bottom and between individual corners of the pair of triangular frame sections, a first elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member passing from one collapsible strut element along the top to an adjacent collapsible strut element along the top to connect adjacent frame sections at adjacent corners thereof said first flexible tensioning member extending from end to end through each of the collapsible strut elements and from one collapsible strut element into an adjacent collapsible strut element, said first flexible tensioning member forming a flexible corner joint from a portion of a tensioning member passing between adjacent collapsible strut elements, and a second elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member passing from one collapsible strut element along the base to an adjacent collapsible strut element along the base to connect adjacent frame sections at adjacent corners thereof, said second flexible tensioning member extending from end to end through each of the collapsible strut elements and from one collapsible strut element into an adjacent collapsible strut element, said second flexible tensioning member forming a flexible corner joint from a portion of a tensioning member passing between adjacent collapsible strut elements, said first flexible tensioning member having opposed ends that are connected to tighten the first tensioning member, and while the collapsible strut element is in the rigid state, to pull together the now rigid collapsible strut elements along the top and form the side wall. 10. The collapsible support structure of claim 9 where a plurality of second interconnected triangular frame sections form a roof that is connected to the side wall by the first flexible tensioning member, each of said second triangular frame sections including plurality of strut elements, one of the strut elements of each triangular frame section being collapsible and hollow from one end to another end, said collapsible strut elements of said second triangular frame sections being along the top and in common with at least some of the strut elements of the triangular frame sections forming the side wall, said roof extending upward to form a roof apex upon tightening the flexible tensioning member. 11. The collapsible support structure of claim 10 where the second triangular frame sections have corners along the top that are in common with corners of the triangular frame sections forming the side wall and that are along said top, said first flexible tensioning member passing through all the collapsible strut elements and forming all corners along the top of the triangular frame sections forming the side wall and forming the roof. 12. A collapsible support structure comprising a plurality of essentially triangular frame sections, each including a pair of elongated rigid members and one tubular member having a collapsed state and a rigid state, said triangular frame sections positioned relative to each other to form a frame including a substantially vertical structural portion having a side wall, and a roof attached to the side wall, said side wall having a top with a polygon perimeter comprising a plurality of tubular members interconnected and aligned from end to end while in the rigid state, said tubular members alternating so one tubular member is a side of a triangular frame section forming the roof and an adjacent tubular member is a side of a triangular frame section forming the vertical structural portion, said side wall having a base with a polygon perimeter comprising a plurality of tubular members interconnected and aligned from end to end while in the ridge state, each said tubular members forming the base being one side of the triangular frame sections forming the vertical structural portion, and an elongated, flexible tensioning member having opposed ends, said tensioning member passing from end to end through adjacent tubular members along the top and out an end of one tubular member into an end of an adjacent tubular member to connect adjacent frame sections to each other to form from a portion of the tensioning member a flexible joint at adjacent connected corners, the flexible tensioning member configuring the tubular members along the top into the polygon perimeter by tightening the tensioning member to align the tubular members while in a rigid state and bring the tensioning member into tension by pulling on at least one of the opposed ends and tying the opposed ends together, said polygon perimeter expanding upon loosening the ends so the roof folds inward into the vertical structural portion. 13. The collapsible support structure of claim 12 where the tensioning member is inelastic. 14. A collapsible support structure comprising a side wall forming a vertical structural portion and a roof mounted on the vertical structural portion, said wall and roof comprising a plurality of essentially triangular frame sections, each frame section comprising three strut elements, one of the strut elements of each triangular frame section being collapsible and hollow from one end to another end and the other two strut elements being rigid and non-collapsible, said side wall comprising a first predetermined number of the triangular frame sections and a second predetermined number of the triangular frame sections, said side wall having a base in the form of a polygon entirely of the collapsible strut elements from the first predetermined number of the triangular frame sections and a top in the form of a polygon entirely of the collapsible strut elements from the second predetermined number of triangular frame sections, a first elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member extending from end to end through each of the collapsible strut elements forming the base, and a second elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member extending from end to end through each of the collapsible strut elements forming the top, said tensioning members passing from one collapsible strut element to an adjacent collapsible strut element to connect adjacent frame sections at adjacent corners thereof and forming at each corner, from a portion of a tensioning member passing between adjacent collapsible strut elements, a flexible joint. 15. The collapsible support structure of claim 14 where the collapsible strut elements in the base form into a polygon configuration when in a rigid state, and the collapsible strut elements in the top form into essentially the same polygon configuration as in the base when in a rigid state. 16. The collapsible support structure of claim 14 where the collapsible strut elements include a pair of components that are aligned and placed in compression when the second tensioning member is placed in tension, said second tensioning member having opposed ends that are tied together to place the second tensioning member in tension and unloosened to enable the collapsible strut elements to be collapsed. 17. The collapsible support structure of claim 14 where the roof inverts and folds into the vertical structural portion upon collapsing the collapsible strut elements in the top. 18. A collapsible support structure comprising a side wall forming a vertical structural portion and a roof mounted on the vertical structural portion, said wall and roof comprising a plurality of essentially triangular frame sections, each frame section comprising three strut elements, one of the strut elements of each triangular frame section being collapsible and hollow from one end to another end and the other two strut elements being rigid, said side wall comprising a first predetermined number of the triangular frame sections and a second predetermined number of the triangular frame sections, said side wall having a base in the form of a polygon entirely of the collapsible strut elements from the first predetermined number of the triangular frame sections when said collapsible strut elements are in a rigid state and a top in the form of a polygon entirely of the collapsible strut elements from the second predetermined number of triangular frame sections when said collapsible strut elements are in a rigid state, the polygon configurations of the top and base being essentially the same, a first elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member extending from end to end through each of the collapsible strut elements forming the base, and a second elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member extending from end to end through each of the collapsible strut elements forming the top, said tensioning members passing from one collapsible strut element to an adjacent collapsible strut element to connect adjacent frame sections at adjacent corners thereof and forming at each corner, from a portion of a tensioning member passing between adjacent collapsible strut elements, a flexible joint, said collapsible strut elements including a pair of components that are aligned and placed in compression when the second tensioning member is placed in tension, said second tensioning member having opposed ends that are tied together to place the second tensioning member in tension and unloosened to enable the collapsible strut elements to be collapsed by expanding the perimeter of the top, said roof inverting and folding into the vertical structural portion upon collapsing the collapsible strut elements in the top and expanding the perimeter of the top. 19. A collapsible support structure comprising a plurality of essentially triangular frame sections each including a collapsible tubular member having a rigid state and a collapsed state, said triangular frame sections connected at corners thereof to form a truncated icosahedron frame having a substantially vertical structural portion including a side wall with a top and a base and a roof attached to the vertical structural portion, said frame sections forming the roof having an edge in common with the top and including said collapsible tubular members forming the top, said top and base each formed by five collapsible tubular members aligned from end to end that in a rigid state form a pentagonal configuration, said top having a circumference that is changed upon moving said frame sections from a condition forming the support structure into a collapsed condition, a first elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member extending from end to end through each of the collapsible tubular members forming the base, and a second elongated, continuous flexible tensioning member extending from end to end through each of the collapsible tubular members forming the top, said tensioning members passing from one collapsible tubular members to an adjacent collapsible tubular members to connect adjacent frame sections at adjacent corners thereof and forming at each corner, from a portion of a tensioning member passing between adjacent collapsible strut elements, a flexible joint, said roof being folded into the vertical structural portion as said support structure assumes the collapsed condition. 20. The collapsible support structure of claim 19 where the flexible tensioning member has opposed terminal ends that are drawn together to decrease the circumference of the polygon structure and loosened to increase said circumference.