Vertically stacked collapsible structures

Abstract

Collapsible structures are provided having at least one lower panel, each panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material substantially covering the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation. The fabric assumes the unfolded orientation of its frame member, and each panel further includes a first side, a second side, a bottom side and a top side. The first side of one panel is coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel. The collapsible structure according to the present invention further includes an upper panel having a bottom side coupled to the top side of one of the lower panels. In other embodiments, at least two upper panels are provided, with the upper panels provided above the lower panels. The respective panels can be coupled to each other using stitching and/or detachable connectors, or by crossing the frame members of the panels at adjacent left, right, top or bottom sides.

1 . A collapsible structure adapted to be supported on a surface and comprising:
 a first module having:
 at least two panels, including a first panel, each panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material substantially covering the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of the frame member, each panel further including a first side, a second side, a bottom side and a top side, with the first side of one panel coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel; and 
   an upper panel having a bottom side coupled to the top side of the first panel, the upper panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material substantially covering the frame member to form the upper panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of the frame member.   
   
   
       2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first module has at least three panels, with the first side of one panel coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel, and further including a second module having:
 at least two panels, which includes the upper panel, each panel of the second module having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material substantially covering the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of the frame member, each panel of the second module further including a first side, a second side, a bottom side and a top side, with the first side of one panel coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel; and   wherein the bottom sides of each panel of the second module are coupled to corresponding top sides of each panel of the first module.   
   
   
       3 . The structure of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom sides of each panel of the second module are stitched to corresponding top sides of each panel of the first module. 
   
   
       4 . The structure of  claim 2 , further including detachable connectors for coupling the bottom sides of each panel of the second module to corresponding top sides of each panel of the first module. 
   
   
       5 . The structure of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom side of one panel of the second module is stitched to a corresponding top side of panel of the first module, and wherein the structure further includes detachable connectors for coupling the bottom side of another panel of the second module to corresponding top side of another panel of the first module. 
   
   
       6 . The structure of  claim 2 , wherein the structure further includes detachable connectors for coupling the first side of each panel of the second module to the second side of adjacent panels of the second module. 
   
   
       7 . The structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first side of each panel of the first module is stitched to the second side of an adjacent panel of the first module. 
   
   
       8 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the upper panel is a first upper panel and further includes a top side, the structure further including a second upper panel having a bottom side coupled to the top side of the first upper panel. 
   
   
       9 . The structure of  claim 2 , wherein the second module has at least three panels, with the first side of one panel of the second module coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel of the second module, and further including a third module having:
 at least two panels, each panel of the third module having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material substantially covering the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of the frame member, each panel of the third module further including a first side, a second side, a bottom side and a top side, with the first side of one panel coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel; and   wherein the bottom sides of each panel of the third module are coupled to corresponding top sides of each panel of the second module.   
   
   
       10 . The structure of  claim 4 , further including detachable connectors for coupling the first side of each panel of the second module to the second side of an adjacent panel of the second module. 
   
   
       11 . The structure of  claim 10 , wherein the first side of each panel of the first module is stitched to the second side of an adjacent panel of the first module. 
   
   
       12 . The structure of  claim 3 , wherein the structure further includes detachable connectors for coupling the first side of each panel of the first and second modules to the second side of adjacent panels of the first and second modules. 
   
   
       13 . The structure of  claim 4 , wherein the structure further includes detachable connectors for coupling the first side of each panel of the first and second modules to the second side of adjacent panels of the first and second modules. 
   
   
       14 . The structure of  claim 2 , further including a top panel having sides that are coupled to the top sides of the panels of the second module. 
   
   
       15 . The structure of  claim 2 , further including a dividing panel having sides that are coupled to the top sides of the panels of the first module. 
   
   
       16 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the upper panel is a first upper panel and has a top side, the structure further including a second upper panel having a bottom side coupled to a top side of a panel of the first module, and a top side coupled to the top side of the first upper panel. 
   
   
       17 . The structure of  claim 16 , wherein the first upper panel is coupled to a first panel of the first module, and the second upper panel is coupled to a second panel of the first module, the first and second panels of the first module being disposed opposite from each other. 
   
   
       18 . The structure of  claim 16 , wherein a detachable connector couples the bottom side of the first upper panel to the top side of a panel of the first module. 
   
   
       19 . The structure of  claim 16 , wherein a detachable connector couples the top sides of the first and second upper panels. 
   
   
       20 . The structure of  claim 2 , wherein each panel of the second module has three sides, with the second module defining a domed configuration. 
   
   
       21 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the third module has at least three panels, with the first side of one panel coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel, and further including a fourth module having:
 at least two panels, which includes the upper panel, each panel of the third module having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material substantially covering the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of the frame member, each panel of the third module further including a first side, a second side, a bottom side and a top side, with the first side of one panel coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel; and   wherein the bottom sides of each panel of the fourth module are coupled to corresponding top sides of each panel of the third module.   
   
   
       22 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein each panel of the fourth module has three sides, with the fourth module defining a domed configuration. 
   
   
       23 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the second module has a first panel having a top side, and the third module has a first panel having a bottom side that is coupled to the top side of the first panel of the second module, wherein the structure further including a support panel that is coupled to the first sides of the first panels of the second and third modules. 
   
   
       24 . The structure of  claim 23 , wherein the support panel supports the first sides of the first panels of the second and third modules at an angle. 
   
   
       25 . The structure of  claim 2 , wherein the second module has at least three panels, with the first side of one panel coupled to the second side of an adjacent panel, wherein of each panel of the second module has a top side that is longer than its bottom side. 
   
   
       26 . The structure of  claim 2 , further including a support panel having a side that is coupled to the first side of one of the panels of the first module and extending away from the first module, the support panel supporting one of the panels of the second module at a horizontal position. 
   
   
       27 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the frame members of each panel of the first module cross each other at the first side of each panel and the second side of an adjacent panel. 
   
   
       28 . The structure of  claim 2 , wherein the frame members of each panel of the first and second modules cross each other at the first side of each panel and the second side of an adjacent panel. 
   
   
       29 . The structure of  claim 28 , wherein the bottom sides of each panel of the second module are stitched to corresponding top sides of each panel of the first module. 
   
   
       30 . The structure of  claim 28 , further including detachable connectors for coupling the bottom sides of each panel of the second module to corresponding top sides of each panel of the first module. 
   
   
       31 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the frame members of the upper panel and the first panel cross each other at the bottom side of the upper panel and the corresponding top side of the first panel. 
   
   
       32 . The structure of  claim 2 , wherein the frame members of each panel of the second module and the first module cross each other at the bottom sides of each panel of the second module and the corresponding top sides of each panel of the first module. 
   
   
       33 . The structure of  claim 32 , wherein the first side of one panel is stitched to the second side of an adjacent panel. 
   
   
       34 . The structure of  claim 32 , wherein the structure further includes detachable connectors for coupling the first side of each panel of the first and second modules to the second side of adjacent panels of the first and second modules. 
   
   
       35 . The structure of  claim 31 , further including detachable connectors provided on the first panel and the upper panel for holding the upper panel in a vertical position above the first panel. 
   
   
       36 . The structure of  claim 31 , further including detachable connectors provided on the first panel and the upper panel for holding the upper panel in a vertical position against the first panel.