Collapsible costumes

Abstract

A costume assembly has one or more structures such as headgear structures, body structures or single composite structures. Each of these structures has at least one foldable frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation. Each frame member can include fabric material covering the frame member to define a panel. A fabric shell can be attached to the at least one frame member, with the fabric shell defining an interior for accomodating the body and head of the user.

1 . A costume assembly, comprising:
 a headgear structure having a first foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the first frame member to form at least one panel when the first frame member is in the unfolded orientation; and   a bodygear structure having a second foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the second frame member to form at least one panel when the second frame member is in the unfolded orientation.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the headgear structure includes a plurality of panels that are connected to form a ring of panels that define an enclosed space, with each panel having a separate foldable frame member. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a frame retaining sleeve for retaining each corresponding frame member. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each frame member is twisted and folded to its folded orientation to reduce the overall size of the frame member. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each frame member is continuous and enclosed. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of panels are hingedly coupled to each other. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including an arm sleeve. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a trouser gear structure having a third foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with an annular fabric material extending from the third frame member. 
   
   
       9 . A costume assembly, comprising:
 a panel having a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the frame member to form the panel when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation;   an opening provided in the fabric material for extending a users' head therethrough; and   a shoulder support member provided adjacent the opening to support a users' shoulder.   
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further including sleeve straps provided adjacent the frame member. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further including an arm sleeve extending from the panel. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further including a second foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with an annular fabric wall extending between the panel and the second frame member. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the annular fabric wall has an opening for extending a users' head therethrough. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the annular fabric wall has an opening for extending a users' hand therethrough. 
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the panel is a first panel, and further including:
 a second panel having a second foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering portions of the second frame member to form the second panel when the second frame member is in the unfolded orientation;   an opening provided in the fabric material of the second panel for extending a users' body therethrough; and   wherein each of the first and second panels defines a peripheral edge, and the first and second panels are connected to each other along their peripheral edges.   
   
   
       16 . A costume assembly, comprising:
 a headgear structure having:
 a first closed foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation; 
 a second closed foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation; 
 wherein the first and second frame members each has opposite side edges and opposite top and bottom edges, and are oriented so that each frame member overlaps the other frame member at overlapping locations along the opposite side edges thereof to define an interior space; 
 a fabric wall that extends around the side edges, the top edges and the bottom edges of the frame members to enclose the interior space; and 
   a body section extending from the bottom edges of the frame members.   
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the fabric wall includes a top fabric portion that extends between the top edges of the frame members, and a front fabric portion that extends between the top edge of the first frame member and the bottom edge of the second frame member. 
   
   
       18 - 22 . (canceled)