portable structure

Abstract

A portable structure ( 1 ), configurable between stored and erected conditions, comprises a base ( 4 ), one or more sides ( 5 ), a resilient frame ( 2 ) and one or more spacing members ( 6 ). The base ( 4 ) and the one or more sides ( 5 ) comprise a flexible material. The resilient frame ( 2 ) is located at the interface of the base ( 4 ) and the one or more sides ( 5 ). The resilient frame ( 2 ) is connected to the flexible material to provide a shape to the base ( 4 ) in the erected condition. The one or more spacing members ( 6 ) support the flexible material of the one or more sides ( 5 ) in a raised manner in the erected condition so as to form a container, bounded by the flexible material of the base ( 4 ) and the one or more sides ( 5 ). The resilient frame ( 2 ) and the one or more spacing members ( 6 ) are foldable to allow the portable structure ( 1 ) to adopt its stored condition, wherein folding of the resilient frame ( 2 ) and the one or more spacing members ( 6 ) provides energy for moving the portable structure ( 1 ) from the stored condition to the erected condition thereof.

1 . A portable structure, configurable between stored and erected conditions, comprising a base, one or more sides, a resilient frame and one or more spacing members; the base and the one or more sides comprising a flexible material; the resilient frame being located at the interface of the base and one or more sides,—the resilient frame being connected to the flexible material to provide a shape to the base in the erected condition; the one or more spacing members for supporting the flexible material of the one or more sides in a raised manner in the erected condition so as to form a container for receiving water bounded by the flexible material of the base and one or more sides; wherein the resilient frame is bendable and the one or more spacing members is/are foldable to allow the portable structure to adopt its stored condition wherein bending of the resilient frame and/or folding of the spacing members provides energy for moving the portable structure from the stored condition to the erected condition thereof. 
     
     
         2 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a second resilient frame, located in a spaced-relationship from the first resilient frame, supporting the one or more sides of the portable structure. 
     
     
         3 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second resilient frame is located at a distal end of the one or more sides with respect to the first resilient frame. 
     
     
         4 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 2 , comprising a third or subsequent resilient frame, located in a spaced-relationship from the first, or second, resilient frame (s), supporting the one or more sides of the portable structure. 
     
     
         5 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resilient frame is continuous. 
     
     
         6 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resilient frame comprises one or more connected resilient frame members. 
     
     
         7 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resilient frame is made from any one or more of spring steel, coiled spring steel, spirally-wound spring steel, fibreglass, flexible plastics material, pre-stressed material, or any other material which when bent, naturally wishes to return to an unbent or straight shape. 
     
     
         8 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resilient frame is provided within one or more pockets or loops provided by the flexible material. 
     
     
         9 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second resilient frame, located in a spaced-relationship from the first resilient frame, supporting the one or more sides of the portable structure, wherein the second resilient frame is provided within one or more pockets or loops provided by the flexible material. 
     
     
         10 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the respective pockets are continuous and surround the resilient frame. 
     
     
         11 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the portable structure has a round-, a triangular-, a square-, or a multi-faceted-shaped cross-section with respect to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         12 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the resilient frame is shaped to be round, triangular, square or multi-faceted, to provide the respective cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         13 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second resilient frame or a second and subsequent resilient frames, located in a spaced-relationship from the first resilient frame, supporting the one or more sides of the portable structure, wherein the diameter, effective diameter or longest distance across a cross-section of the portable structure with respect to a vertical axis decreases from the resilient frame to the second and subsequent resilient frames, providing a truncated portable structure. 
     
     
         14 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least two spacing members. 
     
     
         15 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the spacing members are diametric. 
     
     
         16 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising four equally-spaced spacing members. 
     
     
         17 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spacing members are operably-connected to the side material of the portable structure. 
     
     
         18 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the one or more spacing means are provided within one or more pockets provided by the flexible material. 
     
     
         19 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spacing members are made from any one or more of spring steel, coiled spring steel, spirally-wound spring steel, fibreglass, flexible plastics material, pre-stressed material, or any other material which when bent, naturally wishes to return to an unbent or straight shape. 
     
     
         20 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is provided by one or more of fabric, plastics material, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and/or polyethylene (PE), or other suitable material. 
     
     
         21 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the material is durable and waterproof. 
     
     
         22 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the portable structure provides a portable structure in the form of a generic water container, a paddling pool, a play pen or a ball-pool. 
     
     
         23 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, when the portable structure comprises a base and one or more sides, the portable structure further comprises
 a top, for partially- or fully-covering the portable structure.   
     
     
         24 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the top is detachable and separate to the base and one or more sides. 
     
     
         25 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the detachable top comprises a frame which is configurable between erected and stored conditions. 
     
     
         26 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the top is integral with the base and one or more sides. 
     
     
         27 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the top is a shade, provided to shade the portable structure from sunlight. 
     
     
         28 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sides comprises one or more openings for allowing a person to enter or exit an interior of the portable structure. 
     
     
         29 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the portable structure is arranged such that all components of the portable structure are provided in both erected and stored conditions. 
     
     
         30 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the portable structure is arranged such that it provides a unitary portable structure which is capable of
 being erected and stored without addition or removal of components.   
     
     
         31 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sides comprise one or more portions of a material having a density of less than water. 
     
     
         32 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the one or more portions of material are provided at an upper edge of the one or more sides, remote from the base. 
     
     
         33 . A portable structure as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the one or more portions of material are provided in a spaced-relationship between respective upper and lower edges of the one or more sides. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The portable structure as claimed in  claim 1  forming a generic water container, a paddling pool, a play pen or a ball-pool. 
     
     
         36 . A method of storing a portable structure as claimed in  claim 1  comprising: providing the portable structure in an erected condition; folding the one or more sides in half, so as to gather a top of the, side and a bottom of the side together and, in so doing, folding the one or more spacing members against resistance provided by the one or more spacing members to provide a flattened structure;
 coiling or bending the resilient frame (s) against resistance provided by the resilient frame by folding initially and then gathering in small coils or bends the resilient frame until all of the frames are gathered together; and thereby providing the portable structure in a stored condition.   
     
     
         37 . A method of erecting a portable structure as claimed in  claim 1  comprising: providing the portable structure in a stored condition; uncoiling the resilient frame by expanding the coils or bends under the influence of a returning force provided by the resilient frame; unfolding the one or more sides under the influence of a returning force provided by the one or more spacing members and providing in a spaced-relationship a top of the side from the bottom of the side; and thereby providing the portable structure is an erected condition. 
     
     
         38 . A method as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the resilient frame is coiled/gathered on itself in at least two turns.