| 摘要 |
Collapsible structures (300) are provided having at least two panels (306,308;310,312), with each of the panels having a flexible loop member defining a closed loop and adapted to assume an expanded position and a collapsed position, a fabric for covering the loop member, with the loop member substantially supporting the fabric in particular areas so that the fabric assumes the particular configuration of the loop member when in the expanded position of the loop member. The loop members of two adjacent first and second panels overlap each other at a first overlapping point along first edges (336,344;352,360) of the loop members, and at a second overlapping point along second edges (332,340) of the loop members, with the overlapping loop members defining a hinge portion (370,372) about which the two loop members of the first and second panels (306,308;310,312) are pivotable. The structure (300) may include a third loop member having one side (314,318;322,326) which is hingedly connected to one side (334,346;358,338) of the first panel. The panels (306,308;310,312) are foldable on top of each other about their respective hinge portions (370,372) to have the loop members and their associated fabric overlaying each other, and the overlaying loop members are then collapsible to the collapsed positions by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings and layers of fabric to substantially reduce the size of the structure (300) in the collapsed position. <IMAGE> |
