Collapsible structure

Claim 2

A collapsible, easily relocatable structure for erection on a supporting surface, comprising side wall panels, a roof joined to the side wall panels and constituted by a pair of opposed, flat roof panels hingedly joined to the respective side wall panels and hingedly secured centrally, a floor constituted by a pair of flat floor panels hingedly joined to respective lower edges of the side wall panels and including inner edges hingedly secured centrally, opposite ends each comprising a pair of flat end panels hingedly secured to the side wall panels and hingedly secured centrally, and characterized by the structure being collapsible by outward folding of the roof panels, inward folding of each of the pairs of end panels, and outward folding of the floor panels with the hingedly secured inner edges of the floor panels extending beyond and below the side wall lower edges for first contacting the supporting structure when the collapsed structure is lowered to the supporting surface, and means for locking the panels in unfolded configuration for maintaining the shelter in an erected condition.

Claim 3

A collapsible structure according to claim 1 and further characterized by the means for locking the panels in unfolded configuration providing securement of the end panels in mutually planar relationship.

Claim 4

A collapsible structure according to claim 2 and further characterized by the locking means comprising ligaments at opposite ends of the shelter for pulling the end wall panels outwardly into said mutually planar relationship.

Claim 5

A collapsible structure according to claim 3 and further characterized by the locking means also comprising means carried by the floor panels for frictionally engaging lower edges of the end wall panels for assisting in maintaining the end wall panels in mutually planar relationship.

Claim 6

A collapsible structure according to claim 2 and further characterized by the roof panels extending outwardly beyond the side wall panels to form eaves and outwardly beyond the end wall panels to form gables.

Claim 7

A collapsible structure according to claim 2 and further characterized by the roof panels being centrally formed by a roof centerpiece to which the roof panels are both hinged, the centerpiece including at least one handle for lifting, of the shelter for transporting same in a collapsed configuration, the roof centerpiece forming a roof ridge.

Claim 8

A collapsible structure according to claim 1 and further characterized by the roof, floor and end wall panels being secured to the respective side wall panels by stripform bendable hinges.

Claim 9

A collapsible structure according to claim 1 and further characterized by the roof and floor each including respective elongated, thin centerpieces, the roof panels being centrally secured to the roof centerpiece by a pair of strip-form bendable hinges, the floor panels being centrally secured to the floor centerpiece by a further pair of strip-form bendable hinges.

Claim 10

A collapsible structure according to claim 1 and further characterized by the roof panels being of sloping orientation to provide a roof of saddle configuration including a roof ridge.

Claim 11

A collapsible structure according to claim 1 for use as an animal shelter for dogs or other animals, at least one of the end wall panels having an opening for animal ingress and egress.

Claim 12

A collapsible, easily relocatable structure comprising side wall panels, a roof joined to the side wall panels and constituted by a pair of opposed, flat roof panels hingedly joined to the respective side wall panels and hingedly secured centrally, a floor constituted by a pair of flat panels hingedly joined to the side wall panels and hingedly secured centrally, opposite ends each comprising a pair of flat end panels hingedly secured to the side wall panels and hingedly secured centrally, and characterized by the structure being collapsible by outward folding of the roof panels and inward folding of the end panels, and means for locking the panels in unfolded configuration for maintaining the shelter in an erected condition, the means for locking the panels in unfolded configuration providing securement of the end panels in mutually planar relationship and comprising ligaments at opposite ends of the shelter for pulling the end wall panels outwardly into said mutually planar relationship, the roof including a roof centerpiece to which the roof panels are centrally hingedly secured, the roof centerpiece including a handle for lifting the shelter, the ligaments each having an inner end affixed to the roof centerpiece, the ligaments each extending through a corresponding end wall panel at opposite ends of the shelter and each including means for engaging such corresponding end wall panel for urging it outwardly, the roof centerpiece including means at its outer ends for fixedly engaging the outer end of each ligament for thereby maintaining the erected condition of the structure.

Claim 13

A collapsible, easily relocatable structure comprising side wall panels, a roof joined to the side wall panels and constituted by a pair of opposed, flat roof panels hingedly joined to the respective side wall panels and hingedly secured centrally, a floor constituted by a pair of flat panels hingedly joined to the side wall panels and hingedly secured centrally, opposite ends each comprising a pair of flat end panels hingedly secured to the side wall panels and hingedly secured centrally, and characterized by the structure being collapsible by outward folding of the roof panels and inward folding of the end panels, and means for locking the panels in unfolded configuration for maintaining the shelter in an erected condition, the means for locking the panels in unfolded configuration providing securement of the end panels in mutually planar relationship and comprising ligaments at opposite ends of the shelter for pulling the end wall panels outwardly into said mutually planar relationship, the roof including a roof centerpiece to which the roof panels are centrally hingedly secured, the roof centerpiece including a handle for lifting the shelter, the ligaments each having an inner end affixed to the roof centerpiece, the ligaments each extending through a corresponding end wall panel at opposite ends of the shelter and each including means for engaging such corresponding end wall panel for urging it outwardly, the roof centerpiece including means at its outer ends for fixedly engaging the outer end of each ligament for thereby maintaining the erected condition of the structure.

Claim 14

A collapsible structure according to claim 11 and further characterized by the handle being affixed to the inner ends of the ligaments and being moveable by lifting away from the roof centerpiece for pulling the outer ends of the ligaments inwardly, the ligaments each including means for engaging its corresponding end wall panel for urging it inwardly whereby, when the outer ends of the ligaments are disengaged from the outer ends of the roof centerpiece, ligting of the handle causes the end wall panels to be pulled inwardly for collapsing of the structure.