Folding item

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of folding an item comprising a structure of arcs that can be folded between an open position for use and a folded position for storage, in which the item has a circular configuration. It is particularly applicable to folding tents, shelters and ball game devices. The invention thus relates, in a first aspect, to a method of folding an item comprising a structure of arcs that can be folded with at least one closed loop, in a folded position in which this loop takes the form of three preferably circular superposed turns. The method consists particularly in forming with the loop an essentially planar figure comprising three loops: a central loop and two side loops, all essentially in the same plane. Each side loop is then folded down onto the central loop to form the three superposed turns.

Description

[0001]This is a 371 national phase application of PCT / FR2009 / 050479 filed 20 Mar. 2009, claiming priority to French Patent Application No. 08 / 51851 filed 21 Mar. 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention concerns the field of items that include a structure of one or several arcs, and that can be folded between an open position for use and a folded position for storage, in which they have a substantially circular configuration. This invention is particularly applicable to folding item such as tents, shelters, or ball game devices.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]These items generally comprise an upper skin, often called roof skin in the case of a tent or shelter. Arc structures occur when this skin is connected with flexible structural elements that assume, in the open position of the item, a circular arc configuration. These structuring elements can be made up of flexible rods with elastic recoil, in particular...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022]Thus, the folding method is easy to carry out, in particular by a single person, due to the step at the end of which the initial loop forms a flat figure with three smaller loops.

[0023]It is thus not necessary to manipulate the three loops intended to form the three final coils all at the same time.

[0024]Keeping the loop in a substantially flat shape at the end of each step (creation of the first substantially flat figure with three loops in the same plane, creation of the second substantially flat figure by superimposing a first side loop on the central loop, and superimposing the second side loop on the assembly formed by the superposition of the first side loop on the central loop, i.e., on the second substantially flat figure), facilitates the implementation of the folding, for example, by keeping the assembly on the ground.

Problems solved by technology

The problem posed by these folding methods is therefore the difficulty of implementing them.

These methods are particularly difficult for a single person to implement.

Indeed, simultaneously manipulating three loops in three dimensions is difficult.

The problem that then arises is that of having a method for folding an item that includes an arc structure, from an open position to a folded position in which the arc structure forms a series of three superimposed coils, that is fast and easy to implement, in particular by a single person.

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