US3407549A - Collapsible enclosure for sunning and the like - Google Patents

Description

$- FRIEDBERG s Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Oct. 29, 1968 COLLAPSIBLE ENCLOSURE FOR SUNNING AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 27, 1967 M 8% I 6. 4 k l 22 a w \i 2 l hwl shvr u 3 a Oct. 29, 1968 s. FRIEDBERG COLLA PSIBLE ENCLOSURE FOR SUNNING AND THE LIKE s sheets-sheet :1

Filed Feb. 27, 1967 Ill illllllilltllllillllilail l 5O INVENTOR.

SAMUEL FRIEDBERG M/AM ATTORNEY.

Filed Feb. 27, 1967 S. FRIEDBERG 'COLLAPSIBLE ENCLOSURE FOR SUNNING AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR SAMUEL FRIEDBERG ATTORNEY.

United States Patent "ice 3,407,549 COLLAPSIBLE ENCLOSURE FOR SUNNING AND THE LIKE Samuel Friedberg, Chelsea Towers, Atlantic City, NJ. Filed Feb. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 618,778 7 Claims. (Cl. 52-90) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure herein is especially concerned with a collapsible enclosure for sunning and the like, wherein a lower section is adapted to rest on a ground surface and includes a rear wall, and a pair of side walls hinged to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of the rear wall, and a pair of front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of the respective side walls; and wherein an upper section of similar construction is adapted to be removably secured on and extending upwardly from the lower section.

This invention relates generally to enclosures for sunning, and the like.

In particular, the instant invention provides an enclosure constituted of a plurality of superposed sections detachably secured together to afford a sun-and-wind shield for occupancy by a sunbather, use as a dressing room, or other desired employment.

-It is an important object of the present invention to provide an enclosure of the type described which is adapted to be quickly and easily collapsed so as to occupy a minimum of space in storage, capable of being fabricated in lightweight sections for convenient portability, and which can be readily erected or set up with facility by persons of only average skill and without special training.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible enclosure having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple in construction so as to be capable of economic manufacture and sale at a reasonable price, which provides an effective protection against the elements while affording a high degree of exposure to the sun, as desired, and capable of other utilization such as a dressing room, etc.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure. I

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top front perspective view illustrating an enclosure constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention in its erected condition;

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view showing a section of the enclosure of FIGURES 1-3 in a developed or flat condition;

FIGURES is a plan view showing the top section of the instant enclosure in a fiat or developed condition;

FIGURE 6 is a top front perspective view illustrating a slightly modified enclosure in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, in its erected 3,407,549 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 condition and partly broken away to illustrate the interior construction;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the enclosure of FIG- URE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional elevational view, somewhat enlarged, taken generally along the line 88 of FIG- URE 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-3 thereof, the enclosure of the present invention is there generally designated 10, and includes a plurality of superposed sections 11, 12 and 13 (in the order of their elevation), and a top section 14 over the uppermost section 13.

The sections 11, 12 and 13 may all be substantially identical, except for slight variation in dimension, as will appear more fully hereinafter, and each section may assume the developed configuration shown in FIGURE 4.

It will there be seen that the section 11 includes a plurality of generally rectangular panels arranged in endto-end hingedly connected-together relationship, a medial panel 16 defining the rear wall of lower section 11. The rear panel 16 may be provided on each face thereof, along its longitudinal, lower and upper edges with a pair of elongate securement elements or strips 17, which may be anchored or fixed to the panel at spaced points along the respective strip, say at opposite ends thereof. An additional pair of elongate seourement elements or strips 17a may extend along transverse or vertical edges of each face of rear panel 16, secured to the panel at spaced locations, say opposite ends of the strips 17a. In practice, the panel 16 may advantageously be fabricated of fiberboard, such as corrugated cardboard, and the strips 17 and 17a may be similarly fabricated of suitable cardboard and adhesively secured at spaced locations to the panel faces. In addition, one face of the panel 16 may be coated with a reflective surface layer, say of aluminum foil, or other, for reflecting the suns rays, as will appear presently.

Extending from opposite ends of the medial panel 16 are a pair of substantially identical panels 18, each laterally coextensive with'the medial panel and hingedly connected thereto, as by a fold line 19, or other suitable flexible connection. The panels 18 serve to define respective side walls of the lower sections 11, as will appear presently, and are each provided on opposite faces thereof with a pair of elongate securement elements or strips 20, which are'resiliently deflectable andsecured at spaced locations along respective longitudinal edges of the panels 18. Additional elongate securement elements or strips 20a may extend along lateral or vertical edges of each face of each panel 18, being secured thereto at spaced locations. The panels 18 are also preferably provided on one surface thereof with a light-reflective layer or coating, as of aluminum foil, or the like.

Extending from the distal ends of respective panels 18 are end panels 21, each being laterally coextensive with and hingedly connected to its adjacent panel- 18, as by a fold line 22, or other suitable hinge means. The end panels 21 may be considerably shorter than the medial and intermediate panels 16 and 18, each approximating one-half the length of the medial panel. One face of each end panel 21 is preferably provided with a light-reflective coating, as of aluminum foil, and on opposite faces thereof may be provided a pair of elongate securement elements or strips 23, each adjacent to a respectiveside edge of the panel. The strips 23 are secured at spaced locations, adhesively or otherwise, to the panels 21 and resiliently deflectable away from the latter panels. Also secured to each face of each panel 21, extending along transverse or vertical edges thereof, are a pair of elongate securement elements or strips 24, which strips are secured at spaced locations, say opposite ends thereof to the panels.

In practice, the panels 16, 18 and 21 of section 11 may all be integrally formed of a single sheet of suitable material, such as corrugated board, and the strips 17, and 23 may also be fabricated of corrugated or other suitable fiberboard, and adhesively or otherwise secured to the panels.

In the erected condition of FIGURES l-3,, the panels 16, 18 and 21 of section 11 are all disposed vertically, and the section may rest on a floor, ground or other suitable supporting surface. The medial panel 16 in its vertical disposition defines a lower rear wall, while the panels 18 are swung about their hinged connections 19 to extend forwardly from the panel 16 to define lower side walls. The end panels 21 are swung inward toward each other about their hinged connections 22 to extend from the forward ends of the side walls 18 and define a front wall.

The next upper section 12 may be substantially identical to the lower section 11, including a rectangular panel defining a vertical rear wall 25, a pair of side panels 26 defining vertical side panels hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite sides or ends of the rear Wall, and a pair of generally rectangular panels 27 defining front walls each hingedly connected to the forward end of a side wall 26 and extending laterally inward therefrom. The rear wall is provided on opposite surfaces with a pair of upper and lower, generally horizontally extending securement members or resiliently deflectable strips 28, and a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending resilient securement members or strips 28a. The side walls 26 are each provided on their opposite faces with a pair of upper and lower generally horizontally extending resiliently deflectable securement elements or strips 29, and a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending resilient securement members or strips 29a. Similarly, each front wall 27 is provided on its opposite faces with a pair of upper and lower, generally horizontally extending securement elements or strips 30; and, the front walls 27 may also be provided on opposite faces thereof, along the vertical edges of respective front Walls with additional resiliently defiectable securement strips 31 suitably secured at spaced locations to the front walls.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the section 12 is located at an elevation greater than that of the section 11, with lower edge portions of the panels of section 12 overlapping upper edge portions of corresponding panels of section 11. For this purpose, the longitudinal dimensions of the panels of section 12 are slightly different from the corresponding dimensions of the panels of section 11. In the illustrated embodiment, this telescopic arrangement of adjacent sections 11 and 12 is shown with the panels of section 12 overlapping the inner faces, being on the inner side of, the corresponding panels of the lower section 11. Thus, the longitudinal dimensions of the panels of section 12 are slightly less than the longitudinal dimensions of the panels of section 11. Of course, this relationship could be reversed, if desired.

The upper section 13 may be identical to the lower section 11, arranged at an elevation greater than and having its lower edge portions in overlapping relation with the upper edge portions of the intermediate section 12, in a telescopic relation therewith. In particular, the upper section 13 may include a generally rectangular rear panel 33 defining a rear wall, a pair of generally rectangular panels 34 hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite edges of the rear panel 33 and defining side walls. Hingedly connected to and extending from the forward ends of side walls 34 are a pair of generally rectangular panels 35 defining front walls. The several panels 33, 34 and 35 may all be integrally formed of a single blank, say of corrugated cardboard, hingedly connected together by creases, or other suitable means, and provided on the inner surfaces with a suitable light-reflective coating. In addition, the opposite faces of the rear wall 33 may be provided with a apir of elongate securement strips 36' along their upper and lower edges, and a pair of elongate securement strips 36a along their side edges. The opposite faces of side walls 34 may be similarly provided with a pair of upper and lower securement elements or strips 37 along their upper and lower edges, and a pair of securement strips 37a along their side edges. In addidition, opposite faces of the front walls 35 may be provided along their upper and lower edges with a pair of elongate securement elements or strips 38; and, additional securement elements or strips 39 may be secured on each face of each front wall 35 extending along the side or vertical edges thereof.

As the dimensions of upper section 13 may be identical to that of lower section 11, and therefore slightly greater than that of intermediate section 12, the lower edge portions of the upper section panels 33, 34 and 35 may be disposed on the outer side of and in overlapping engagement with the upper edge portions of corresponding panels 25, 26 and 27 of intermediate section 12.

The cover 14 is shown in a developed plan view in FIG- URE 5 as including a generally rectangular top wall 42, which may be subdivided into front and rear sections 43 and 44, as by a hinged connection 45 between the front and rear sections, which may be defined by a fold line. Hingedly connected along the rear edge of the top wall 42, as by a fold line or crease 46, is a rear panel 47, which may be laterally coextensive with the top wall 42. At opposite sides of the top wall 42, hingedly connected thereto adjacent to the rearward region of the top wall, are a pair of generally trapezoidal panels 47, which serve to define side walls or struts, as will appear presently.

The top- wall sections 43 and 44 may each be provided with one or more securement elements or strips 48 adjacent to the hinged connection 45. Also, the rear panel 47 may be provided with one or more securement elements or elongate strips 49, extending longitudinally of the rear panel. Similarly, the side panels or walls 47 may each be provided with a securement element or resiliently deflectable strip 50, say extending along its oblique edge.

In the assembled condition of FIGURES 1-3, the cover 14 is arranged with the top wall 42 over the open top of the telescopically superposed sections 11, 12 and 13, with the rear panel 47 depending in overlapping relation with the upper edge portion of the upper rear wall 33. The side panels 47 are swung downward to depend in overlapping relation with the upper edge portions of upper side walls 34, with the top wall 42 in a forwardly inclined disposition.

Cooperating with the several securement elements or strips are a plurality of elongate securement elements or rods inserted frictionally beneath adjacent strips of adjacent panels. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 1, one or more elongate rods or bars 52 may be frictionally inserted beneath adjacent strips 20 and 29 to secure walls 18 and 26 in their proper overlapping relationship. The elongate rod or bar members 52 may be of a tapering or wedgeshaped configuration for effective frictional engagement beneath the retaining strips 20 and 29, to prevent their inadvertent removal therefrom.

Similarly, elongate rod or bar members 53 are inserted beneath adjacent resiliently deflectable strips 29 and 37. The bars 52 and 53 may be employed on both the inner and outer sides of the side walls 18, 26 and 34, as desired. The back walls are similarly secured in their hereinbefore described superposed, overlapping relation by bars 54 inserted beneath adjacent strips 17 and 28, and bars 55 inserted beneath adjacent strips 28 and 36. Also, the front walls 21, 27 and 35 may be secured together by bars 56 inserted beneath adjacent strips 23 and 30, and bars 57 inserted beneath adjacent strips 30 and 38. Also, the front walls 21, 27 and 35 may be secured in closed relation, as by one or more bars 58 inserted beneath adjacent strips 24, 31 and 39.

The cover 14 is effectively held in position by elongate bar elements 60 inserted beneath adjacent resiliently defiectable strips 50 and 37, as well as bar elements 61 inserted beneath adjacent strip elements 49 and 36. Of course, the above-described securement bars are selectively removable for convenient partial or full disassembly of the enclosure.

In addition, the top wall 42 is held with its hinged sections 43 and 44 in generally coplanar relation by securernent bars 62 inserted beneath adjacent strips 48; and, the bars 62 may be removed to permit forward declination of the front top-wall section 30, as shown in phantom in FIGURE 1. This latter condition affords additional privacy for use of the enclosure as a dressing room.

In addition to the configuration shown in FIGURES 1-3, the several walls may .be secured in open position by the passage of securement members or bars through vertical securement strips of adjacent panels. For example, the front wall 21 will be held open and coplanar with the side wall 18 by the passage of a securement bar through adjacent strips a and 31. Similarly, the side wall 18 may be held coplanar with the rear wall 16 by passage of a securement member or bar through adjacent securement strips 17a and 20a. By this manner of use, the instant device may serve as a Windbreaker or wall, or may be joined together with an additional device of similar construction to provide a relatively large enclosure. For example, a relatively low and long enclosure may thus be formed for enclosing a park bench, or the like.

It is further understood that one or more of the securement strips may be employed by the use of a clamp or other connection means for securing the erected device to a chair, bench or other structure, say to aid in resistance to high wind.

While the securement means disclosed herein is illustrated as the resiliently flexible strips secured at spaced locations to the panels, and the insertion of bars beneath adjacent strips, it is understood that other securement means may be employed, such as the formation of slots, grooves or the like in the panels for insertion therethrough of the securement bars.

Upon disassembly by removal of the several bar elements, the several sections 11, 12, 13 and 14 may be collapsed to occupy a minimum of space, and are relatively lightweight for convenient portability. Also, the enclosure 10 may assume a wide variety of configurations, say being more or less than the three superposed sections 11, 12 and 13, with or without the cover 14, with the front walls 21, 27 and open or closed, or other configurations, as desired.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGURES 6-8, the enclosure there illustrated is generally designated 110, and includes a plurality of superposed sections 111, 112 and 113 (in the order of their elevation), and a top section 114 over the uppermost section 113. The sections 111, 112 and 113 may all be substantially identical, except for slight variation in dimension, as in the first-described embodiment, and may each be of generally rectangular outline in developed configuration, similar to the first-described embodiment. However, the sections 111, 112 and 113 are illustrated as including seven generally rectangular panels arranged in end-to-end hingedly-connected-together relationship, in contradistinction to thefive panels of FIGURE 4.

In particular, the lower section 111 may include a medial panel 116 defining a rear wall of the lower section, and a pair of side panels 118a hingedly connected to opposite side edges of the rear panel. An additional pair of side panels 118b are connected, respectively, to the forward edges of side panels 118a and each combines with its adjacent latter panel to define a lower-section side wall. Hingedly connected to the forward edge of each sidewall panel 118b is a front-wall panel 121. The next upper section 112 may be of similar outline configuration, but of slightly less dimension for telescopic insertion into the upper end of the lower section 111, while the uppermost section 113 may be identical to the lowermost section 111 for telescopic insertion outward of the intermediate section 112.

The adjacent, overlapping panels of the sections 111, 112 and 113 are connected together by securing means similar to that of the first-described embodiment. That is, each panel, say the side-wall panels 118a and 118b are formed with elongate securing elements or resiliently deflectable strips 120a and 12011, which strips may be formed from the material of the respective panels, as between a pair of parallel spaced cuts or slits formed in the panels. The remaining panels are similarly provided with securement elements or resiliently defiectable strips, for example the front panels 121 each being provided along its upper edge with a strip 123, and along its free edge with a strip 124. Suitable elongate rod or bar members, as at 152a and 1521) may secure side-wall panels 118a and 118b to their adjacent upper side-wall panels of section 112. Additional elongate securement members, rods or bars may be employed in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment of FIGURES 1-5, for example bars 156 being inserted beneath strips 123 and the corresponding strips of adjacent upper frontwall panels of section 112. Also, the front-wall sections 122 may be retained closed by the employment of a elongate securing member or bar 158 extending beneath adjacent vertically disposed securing strips 124.

The intermediate and upper sections 112 and 113 are similarly secured together, and may be held open in the same manner as the first-described embodiment, if desired.

The cover section 114 is generally similar to the cover section 14, but specifically configured for the hexagonal sections. Thus, the cover 114 may include a top wall 142 subdivided into front and rear sections 143 and 144, as by a hinged connection 145. As best seen in FIG- URE 7, the rear section 144 may conform to the hexagonal configuration of adjacent upper section 113.

At opposite sides of the rear top-wall section 144, hingedly connected thereto and depending therefrom may be a pair of generally trapezoidal panels 147 serving to define side walls or struts for supporting the top wall 142.

Illustrated interiorly of the enclosure 110 is a chair 170, and a clamp 171 of any suitable construction may serve to secure the chair to the enclosure, as by securement to one of the elongate bars, or other adjacent location of the enclosure. This connection between a chair 170 and the enclosure 110 permits of fabricating the enclosure of extremely lightweight material, suitable resistance to wind being obtained by the weight of the chair or its occupant.

While the illustrated embodiments show enclosures of rectangular and hexagonal plan configuration, it is, of

course, obvious that other suitable configurations may be employed, if desired.

While the illustrated embodiments show each section separate from the adjacent upper and lower sections, it is appreciated that adjacent upper and lower sections may be connected together, as by suitable hinge means, say fold lines, creases or flexible paper or the like. That is, adjacent panels or walls of adjacent upper and lower sections may be hingedly connected together for relative swinging movement between collapsed and erected conditions, and may be held in their erected conditions by suitable securing means, such as illustrated.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides an enclosure for sunning, and a variety of other employments, which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible enclosure for sunning and the like, comprising a lower section for resting on a nether support and including a generally vertical lower rear wall, a pair of generally vertical lower side walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said lower rear wall, and a pair of generally vertical lower front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective lower side walls for swinging movement toward and away from each other into and out of closed relationship; and an upper section located at a greater elevation than and partly overlapping said lower section and including a generally vertical upper rear wall having its lower portion overlapping the upper portion of said lower rear wall, a pair of generally vertical upper side walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said upper rear wall, said upper side walls each having its lower portion overlapping the upper portion of the adjacent nether lower side wall, and a pair of upper front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective upper side walls for swinging movement toward and away from each other into and out of closing relationship; and releasable securing means detachably securing adjacent lower and upper walls in their overlapping relationship, said section having light-reflective inner surfaces for reflecting the suns rays to an occupant.

2. A collapsible enclosure for sunning and the like, comprising a lower section for resting on a nether support and including a generally vertical lower rear wall, a pair of generally vertical lower side walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said lower rear wall, and a pair of generally vertical lower front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective lower side walls for swinging movement toward and away from each other into and out of closed relationship; and an upper section located at a greater elevation than and partly overlapping said lower section and including a generally vertical upper rear wall having its lower portion overlapping the upper portion of said lower rear Wall, a pair of generally vertical upper side walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said upper rear wall, said upper side walls each having its lower portion overlapping the upper portion of the adjacent nether lower side wall, and a pair of upper front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective upper side walls for swinging movement toward and away from each other into and out of closing relationship; and releasable securing means detachably securing adjacent lower and upper walls in their overlapping relationship, said releasable securing means comprising resiliently defiectable strips carried by said walls, and elongate connectors frictionally inserted beneath adjacent strips of overlapping Walls.

3. A collapsible enclosure for sunnning and the like, comprising a lower section for resting on a nether support and including a generally vertical lower rear wall, a pair of generally vertical lower side walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said lower rear wall, and a pair of generally vertical lower front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective lower side walls for swinging movement toward and away from each other into and out of closed relationship; and an upper section located at a greater elevation than and partly overlapping said lower section and including a generally vertical upper rear wall having its lower portion overlapping the upper portion of said lower rear wall, a pair of generally vertical upper side walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said upper rear wall, said upper side walls each having its lower portion overlapping the upper portion of the adjacent nether lower side wall, and a pair of upper front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective upper side walls for swinging movement toward and away from each other into and out of closing relationship and releasable securing means detachably securing adjacent lower and upper walls in their overlapping relationship, top wall over said upper section, a rear panel depending from the rear edge of said top wall in overlapping relation with the upper portion of said upper rear wall, a pair of side panels depending from opposite sides of said top wall to upper regions of said upper side walls for sustaining the top wall in forwardly inclined relation, and additional releasable securingmeans detachably securing said rear and side panels to adjacent upper-section walls.

4. A collapsible enclosure according to claim 3, said top wall having front and rear sections hingedly connected together for swinging movement of the front topwall section to a forwardly declining position, and further releasable securing means releasably securing said rear and front top-wall sections with the latter inclined forwardly.

5. A collapsible closure for sunning and the like, comprising a lower section for resting on a nether support and including a generally vertical lower rear wall, a pair of generally vertical lower side walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said lower rear wall, and a pair of generally vertical lower front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective lower side walls for swinging movement toward and away from each other into and out of closed relationship; and an upper section located at a greater elevation than and partly overlapping said lower section and including a generally vertical upper rear wall having its lower portion overlapping the upper portion of said lower rear wall, a pair of generally vertical upper side walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said upper rear wall, said upper side walls each having its lower portion overlapping the upper portion of the adjacent nether lower side wall, and a pair of upper front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective upper side walls for swinging movement toward and away from each other into and out of closing relationship; and releasable securing means detachably securing adjacent lower and upper walls in their overlapping relationship, said side walls each comprising a pair of panels in side-by-side relation and hingedly connected together at adjacent edges for relative swinging movement about a vertical axis.

6. A collapsible enclosure for sunning and the like, comprising a lower section for resting on a nether support and including a generally vertical lower rear wall, a pair of generally vertical lower side walls hingedly connected to :and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said lower rear wall, and a pair of generally vertical lower front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective lower side walls for swinging movement toward and away from each other into and out of closed relationship; and an upper section located at a greater elevation than and partly overlapping said lower section and including a generally vertical upper rear wall having its lower portion overlapping the upper portion of said lower rear wall, a pair of generally vertical upper side Walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said upper rear wall, said upper side walls each having its lower portion overlapping the upper portion of the adjacent nether lower side wall, .and a pair of upper front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective upper side walls for swinging movement toward and away from each other into and out of closing relationship; and releasable securing means detachably securing adjacent lower and upper walls in their overlapping relationship, said releasable securing means comprising resiliently deflectable strips formed of the material of said walls by cuts in said walls, and elongate connectors frictionally inserted beneath adjacent strips of overlapping walls.

7. A collapsible enclosure for sunning and the like, comprising a lower section for resting on a nether support and including a generally vertical lower rear wall, :a pair of generally vertical lower side walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from opposite side edges of said lower rear wall, and a pair or" generally vertical lower front walls hingedly connected to the forward ends of respective lower side walls for swinging movement toward and :away from each other into and out of closed relationship; and an upper section located at a greater elevation than said lower section and including a generally vertical upper rear wall extending upwardly from the upper portion of said lower rear Wall, and a pair of generally vertical upper side walls hingedly connected to and extending forwardly from upper side edges of said upper rear wall, said upper side walls each extending upwardly from the upper portion of the adjacent nether and lower side walls; deflectable strips carried by said walls, and elongate connectors frictionally inserted beneath adjacent strips of adjacent walls to maintain the same in proper relationship.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,130,818 3/1915 Herman 4621 X 1,619,101 3/1927 Chase 4621 1,623,641 5/1927 Sixta 46-31 2,465,005 3/ 1949 Bostic 46-3 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 835,421 1938 France.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner.

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