424results about How to "Easy to collapse" patented technology

A collapsible container consists of three parts: a rigid top rim, a flexible center band, and a rigid base. This combination of sections allows the container to easily collapse to about one-third of its original height. The container is also quite stable when expanded and is self-supporting. In various embodiments of the invention, for example, the upper rim may be expandable, the base may include holes or mesh to serve as a colander or strainer, or the base may be configured as a tube to function as a funnel.

A collapsible container includes a base and a plurality of walls moveable between and upright position and a collapsed position. Adjacent walls are connected via a latch protruding laterally from a first wall. The latch includes a first ramped surface that engages the adjacent second wall to deflect the latch in the direction generally parallel to the plane of the first wall as the second wall is moved to the upright position. The latch also includes a second ramped surface that engages the second wall when the second wall is in the upright position. The second wall can be collapsed by manually actuating the latch in a normal manner for latched containers. Additionally, the second wall can be collapsed by knocking down the second wall thereby causing the second wall to engage the second ramped surface on the latch causing deflection of the latch and release of the second wall.

Display device including a unitary, rigid sheet defining a left center panel, a right center panel pivotally connected to the left center panels, a left side panel pivotally connected to the left center panel and a right side panel pivotally connected to the right center panel. Vertically extending separation lines are formed on a rear planar layer without penetrating or cutting a front planar layer so that the panels are able to pivot about vertical axes. Fold lines may be formed opposite the separation lines on the front planar layer to facilitate folding the sheet whereby the fold lines define the vertical axes about which the panels pivot. Folding of the sheet provides a compact configuration which enables the display device to be easily carried.

A solar panel for a spacecraft has a base with a face, and at least one row of solar cells and at least one elongated reflector are mounted on the face of the base. The reflectors and the rows are mounted generally parallel to each other in an alternating fashion. The reflector has first and second reflecting sides when the reflector is in a deployed position. The reflector is mounted so that the first side of the reflector is adjacent to a row of solar cells and reflects radiation incident on the first side onto the adjacent row of solar cells when the reflector is in a deployed position. Preferably, a plurality of rows and a plurality of reflectors are mounted on the face of the base, with at least one of the reflectors being disposed between two adjacent rows of solar cells.

A tent structure includes four posts, four scissor-like linking rod sets, four retractable rod sets and a connector. The four posts are placed on four corners of the tent to form a square structure. Each post comprises a fixture at the top portion with a sleeve thereon at an upper portion and a sliding seat thereon at a lower portion. The sliding seat comprises a supporting rod. The four scissor-like linking rod sets are secured between the posts, respectively. One end of each retractable rod set is inserted through the sleeve of each post and the other end of the retractable rod set is pivoted to the connector, thus when the posts are expanded outwardly, the scissor-like linking rod sets are also expanded to form an arcuate tent.

A surgical suture includes a shaft having a leading end, a trailing end, and an outer surface extending between the leading and trailing ends. The surgical suture includes a plurality of flexible protrusions extending from the shaft, and a lumen extending between the leading and trailing ends of the shaft. The shaft includes a plurality of openings formed in the outer surface thereof that are in communication with the lumen. The shaft includes a first axial opening at the leading end thereof in communication with the lumen and a second axial opening at the trailing end thereof in communication with the lumen. A flowable material may be disposed in the lumen. After the surgical suture is implanted, the flowable material is adapted to pass from the lumen and through the plurality of openings in the outer surface of the shaft for contacting tissue surrounding the suture.

The present disclosure relates to a pre-wetted intermittent catheter apparatus including a collapsible container having a conduit positioned therein as well as a wetting fluid. The conduit has a lubricious coating disposed thereon such that the coating is hydrated upon contact with the wetting fluid in the container, providing a slippery surface for the conduit, which facilitates introduction of the conduit into a user. An introduction member may be incorporated into the distal end of the container and a disposal member may be incorporated into the proximal end, each respectively being positioned in an opening in the container and in communication with the conduit such that fluid flow through the conduit (positioned in the container) is enabled. A bag may be attached to or incorporated into the disposal member to provide a closed system such that the user or assistant is not exposed to potential contaminants. The collapsible container may be rigid or more flexible, but in either case, collapse of the container in use is easily accomplished by the user or assistant during introduction of the conduit into the user. Methods for inserting the catheter into a patient and draining urine from a patient are also disclosed.

A soft storage bin made from flexible material and having a bottom, two first sidewalls, two second sidewalls, and a top opening. A hard full-wall board is embedded in each of the two first sidewalls and at least one set of two hard half-wall boards is embedded in at least one of the second sidewalls. The two half-wall boards are separated from each other by a folding line. A hard bottom board is seated within the interior of the body of the drawer and is supported by the bottom. Each drawer can be collapsed by moving the bottom board away from the bottom to allow the second sidewalls to be folded inward. Preferably, two half-wall boards are embedded in each second sidewall. A full-wall pocket is provided each first sidewall to receive the full-wall board and each second sidewall is provided two half-wall pockets to receive each half-wall board.

A collapsible tabletop lighting apparatus consisting of a box-like structure for photographing 3D subjects in an evenly illuminated environment. The interior of the box-like structure is evenly illuminated by an integrated use of a detachable single fluorescent lighting unit, a single light diffuser panel, and a plurality of reflective interior surfaces. For storage or transporting of the apparatus, the single fluorescent lighting unit easily detaches from the said structure and is stored on the said structures floor while the lid and side panels of the said structure fold inward, on top of each other to form a closed, secured compact box.

A portable utility stand that integrates the equipment required by users such as musicians, artists, and surveyors. These users generally require a lighted work platform, a tool or instrument support, a comfortable adjustable seat, a storage area for equipment such as tools, an adjustable footrest, shelf to temporarily place equipment, a means to support equipment such as, microphones, tuning devices or a telephone. The equipment is mounted to a base platform equipped with mounting receptacles that allow the user to arrange, adjust, and select suitable equipment for a particular application and in a preferred arrangement. The base platform is essentially a single member with receptacles for equipment mounting. A seating bench with storage unit is centrally located with respect to the mounting receptacles. Floor glides are mounted on bottom extreme ends. Disassembly simply requires removing the receptacle mounted equipment.