William Grady West

US Patent:

55159001, May 14, 1996

Filed:

May 13, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/242270

Inventors:

William G. West - Powder Springs GA
John T. Kidd - Smyrna GA

International Classification:

A47G 500

US Classification:

160135

Abstract:

An array of panels foldably connected such that the array may be collapsed into a single stack of panels, and a method of manufacturing such an array. The array has at least three rows of panels, where the first and second rows have at least two panels and the third row has at least one panel. The panels in each row are foldably connected so that each row of panels may be collapsed into a single stack of panels. Each row of panels is connected to the row of panels below it so that the individual stacked rows may be further collapsed onto each other to form a single stack of panels. With this folding scheme, the array may have more than two panels in each row and may have more than three rows of panels. The panels define connecting pin channels that, when the panels are unfolded, are co-axially aligned with connecting pin channels of adjacent panels. Connecting pins are inserted into the co-axially aligned connecting pin channels to hold panels in a specific orientation with respect to each other.