Collapsible structures

1. A collapsible structure adapted to be supported on a surface and comprising:

a pair of side panel frame members, each side panel frame member forming a continuous loop that has a folded and unfolded orientation, with each loop collapsible to the folded position by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings;

a fabric material covering portions of each side panel loop frame member to form a side panel with each side panel frame member when the side panel frame members are in the unfolded orientation, the fabric material also extending from one of the side panel loop frame members to another of the side panel loop frame members;

a further frame structure coupled to the pair of side panel frame members;

a base coupled to each side panel;

wherein when the pair of side panel frame members are in the unfolded orientation, each side panel is supported upright with a lower portion of the side panel oriented to rest on the surface and an upper portion of the side panel supported above the surface to define an interior space partially bordered by the side panel; wherein the pair of side panels are generally parallel to, and spaced apart from, each other; and

wherein each side panel has a respective fabric sleeve permanently secured to the fabric material, with each side panel frame member located inside a respective fabric sleeve.

2. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein the further frame structure is connected to the upper portions of the side panels.

3. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 2 , wherein the further frame structure comprises a further frame member forming a continuous loop that has a folded and unfolded orientation.

4. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein each fabric sleeve has a continuous annular shape.

5. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 1 , wherein each fabric sleeve traverses all sides of its respective side panel.

6. A collapsible structure adapted to be supported on a surface and comprising:

first and second continuous loop frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation, and with each continuous loop frame member collapsible to the folded position by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings; and

a further frame structure connecting the first and second continuous loop frame members in a spaced relation relative to each other and defining an interior space between the first and second continuous loop frame members when the first and second continuous loop members are in the unfolded orientation;

a base coupled to each side panel;

a fabric material and first and second fabric sleeves permanently secured to the fabric material, wherein:

the first continuous loop frame member is located inside the first fabric sleeve and together with the fabric material defines a first panel;

the second continuous loop frame member is located inside the second fabric sleeve and together with the fabric material defines a second panel; and

the first and second panels are substantially parallel to each other.

7. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 6 , wherein:

the further frame structure comprises a third continuous loop frame member.

8. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 6 , wherein each fabric sleeve has a continuous annular shape.

9. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 6 , wherein each fabric sleeve traverses all sides of its respective side panel.

10. A collapsible structure adapted to be supported on a surface and comprising:

fabric material and a plurality of fabric sleeves permanently secured to the fabric material;

a pair of side panels, each side panel having a continuous loop frame member positioned in a respective one of the fabric sleeves, each continuous loop frame member having a folded and unfolded orientation, with each continuous loop frame member collapsible to the folded position by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings, and each side panel having a bottom portion adapted to be supported on the surface and an upper portion adapted to be supported above the surface when the continuous loop frame members are in the unfolded orientation; and

a further frame structure coupling the upper portions of the pair of side panels in a spaced relation to define an interior space partially bordered by each side panel when the continuous loop frame members are in the unfolded orientation;

a base coupled to each side panel;

wherein the pair of side panels are generally parallel to, and spaced apart from, each other.

11. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 10 , wherein the further frame structure comprises a further frame member forming a continuous loop that has a folded and unfolded orientation.

12. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 10 , wherein each fabric sleeve has a continuous annular shape.

13. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 10 , wherein each fabric sleeve traverses all sides of its respective side panel.

14. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 10 , wherein the fabric material extends across each of the parallel side panels and from one of the parallel side panels to the other parallel side panel.

15. A collapsible structure comprising:

a plurality of side panels, each side panel having a continuous loop frame member that has a folded and an unfolded orientation, a fabric material and a fabric sleeve that is permanently secured to the fabric material and which contains the respective continuous loop frame member such that the fabric material defines a generally planar surface when the continuous loop frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with each continuous loop frame member collapsible to the folded position by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric rings; and

a further frame structure coupling the plural side panels together to define an interior space partially bordered by each side panel when the continuous loop frame members are in the unfolded orientation;

a base coupled to each side panel; and

wherein the plurality of side panels comprise at least one pair of side panels that are generally parallel to, and spaced apart from, each other.

16. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 15 , wherein the further frame structure is connected to the upper portions of the side panels.

17. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 15 , wherein the further frame structure comprises a further frame member forming a continuous loop that has a folded and unfolded orientation.

18. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 15 , wherein each fabric sleeve has a continuous annular shape.

19. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 15 , wherein each fabric sleeve traverses all sides of its respective side panel.

20. A collapsible structure as recited in claim 15 , wherein the fabric material extends across each of the parallel side panels and from one of the parallel side panels to the other parallel side panel.