COLLAPSIBLE PRIVACY SCREEN

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE SUBJECT DISCLOSURE

The present subject disclosure relates to privacy shelters and, more particularly, to a collapsible privacy screen.

From time to time a person needs privacy when out in public. Many of those times, the person will not be able to locate and access a private area, such as a public bathroom or changing room, in the limited time they may have.

As can be seen, there is a need for a privacy screen that fully conceals a person in public, and then can collapse into a handheld carrying case.

SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT DISCLOSURE

In one aspect of the present subject disclosure, a device may include the following: a cylindrical privacy screen extending from a first end to an opposing second end; a multi-fold loop (e.g., two, three or more) movable between a biased expanded condition and a stacked collapsed condition, wherein an expanded diameter of the loop in the expanded condition is several times that of a collapsed diameter of the loop in the collapsed condition; and the multi-fold loop engaging the first end, wherein a remainder of the cylindrical privacy screen is unengaged so that it drapes from the first end engaging the multi-fold loop in the expanded condition.

In another aspect of the present subject disclosure a privacy screen device includes the following: a flexible loop foldable between a loop state and a stacked state comprising multiple smaller substantially concentric rings; a cover portion covering an interior area of the flexible loop; a head ring positioned within the cover portion and sharing a center point with the flexible loop in the loop state; and a screen having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the flexible loop so that in the loop state the second end drapes at least three feet from the flexible loop so that the screen forms a hollow cylindrical body.

In yet another aspect of the present subject disclosure the privacy screen device includes the following: a flexible loop foldable between a loop state and a stacked state comprising multiple smaller substantially concentric rings, wherein the flexible loop is biased to and unstressed in the loop state and compressed and stressed in the stacked state, wherein the loop state has a circumference sized to encircle a human user, and wherein the loop state has a loop diameter that is approximately three times a stacked diameter of the stacked state; a first cover portion covering an interior area of the flexible loop; a second cover portion spaced apart from the cover portion and occupying an entirety of the interior area of the flexible loop; a head ring positioned within the cover portion and sharing a center point with the flexible loop in the loop state; a screen having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the flexible loop so that in the loop state the second end drapes at least three feet from the flexible loop so that the screen forms a hollow cylindrical body, and wherein the screen is movable between an unveiled position and a veiled position forming the hollow cylindrical body, wherein the second end loosely hangs in the veiled position; a band positioned within the head ring, the band extending from one edge of the head ring to another edge of the loop, wherein the band is loosely hanging within the head ring; and a carrying case having a circumference just larger than the multiple smaller concentric rings, whereby the stacked state can be housed in the carrying case.

In still yet another aspect of the present subject disclosure the privacy screen device includes wherein the screen comprises a first edge and a second edge, wherein said edges extend from the second end to adjacent to the first end, and wherein said edges are adjacent to each other in the veiled position; further including fasteners positioned from the first end to the second end of the screen so that the first and second edges can be directly connected; and a handle positioned along an arc of the flexible loop; a gap in the cover portion positioned along the handle in the flexible loop; and finger grooves in the handle and within the gap in the cover portion. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present subject disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present subject disclosure, showing a user 50 wearing, hat-like, the foldable loop 10 in a biased expanded condition, wherein a screen 20 is in an unveiled position.

FIG. 1B is the front elevation view of FIG. 1A, but with the screen 20 in a veiled position, illustrating the collapsible privacy screen 100 in use.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present subject disclosure, showing the foldable loop 10 in a deployed condition.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a head ring 40 of an exemplary embodiment of the present subject disclosure, wherein the head ring 40 defines an opening for receiving the head of the user 50.

FIG. 4 is a series of views of a three-fold loop of an exemplary embodiment of the present subject disclosure, showing the foldable loop 10 moving between an unfolded expanded position defining a loop state 11 in which it is biased, a semi-expanded intermediate position defining a lemniscate (figure-eight) state 12, and a collapsed position defining a stacked Bowditch state 13.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present subject disclosure, showing the collapsible privacy screen 100 in a collapsed condition.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present subject disclosure, shown the collapsible privacy screen 100 in a semi-expanded, intermediate condition.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present subject disclosure, showing the foldable loop 10 in the loop state 11, the collapsible privacy screen 100 in an expanded condition, and the screen 20 in an unfurled position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present subject disclosure, showing the collapsible privacy screen 100 in a fully expanded condition and the screen 20 in the unfurled position, wherein a user adorning the device 100 is afforded privacy, even in public in broad daylight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT DISCLOSURE

The following detailed description is one of the currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the subject disclosure, since the scope of the subject disclosure is best defined by the appended claims.

As shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of the present subject disclosure provides a collapsible privacy screen 100. The collapsible privacy screen 100 provides a foldable loop 10 that acts as a frame for one end of a screen 20, wherein screen 20 attaches to and drapes from the foldable loop 10 to substantially or completely encircle and conceal the user 50.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cover portion 30 radially extends inward from the foldable loop 10 to a head ring 40, wherein the foldable loop 10 and the head ring 40 may be substantially concentric. As a result, the cover portion 30 extends from or adjacent to an inner circumference of the foldable loop 10. The head ring 40 is dimensioned and shaped to crown a human wearer so that the foldable loop 10 may be supported on the head of the user 50 as illustrated in FIG. 1A. The cover portion 30 may include two layers, a first layer 31 that interconnects the foldable loop 10 to the head ring 40, and a second layer 32 that spans across the entire foldable loop 10 and disposed above the first layer 31 when the collapsible privacy screen 100 worn, thereby shielding the wearer's head from view as well as from precipitation as the second layer 32 closes off the privacy space.

Extending between opposing ends of the head ring 40 may be support element 44, such as a band, which may be dimensioned and adapted to engage the head of the user 50, further supporting the collapsible privacy screen 100 thereon. The support element 44 may be a piece of fabric, plastic, rubber, or combinations thereof, that acts to extend across a crown or top of the head of the user 50, or can act as a chin strap, thereby supporting the structure of the privacy screen. A further hook or external loop may be positioned on the opposing side of the support element 44 to enable the collapsible privacy screen 100 to hang from an external hook, like a hanging shower curtain.

In some exemplary embodiments, a handle 80 may be provided along an arc portion of the foldable loop 10. The handle 80 may have finger grooves 82 positioned within a gap 84, as the handle 80 is “built out” from said portion of the foldable loop 10. The foldable loop 10 may be made of a metallic or plasticized material enabling the biasing toward the circular or loop state 11.

When the head ring 40 is placed on the head of the user 50, the expandable loop 10 may be balanced atop the user's body, as shown in FIG. 1A. The device 100 is easily balanced on the head of the user similar to a Mexican sombrero and further engaging the band 44 with the crown or chin of the user's head. In this position, the second material 20 may be bundled or bunched up around the foldable loop 10, ready to be pulled down for use, such as shown in FIGS. 5 through 8.

Referring to FIG. 4, the foldable loop 10 is an elastic torus biased in a substantially circular or oval loop state 11. The elastic nature of the foldable loop 10 enables the user 50 to twist the foldable loop 10 onto itself into a transitional or intermediate folded lemniscate state, thereby taking on a helical ‘figure-8’ form. From the lemniscate state, the elastic foldable loop 10 may be further twisted so that three (generally) concentric rings collapse into a stacked state 13. As a result of this multiple twisting process, the foldable loop 10 is movable between an expanded diameter (of the circular or oval state 11) and a collapsed diameter (of the stacked state 16). In this stacked state 13, the collapsible privacy screen 100 can be tucked into case 60 for easy storage and transport. See FIG. 5. In the expanded diameter of the loop state 11 the present subject disclosure may be used as a privacy screen. In this disclosure, the elastic foldable loop 10 that moves from the expanded diameter of the loop state 11 to the collapsed diameter of the stacked state 13 as described above is known as the “three-fold loop”.

As shown in FIG. 5, from the stored collapsed position of the stacked state 13, the user 50 need only remove the collapsed privacy screen 100 from case 60 so that the biased nature of the foldable ring 10 will cause it to move to the lemniscate state 12, as shown in FIG. 6, and then to its substantially circular/oval loop state 11, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this state, the user 50 may don the foldable ring 10 much like wearing a hat, whereby the screen 20 material drapes around the wearer 50.

FIG. 8 shows that screen may be a loose, flexible opaque material (including but not limited to fabric) that drapes from the foldable loop 10 when it is worn by the user 50, thereby defining a generally tubular privacy screen that conceals the entirety of the user 50. In some embodiments, fasteners 90, such as snaps, may be provided along an outer circumference of screen 20, so that the present subject disclosure may be used for other purposes. In other embodiments, the fasteners 90 may be used to attach two adjacent edges 21 and 22 of the screen 20, so that the privacy screen has a flexible door. The fasteners 90 may be snaps, magnets or the like to more easily open and close the two adjacent sides of the screen 20, enabling the user to more easily enter and exit the space defined by the screen 20.

The present subject disclosure improves the aesthetics of carving out a private space in public, requiring no fastening or unfastening (no drawstring, eyelet, etc.). The collapsed privacy screen 100 is easily carried, quickly unfolded and placed on the user's head, thereby creating a small room surrounding the user to create a private space for the user to execute private operations, like changing clothes. The material of the screen 20 may be comprised of lightweight fabric sufficient to obfuscate the contents or operations inside to the outside world. It's like a tent or full circle curtain, but with the user's body providing vertical support while keeping their hands free to perform operations. Once the operation is complete, the user can quickly fold it and pack it back into a carrying case 60.

The cover portion 30, in some embodiments, may be two layers attached to a long inner edge of the foldable loop 10 to effectively create a large hat, as the bottom layer 31 provides the head ring 40 about the size of a human head. The top layer 32 is solid but has enough slack, so the bottom sits a few inches below the top of the head. The two layers of the top (hat) could have holes cut to allow for air flow but orientated in a way so direct line of sight into the inner space is difficult. Fabric is attached to the outer edge of the foldable loop 10, thereby providing the privacy screen 20, with a length approximately the height of an average person to create a cylinder of fabric about two feet in diameter. This diameter is just big enough to create a space for the user to perform simple operations like changing clothing. The fabric could be a light-colored nylon, light colored to minimize heat collection if in the sun, and lightweight to be portable. The fabric of the privacy screen 20 may include materials such as mylar to block enhanced viewing devices such as infrared cameras. The outside of the foldable loop 10 might have lights on it to be visible in the dark. There might be simple pockets or hooks inside the cylinder fabric to aid in operations while inside. There might be a loop attached to the top so the device could be hung from a hook.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary. It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure as set forth in the following claims.