Privacy screen apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9681763-B2
Application number	US-201615155178-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	Jun 1, 2015
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

A privacy screen apparatus can include an upper member having a first end and a second end, at least one first leg connected to the first end of the upper member, at least one second leg connected to the second end of the upper member, and a bendable body connected to the upper member adjacent to a first edge of the body and adjacent to a second edge of the body to define a pouch or channel below the upper member. Cords, cables, or wiring can be positioned in the pouch or channel. The bendable body may also hang from the upper member to provide a visible barrier to provide privacy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A privacy screen apparatus comprising:
an upper member having a first end and a second end;
at least one first leg connected to the first end of the upper member;
at least one second leg connected to the second end of the upper member;
a bendable body having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the body connected to the upper member adjacent to the first edge of the body and adjacent to the second edge of the body to define a pouch or channel below the upper member;
a plurality of modesty screen connectors attached to the upper member, each of the modesty screen connectors having a first projection extending in a first direction away from a body of the modesty screen connector and a second projection extending in a second direction away from the body of the modesty screen connector, the second direction being opposite the first direction, the modesty screen connectors being attached to the upper member within a lower downwardly facing opening defined in a bottom of the upper member such that the first and second projections of the modesty screen connectors are positioned below the upper member; and
wherein the bendable body has a plurality of holes adjacent the first edge and a plurality of holes adjacent the second edge, the first projections passing through the holes adjacent to the first edge to connect the bendable body to the upper member adjacent the first edge, the second projections passing through the holes adjacent to the second edge to connect the bendable body to the upper member adjacent the second edge.

2. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body has a first outer face of the body extending from the first edge to the second edge and a second inner face of the body extending from the first edge to the second edge, the second inner face defining the pouch or channel.

3. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one cord is positionable in the pouch or channel.

4. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the upper member has at least one outlet.

5. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one outlet is connectable to a wall outlet for receiving electrical current from the wall outlet for providing electricity to electronic equipment connected to the outlet of the upper member.

6. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a bottom end of the first leg is attached to a floor contacting element and a bottom end of the second leg is attached to a floor contacting element.

7. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each floor contacting element is comprised of a glide or a castor.

8. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the bendable body is comprised of foam having a plurality of spaced apart recess regions and a plurality of spaced apart pillow regions, the pillow regions being thicker than the recess regions.

9. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the bendable body has a film or fabric covering attached to an exterior surface of the foam.

10. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the bendable body is U-shaped, C-shaped, or V-shaped when the body is connected to the upper member adjacent the first edge and adjacent the second edge of the bendable body.

11. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a plurality of first ring elements, each of the first ring elements positioned in a respective one of the holes of the bendable body adjacent the first edge to cover a portion of the bendable body defining a periphery of the hole in which the first ring element is positioned to reinforce the bendable body adjacent the hole in which the first ring element is positioned; and
a plurality of second ring elements, each of the second ring elements positioned in a respective one of the holes of the bendable body adjacent the second edge to cover a portion of the bendable body defining a periphery of the hole in which the second ring element is positioned to reinforce the bendable body adjacent the hole in which the second ring element is positioned; and
wherein the modesty screen connectors are attached to the upper member between the first end and the second end of the upper member.

12. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first ring elements are annular shaped bodies having a circular or polygonal shape; and the second ring elements are annular shaped bodies having a circular or polygonal shape.

13. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the upper member is connected to a leg connector, the leg connector attaching the at least one first leg to the first end of the upper member.

14. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second end of the upper member is connected to an inter-upper member connector device to connect the second leg to the second end of the upper member.

15. A privacy screen apparatus comprising:
an upper member having a first end and a second end;
at least one first leg connected to the first end of the upper member;
at least one second leg connected to the second end of the upper member;
a bendable body having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, the body connected to the upper member adjacent to the first edge of the body and adjacent to the second edge of the body to define a pouch or channel below the upper member;
wherein the first end of the upper member is connected to a leg connector, the leg connector attaching the at least one first leg to the first end of the upper member;
wherein the second end of the upper member is connected to an inter-upper member connector device to connect the at least one second leg to the second end of the upper member; and
wherein the upper member is a first upper member, the privacy screen apparatus also comprising a second upper member; and
wherein the inter-upper member connector is positioned in a downward facing opening of the first upper member adjacent the second end of the first upper member and is also within a downward facing opening of the second upper member adjacent a first end of the second upper member to connect the first and second upper members together and to connect the at least one second leg to the first end of the second upper member;
a plurality of modesty screen connectors attached to the upper member within a lower downwardly facing opening defined in a bottom of the first upper member, each of the modesty screen connectors having a first projection extending in a first direction away from a body of the modesty screen connector and through a hole adjacent the first edge of the bendable body and a second projection extending in a second direction away from the body of the modesty screen connector and positioned through a hole adjacent the second edge of the bendable body, the second direction being opposite the first direction;
the modesty screen connectors attached to the first upper member such that the first and second projections of the modesty screen connectors are positioned below the first upper member.

16. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first upper member has at least one outlet, the second upper member has at least one outlet and at least one cord is positionable in the pouch or channel.

17. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the bendable body is comprised of foam having a plurality of spaced apart recess regions and a plurality of spaced apart pillow regions, the pillow regions being thicker than the recess regions.

18. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 17 , wherein t

Assignees

• Knoll Inc

Inventors

• Udagawa Masamichi
• Moeslinger Sigrid
• Pardo Benjamin A

Classifications

• A47B2097/003

  Cable holders; cable organisers · CPC title

• A47G5/00 Primary

  Screens (shutters closing an opening E06B9/02; fly-screens E06B9/52); Draught-deflectors · CPC title

• A47H23/08

  Selection of particular materials · CPC title

• A47H13/02

  by rings, e.g. with additional runners · CPC title

• A47B2200/12

  Vanity or modesty panels · CPC title