Privacy screen apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9920520-B2
Application number	US-201615166420-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2016
Priority date	Jun 1, 2015
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A privacy screen apparatus can include a body having a plurality of elongated recesses and between elongated pillow regions. The pillow regions can have a larger width than the recesses. In some embodiments, the body can be configured to bend about the elongated recesses to different configurations. A plurality of stand elements can be connected to the bottom of the body to permit the body to be free standing. In other embodiments, a plurality of connectors can be connected to the body for connecting the body to an article of furniture, such as a tabletop or a desktop.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A privacy screen apparatus comprising:
a first body that is configured to be attached to an article of furniture adjacent to a work surface, the first body having a plurality of spaced apart pillow regions and a plurality of spaced apart recess regions, each recess region spacing apart immediately adjacent pillow regions, the pillow regions having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the recess regions; and
a plurality of connectors, each of the connectors configured to attach the body adjacent to an edge of the work surface, each of the connectors comprising:
an elongated member that is configured to extend linearly from adjacent the edge of the work surface to adjacent a top edge of the first body, an upper end of the elongated member having an opening that is in communication with a slit to receive and retain the top edge of the first body within the opening such that a portion of the first body extends downwardly from the opening and through the slit;

a first rail having a slot, the top edge of the first body being received within the slot such that the first rail extends along a length of the top edge of the first body such that the first rail extends along over 80% of the length of the top edge of the first body; and
wherein the first rail is within the opening of the elongated member.

2. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first body is comprised of an elastomeric material and is formed to have a non-woven appearance.

3. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the first body is comprised of an elastomeric material and is formed to have a non-woven appearance; and
wherein the first body is formed by a plurality of elongated elastomeric fibers being bonded together to provide the non-woven appearance.

4. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the first body is formed by a plurality of elongated elastomeric fibers wherein diameters of the elongated elastomeric fibers are between 0.40 mm and 0.70 mm and the elongated elastomeric fibers are bonded together such that the first body has a density of material of between 0.055 grams/cm 3 and 0.090 grams/cm 3 .

5. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the work surface is a countertop, a desktop, or a tabletop; the elongated member is a portion of a J-shaped member and wherein:
the J-shaped member having a first upper end that is positionable adjacent an outer face of the first body to contact the first body and a second end opposite the first upper end that is positionable within a lower opening of a bracket assembly for attachment to the work surface, the elongated member being the first upper end of the J-shaped member.

6. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongated member is a portion of a J-shaped member.

7. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first body is configurable to multiple different orientations via bending or flexing of the first body along at least some of the recess regions, the pillow regions being stiffer than the recess regions; and
wherein the orientations of the first body comprise at least two of: a generally “U” shaped orientation, or a generally “C” shaped orientation, or a generally “S” shaped orientation, or a generally “O” shaped orientation.

8. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the orientations of the first body comprise all of: a linearly extending orientation, the generally “U” shaped orientation, a generally “V” shaped orientation, the generally “C” shaped orientation, the generally “S” shaped orientation, the generally “O” shaped orientation, and a generally “L” shaped orientation.

9. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the first body is formed by a plurality of elongated elastomeric fibers being bonded together such that the first body has a density of material of between 0.055 grams/cm 3 and 0.090 grams/cm 3 .

10. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first body is formed by the plurality of elongated elastomeric fibers being bonded together such that diameters of the elongated elastomeric fibers are between 0.40 mm and 0.70 mm.

11. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the first body is formed by a plurality of elongated elastomeric fibers being bonded together such that diameters of the elongated elastomeric fibers are between 0.40 mm and 0.70 mm.

12. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the opening of the elongated member releasably retains the first rail.

13. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the first body extends from the first rail through the slit.

14. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a top of the elongated member defines a hook element that is configured such that the first rail is passable through the slit and into the opening defined by the hook element and the slit is defined by the hook element such that the slit is narrowable via resiliency of the hook element after the first rail is passed through the slit and into the opening to hold the first rail within the opening.

15. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the hook element is configured such that the opening and the slit are positioned above the work surface.

16. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 15 , comprising:
a covering that covers the first body; and
wherein the first body is comprised of a foam.

17. The privacy screen apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the covering is comprised of a film that covers an entirety of the first body.

Assignees

• Knoll Inc

Inventors

• Udagawa Masamichi
• Moeslinger Sigrid
• Deliso Joseph A
• Deskevich Adam
• Mckenzie James Harrison

Classifications

• A47G5/00

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

• E04B2002/7483

  Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions · CPC title

• A47B2200/12

  Vanity or modesty panels · CPC title

• A47B97/00

  Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• E04H15/62

  Pegs, stakes or the like · CPC title