Abstract:
A utility screen and organizer comprises at least one panel and at least two posts attached at opposite ends of the at least one panel. The utility screen may be provided with one or more accessories attached or removably attachable to a panel or post. The utility screen may be configured to provide privacy, organization, convenience, protection from the elements, and/or advertising space.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to utility screens generally comprised of a plurality of rigid posts and flexible panels secured between the posts. The utility screens of the present disclosure may be used for privacy, weather or sun shielding, advertising or promotional campaigns, organization, and/or storage. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Many people enjoy spending time outdoors as a leisure activity. Whether at the beach, on a lawn, at a picnic, at a camp site, etc., outdoor leisure activities often center around a particular area on a landscape. For example, a picnic in the park may center around a nice patch of grass to lay down a blanket or a day at the beach may center around a spot to put chairs, towels or a cooler. However, nature and crowds do not always cooperate with one&#39;s idea of an ideal outdoor experience. 
         [0003]    For example, at a crowded beach, possible annoyances can include strangers walking by and kicking sand onto your towel or belongings, a football landing too close to your chair from a nearby game, wind driven sand, the sun&#39;s hot rays, etc. As another example, at a picnic in the park, other possible annoyances include animals (wild or pets) coming too close to the food, other people setting up their belongings too close for comfort, etc. 
         [0004]    Of course, outdoor activities also sometimes require keeping pets or small children close to their caretakers or toys or other articles within a confined area. Privacy may also be a concern, for example if one wishes to sunbathe privately in a public park. 
         [0005]    Prior attempts at keeping undesirable elements (natural or people) away from one&#39;s personal area have been suggested, as have attempts at keeping pets or children from wandering away. However, these previous attempts often required lengthy and/or complicated set-up procedures, were bulky and not easy to transport, were not sturdy enough, etc. Thus, there exists a need for an improved utility screen generally adapted for outdoor use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In an aspect of the present disclosure, a utility screen includes at least one panel and at least two posts attached to the panel at opposite ends. According to an embodiment, the utility screen may be provided with one or more accessory attachment members defining a plurality of accessory attachment locations on either the panel or the posts. Accessories attachable to the utility screen can take many forms and are not limited in this way. Accessories attachable to the utility screen may include an accessory attachment complimentary to the accessory attachment member. 
         [0007]    In another aspect of the resent disclosure, a utility screen comprises at least two posts, a panel comprising an attachment at either end thereof for attaching to a post and an accessory configured with a removable attachment for attaching to a top portion of one of the at least two posts. 
         [0008]    In still another aspect of the present disclosure, a utility screen includes at least two posts, at least one panel comprising an attachment at either end thereof for attaching to the at least two posts and at least one accessory attachable to at least one of a post and the at least one panel. In yet another aspect, a utility screen comprises at least two posts and at least one panel comprising an attachment at either end thereof for attaching to the at least two posts. The at least one panel comprises a back portion, a front top portion attached to the back portion and a front bottom portion attached to the back portion, wherein the front top portion and the front bottom portion are positionable with respect to each other so as to define an inner compartment bounded by the back portion, front top portion and front bottom portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The above mentioned and other aspects, features and advantages can be more readily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A and 1B  are front views of utility screens according to different exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a post according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A-4F  illustrate panel to post attachments according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5A-5F  illustrate utility screen configurations according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a utility screen according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a partial front view of a utility screen according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a partial front view of a utility screen according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a partial front view of a utility screen according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are a perspective and rear view, respectively, of a utility screen according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are a front and cross sectional side view, respectively, of a utility screen according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 11C and 11D  are a front and cross sectional side view, respectively, of a utility screen according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a front view of a utility screen according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a front view of a utility screen according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Utility screen apparatuses are described herein, with reference to examples and exemplary embodiments. Specific terminology is employed in describing examples and exemplary embodiments. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner. 
         [0025]    In an aspect of the present disclosure, shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a utility screen includes one or more panels  10  and one or more posts  12  secured, for example, at either end of the panel  10 . Material choices for the panel  10  are not particularly limited and can include, for example, natural or synthetic fabric, open weave screens (for example window screen type material), rigid or semi-rigid materials (such as plastic, wood, rubber, metal, fiberglass, etc.), flexible plastic films (such as vinyl, etc.), etc. According to an embodiment, the panel may be comprised of one or more rope, string, bar or other member generally run parallel to the ground between posts. Some properties of the panel could include a predetermined level of light blocking, stain resistance, water resistance or water proofing, a predetermined resistivity to wind and/or windblown debris (such as sand, leaves, twigs, etc.), an ability to block visibility in some manner (beyond a predetermined distance, from a predetermined direction, by a predetermined amount, etc.), a predetermined mechanical strength, a predetermined weight per unit area, etc. In yet another example, a panel  10  may provide sound blocking or absorption properties to shield a user from unwanted noise. 
         [0026]    The panels  10  may be configured in one or more sizes. The sizes may be uniform throughout, as shown in  FIG. 1A , or may include one or more panels with varying sizes, as shown in  FIG. 1B . In one preferred embodiment, each panel is between 6 to 20 feet in length and between 20 to 36 inches in height. In another preferred embodiment, the panels  10  are at least 6 feet in height and configured to block visibility through the panel  10  for privacy. 
         [0027]    The one or more panels need not be constructed of a single material and may be constructed by using separate parts. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a panel  10  may be constructed of a lower portion  14  and an upper portion  16 . In one example, the lower portion  14  may be made of a lightweight nylon fabric material while the upper portion  16  may be made of a visibly transparent screen material. In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper portion  16  and lower portion  14  are detachably joined by a fastener  18 , shown in  FIG. 2  as a hook and loop type fastener. Of course other fasteners may be readily employed including, for example, zippers, string ties, magnetic and/or snap closures, or any combination thereof. 
         [0028]    The material for the one or more posts  12  of the utility screen may also be a plurality of different materials, or a combination thereof. For example, posts  12  may be constructed of wood (such as, bamboo, hardwood), plastic (such as, nylon, polypropylene), composite (such as, fiberglass, graphite, carbon fiber), metal, etc. Also, a cross sectional profile of the one or more posts  12  is not restricted. For example, a post  12  may have a solid cross section, a hollow cross section, a patterned cross section (such as an H, I, L, C, D, Y, J or any other shaped profile, or any combination thereof). Generally, the posts  12  are configured to be rigid enough to be inserted into the ground and are resilient enough to withstand a predetermined amount of force without breaking or deforming too much. For example, the posts  12  may be constructed of an appropriate material and appropriately sized so that, for example, a wind gust, stray athletic ball, etc. does not damage the one or more posts  12  or utility screen and does not cause the utility screen to fall over. In another example, described below, the posts  12  may withstand additional weight in addition to simply holding a panel  10  in place. Posts  12  need not be a single member. For example, posts  12  may be formed of several members fixable to one another, for example in a telescoping arrangement or in an arrangement with one end of a post member fitting within an end of an adjacent another post member and being dislocatable therefrom. 
         [0029]    A post  12  may be configured not to extend above an upper edge of a panel  10  or may be configured to extend above an upper edge of a panel  10 . For example, a post  12  may be configured to extend a predetermined distance above the ground and above a panel  10  so as to keep an article of clothing, a towel or other article hung thereon from contacting the ground. 
         [0030]    Generally, the posts  12  may be provided with a lower portion and an upper portion. According to an embodiment, the lower portion of a post  12  may be configured for insertion into the ground while the upper portion may be configured for attachment to one or more panels  10 . The lower portion may be configured for easy insertion into the ground. For example, the post may be provided with a sharpened end or a screw end. In the case of a post  12  that includes a lower portion configured to be inserted into the ground, the portion of the post configured to be installed below the surface of the ground may be configured to be long enough or otherwise firmly secured to the ground to resiliently support the utility screen. In one preferred embodiment, the lower portion of a post  12  penetrated the ground to a depth of at least one foot. The post may be configured to be inserted into the ground by hand or with the aid of, for example, a hammer, mallet, or torque applying tool. As an optional additional means for stabilization of the utility panel, a diagonal support rope may be attached to a post  12  or panel  10  and fixed to the ground at a predetermined distance away from the post to add lateral stability to the utility screen. 
         [0031]    As another example, shown in  FIG. 3 , a lower portion of a post  12  may be configured with a base member  20  configured for stably supporting the sake above the ground without necessarily penetrating the ground. For example, a post  12  with a base member  20  may be used on top of a paved or cement surface such as a sidewalk, parking lot, pool deck, etc. In an embodiment, base member  20  may be permanently attached to the post  12  or may be detachable therefrom. 
         [0032]    The attachment between the one or more panels  10  and one or more posts  12  may take many forms.  FIGS. 4A-4F  illustrate several possibilities, although many more are possible. In  FIG. 4A , a panel  10  is configured to wrap around a post  12  and is secured to itself, for example by stitching  22 , to create a pocket for receiving a post  12 . According to an embodiment, a pocket may be closed at the top, as shown in  FIG. 4A  or may be open at the top, as shown in  FIG. 4B . According to another embodiment, a panel may be attached to itself to form the pocket in a permanent way (such as stitching  22 ) or by a removable fastener (such as a hook and loop type fastener  24 , shown in  FIG. 4E ). 
         [0033]      FIG. 4B  shows a panel with a means of attachment to the top of a post  12 . In the example shown in  FIG. 4B , panel  10  includes a tie string  26  configured to be threaded through an eye  28  fixed to the top of post  12  and tied. In this example, the tie string  26  serves to keep the panel from sagging down on a post  12  from its intended position. 
         [0034]    In another example, as shown in  FIG. 4C , panel  10  is attached to post  12  by a plurality of loops  30  passing through a plurality of holes  32  in the post  12  and a plurality of open grommets  34  in the panel  10 . Loops  30  may be permanently or removably attached to the panel  10  and/or the post  12 . 
         [0035]    In yet another example, panel  10  may be attached to the post  12  by a plurality of tie strings  26 , as shown in  FIG. 4D . In  FIG. 4D , an uppermost tie string  26  is passed through a hole  32  in the post  12  and lower tie strings  26  are simply wrapped around post  12 . Of course, any number of the tie strings may be passed through holes  26  in the post or may simply be passed around the post  12 , including the uppermost tie string  26 . In  FIG. 4D , the tie strings  26  are shown being attached to panel  10 , although it will be appreciated that tie strings may not be permanently attached to either the panel  10  or the post  12  or may be attached to the panel  10  or the post  12  in any combination. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4E  shows another example of a panel  10   a,    10   b  configured with one or more tabs  36  wrapped around the post  12 . Also shown in  FIG. 4E , more than one panel  10   a,    10   b  may be attached to a single post  12 . The left panel  10   a  may be configured with tabs  36  removably wrapped around the post  12 , secured with a hook and loop type fastener  24 . According to an embodiment, any removable attachment may be used (such as, a zipper, snaps, magnets, tie strings), or, as in the example of the right panel  10   b,  tabs  36  may be permanently configured, such as by stitching  22  and/or gluing. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4F  shows a panel supported by more than two posts  12 . In the example shown, for example, the panel is attached to a third post  12  by means of a pocket in the panel formed by stitching  22 . Any means of attachment can be used, such as a permanent or removable attachment or any combination thereof for the one or more posts  12 . Any number of additional posts  12  may be attached to a panel  10  to improve stability, add configuration options, add accessory attachment locations, as further discussed below. 
         [0038]    The utility screen of the present disclosure may be adaptively configured according to any situation in which a user chooses to use it. Also, the numbers of panels and posts comprised in a utility screen are not limited. For example, as the number of panels or posts are increased, more configuration options become available.  FIGS. 5A-5F  show top views of several configuration options, although many more are possible. 
         [0039]    In one example, shown in  FIG. 5A , a single panel  10  between a pair of posts  12  is configured to block a user&#39;s location (depicted generally by a chair  38 ) from an annoyance direction  40 , such as a wind direction, a direction of the sun, a direction of noise, etc. 
         [0040]    In another example, shown in  FIG. 5B , multiple panels  10  and posts  12  are configured to enclose an area. In this example, the utility screen may be configured to provide privacy from onlookers, to keep pets or small children within the enclosed area, to keep strangers from wandering into a private event, etc. 
         [0041]    Of course, as illustrated in  FIG. 5C , an area enclosed by the utility screen may be accessed through an entryway, which may or may not be fitted with a gate  42 . A gate  42 , in the context of the present disclosure may simply be considered another type of panel  10 , or an auxiliary panel. Accordingly, the previous descriptions of panels  10  may be applied to a gate  42 . For example, a gate  42  may be comprised of a flexible panel  10  that is configured with removably attachable tabs  36  (such as in the example of panel  10   a  in  FIG. 4E ) on one side  44  configured to be attached to an adjacent post  12   a  and on the other side  46  may be permanently or at least temporarily fixed to another adjacent post  12   b.  In another example, a gate  42  may be a rigid panel  10  hingedly attached to an adjacent post  12   b  and configured to latch closed against another adjacent post  12   a.    
         [0042]    In yet another example, shown in  FIG. 5D , a gate  42  may be positioned between posts  12  on adjacent panels  10   c,    10   d.  In this example, the gate  42  may be sewn to one panel  10   c  and removably attached to the other panel  10   d  (for example, by a zipper, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, etc.). 
         [0043]    In still another example, shown in  FIGS. 1A and 5E , a utility screen may include a plurality of panels which do not necessarily define an enclosed space. 
         [0044]      FIG. 5F  shows yet another example of a possible configuration of one or more utility screens. In the example shown in  FIG. 5F , an area on a beach is partially enclosed by two utility screens to provide some degree of privacy around users&#39; towels  60 . Although shown as two utility screens, of course the configuration shown in  FIG. 5F  could be adapted to employ one to an infinite number of utility screens. In the example shown, a back portion of a utility screen configuration is formed by two panels  10   f  each measuring between approximately  20 ″ and  48 ″ in length and are positioned to face a body of water  62 , such as an ocean, lake or pond. Side portions of the utility screen configuration shown in  FIG. 5F  are formed by three side panels  10   e  each, the side panels  10   e  each measuring between approximately  20 ″ and  36 ″ in length and oriented generally perpendicularly to the back panels  10   f  towards the body of water  62 . 
         [0045]    In another aspect of the present disclosure, a utility screen may include various accessories that may be integrated into the screen. Accessories may be integrated into a panel, into a post or both. For example, accessories may be permanently attached to a post and/or a panel or may be configured with removable attachment means for temporarily attaching to a post or panel (such as, for example, a tie string, zipper, snaps, hook and loop fastener, magnets, etc.). 
         [0046]    In addition, accessories may take many forms. For example, some possible accessories include, but are not limited to, an open or closeable pocket, an insulated pocket, a lockable pocket, a drink holder, a solar charger for converting light to electricity, a chalk board, a white board adapted for use with erasable markers, hooks for hanging items, a battery powered or solar light, etc. As another example, accessories may also serve as safety members. For example, sponge toys or other compliant members may be attached to the top of posts to protect against injury from falling on a post. According to an embodiment, one or more accessories may be attached to the one or more panels and/or one or more posts. 
         [0047]    In one example, shown in  FIG. 6 , a pocket  48  is removably attached to a panel  10 . The pocket  48  shown in  FIG. 6  has a cover flap  50  to protect contents of the pocket  48  from the environment and also to ensure that contents of the pocket  48  do not inadvertently fall out of the pocket  48 . Also, the pocket  48  may be configured to be watertight or at least water resistant. In addition, panel  10  in  FIG. 6  is configured with multiple accessory attachment positions. In the example shown, accessory attachment positions are defined by the location of hook and loop fastener strips  52 . Of course, it will be appreciated that accessory attachment positions may be refined by any other type of removable attachment means such as, for example, snaps, tie strings, magnets, zippers, and/or any combination thereof. With a plurality of accessory attachment locations, a user is able to select between any available accessory to attach to any available accessory attachment location. Accordingly, a utility screen may be adapted according to the desires of a user for use in different situations. For example, a user spending a day at the beach may desire a first set of accessories attached to a utility screen in a first arrangement, while the same user might desire a second set of accessories attached to the utility screen according to a second arrangement for a family picnic in their back yard. 
         [0048]    In another example, a panel may not comprise discrete accessory attachment locations and may instead provide the whole panel  10  or a portion of the panel  10  as an attachment location. For example, a panel  10  may be comprised of a terrycloth material and an accessory may be provided with a hook portion of a hook and loop type fastener. The hook portion on the accessory will readily attach to the terrycloth panel  10  to attach the accessory to the panel  10 . For example, a pocket may be configured with a hook portion of hook and loop fastener material and the pocket may be attached to any location and in any orientation to a panel comprised of terrycloth or the loop portion of hook and loop fastener material. 
         [0049]    In yet another example, an accessory may be configured for attachment to a post  12 , either directly to the post  12  or over the top of a panel&#39;s  10  attachment to a post  12 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a hook  54  is provided with a cap portion  56  configured to receive the top of a post  12 . 
         [0050]    In still another example, shown in  FIG. 8 , a compliant accessory  58  is secured to a top of a post  12  to provide a safety measure to prevent serious injury should one fall on the post  12 . Such a compliant accessory  58  can take many shapes. In the example shown in  FIG. 8 , the compliant accessory  58  is configured as a starfish. 
         [0051]    In another example, an accessory may include a post extender  60 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a hook accessory  54  includes a post extender  60  configured to attach to the top of a post  12  for increasing the distance from the ground for the hook  54 . 
         [0052]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  show another example of an accessory, in the form of a pocket  48 , configured with attachments complimentary to attachments on a panel  10  for removably attaching the pocket accessory  48  to the panel  10 .  FIG. 10A  shows a perspective view of a pocket  48  before attaching to the panel  10  and  FIG. 10B  shows a back view of the pocket  48  (hidden from view by the panel  10  but represented by dashed lines) after attachment to the panel). In the example shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the pocket  48  is fitted with rotatable toggles  64  which have a generally rectangular shape, although any other shape toggle may also be used. The rotatable toggles  64  are configured to fit through slits  66  in the panel  10 . Once through the slits  66  in the panel  10 , rotatable toggles  64  are rotated from an orientation generally matching that of the slits  66  (such as horizontal as shown in the example shown in  FIG. 10A ) to an orientation generally orthogonal to or not matching the orientation of the slits  66  (such as vertical as shown in the example of  FIG. 10B ). Although  FIGS. 10A  an  10 B show four rotatable toggles  64  per pocket  48 , any number of toggles may be used. Also, in contrast with the example shown in  FIG. 6 , the panel  10  shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  is configured to receive a single pocket  48  or other accessory, although in either example, an accessory could be oriented in a number of different orientations wherever it is attached to the panel  10 , such as right side up as shown, upside down, etc. 
         [0053]    In another aspect, a panel  10  may itself form a compartment for storing belongings, toys, food, etc. In one example, shown in  FIG. 11A  and  FIG. 11B , a cross section of the utility screen shown in  FIG. 11A  taken along section BB, a panel consists of a back portion  68 , front top portion  70  and front bottom portion  72 . A zipper  74  closes the front top portion  70  to front bottom portion  72 , defining an inner compartment  76 . 
         [0054]    In another example, shown in  FIG. 11C and 11D , a cross section of the utility screen shown in  FIG. 11C  taken along section DD, a panel consists of a back portion  68 , front top portion  70  and front bottom portion  72 , similar to the example shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B . In this example, however, the interior compartment  76  rests on the ground  78  and the front top portion of the panel  10  is a flap which overlaps the front bottom portion  72  and is secured thereto by a hook and loop fastener  80 . In this example, the contents  82  of inner compartment  76  help to provide stability to the utility screen. In one example, an interior compartment may be made watertight by using waterproof materials for the various portion of the panel  10  and/or by configuring a closure of the compartment  76  to be watertight. 
         [0055]    In another aspect, a panel  10  may be configured with lettering or other graphic artwork, a solid color, may include a pattern or design, or any combination thereof. For example, a panel may be used as advertisement or promotional item for a particular brand, sports team, restaurant, etc. In another example, a panel  10  may be configured with a mural or other aesthetically pleasing artwork. In one particular example, shown in  FIG. 12 , a panel  10  contains an advertisement  84  for a brand of sunscreen. 
         [0056]    In another aspect, a post  12  included with a utility screen may be configured with a function other than just supporting a panel  10 . For example,  FIG. 13  shows a post  12  with an integrally formed umbrella  86 . As another example, an umbrella  86  may be an example of an accessory that may be attached a post  12  or a panel  10 . 
         [0057]    In addition, the embodiments and examples above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced on them without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure.