Abstract:
An exemplary embodiment provides for a device for selectively blocking a view through a door viewer includes a ring mountable over a door viewer wherein the ring encircles the door viewer and a cover rotatably coupled to the ring.

Description:
PRIORITY STATEMENT 
       [0001]    The present application hereby claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/257,815, filed on Nov. 3, 2009, entitled “ViewBlocker,” and is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Door viewers, also referred to as peepholes, are commonplace in hotel room and apartment entry doors. They conveniently allow a person to ascertain who is at the exterior of the entry door without actually unlocking and opening the entry door. The optics of door viewers are designed such that a person at the exterior of the entry door can not see into the apartment or hotel room. However, there have been instances where door viewers have been modified and an interior can be visible is some manner. Due to this deficiency of door viewers, room for improvement exists. 
         [0003]    The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. 
         [0005]    The claimed embodiments provide for a device for selectively blocking a view through a door viewer includes a ring mountable over a door viewer wherein the ring encircles the door viewer and a cover rotatably coupled to the ring. 
         [0006]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an opened viewer blocker, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a closed viewer blocker, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a viewer blocker, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of an opened viewer blocker, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a closed viewer blocker, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the closed viewer blocker of  FIG. 5  taken along line A-A, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of an outer cover, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of an inner ring, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a pin, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The claimed embodiments provide for a door viewer blocker. The door viewer blocker includes an inner ring and an outer cover rotatably coupled at an edge of the inner ring. The inner ring is attached, to a door, over/around a door viewer. When it is desired for the door viewer to be blocked, the outer cover is positioned to be flush with the inner ring. When it is desired for the door viewer to not be blocked, the outer cover is positioned not to be flush with the inner ring. 
         [0018]    Various views of a door viewer blocker  10  are shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . Door viewer blocker  10  includes an inner ring  20  and an outer cover  30 . Outer cover  30  is rotatably coupled to an edge of the inner ring  20  such that the outer cover  30  may cover an inner area  40  of the inner ring  20 .  FIGS. 1 and 4  show the outer cover  30  not covering the inner area  40  and  FIGS. 2-3  and  5 - 6  show the outer cover  30  covering the inner area  40  of the inner ring  10 . In other implementations, the outer cover  30  may be detachably-coupled to the inner ring via a snap-fit, magnets, etc. 
         [0019]    The door viewer blocker  10  is typically placed over a door viewer such that the inner ring  20  surrounds a door viewer. The door viewer blocker  10  may be placed on a door via a variety of methods. For example, a backside  45  of the inner ring  20  may have die cut adhesive  50  attached which has a peel off backing. The backing may be removed and the door viewer blocker is placed over a door viewer. An example of die cut adhesive that may be utilized is VHB (Very High Bond) tape by 3M Corporation. Die cut adhesive may considered to be a more permanent method of attaching a door view blocker  10  to a door. Another example of a permanent method of attaching a door viewer blocker  10  to a door is to utilize screws. In another implementation, a door viewer blocker  10  may be attached to a door via a detachable-mounting means such as velcro. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-9 , in one implementation, the outer cover  30  is rotatably coupled to the inner ring  20  via a pin  60 . Outer cover  30  is fashioned such that a hollow cylindrical portion  70  may be inserted into a hole  80  of inner ring  20 . Hollow cylindrical portion  70  is meant to be inserted through hole  80  via a front side  100  of inner ring  20 . With hollow cylindrical portion  70  inserted into hole  80 , pin  60  is inserted though hole  80  via the back side  45  of inner ring  20 . Hollow cylindrical portion  70  is hollow which allows a shaft  90  of pin  60  to be inserted into hollow cylindrical portion  70 . 
         [0021]    Example materials that may be used to fabricate the inner ring  20 , outer cover  30  and pin  60  are plastics and metals. A typical diameter, a distance between points  110  and  120  of  FIG. 6 , of a base of the inner ring  20  is about 1.75 inches. 
         [0022]    While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.