Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a portable modesty guard apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable modesty guard for producing a private space in a public, or other, area.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/452,162 filed Mar. 14, 2010, and titled “Portable Modesty Guard.” The full text of this application is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein in its entirety incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a portable modesty guard apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable modesty guard for producing a private space in a public, or other, area. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The use of public spaces for private matters, such as for example, changing clothes in a locker room or nursing a baby, is often done with apprehension or reluctance. As a result, use of public facilities is either avoided completely or some alternative approach is used to obtain privacy and personal dignity. Although some public spaces by design have some elements of privacy built in via public restroom stalls, changing rooms, and shower stalls, these elements are often lacking in quantity, transferability, and accessibility. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, the portable modesty guard comprises a casing (or storage container), a top extendable support member, a bottom extendable support member, and a shield (or screen) positioned between the top and bottom extendable support members and secured thereto. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment the first and second extendable support members of the portable modesty guard are collapsible. 
         [0006]    The portable modesty guard was invented to create privacy and dignity during the use of public spaces. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The various embodiments of the present invention can be understood by the following drawings and figures. The components are not necessarily to scale. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the portable modesty guard in a closed position, according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portable modesty guard in an open position, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the portable modesty guard in an open position and wherein the first extendable support member and second extendable support member are extended along a single plane, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the portable modesty guard in an open position and the first extendable support member and second extendable support member are extended and disposed in two planes, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the end portion of the casing of the portable modesty guard mounted to a surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is schematic view of the end portion of the casing of the portable modesty guard mounted to a surface, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention provides various embodiments of a portable modesty guard which allows the user to be shielded from complete open exposure while in public settings. The modesty guard is designed to provide privacy to individuals who are uncomfortable being exposed in public settings. 
         [0015]    Turning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the portable modesty guard of the present invention in a closed position. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the portable modesty guard  10  comprises a casing  14  with a base  12 , an end panel  16 , a top extendable support member  23 , a bottom extendable support member  25 , and a screen or shield  27 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , top extendable support member  23  and bottom extendable support member  25  are attached to end panel  16  via any suitable attachment device  18 . Such suitable attachment devices include, but are not limited to, rivets, bolts, screws, nails, pins, clips, adhesive bonds, metal welds, ultrasonic welds, etc. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, the top and bottom extendable support members  23  and  25  each can independently further comprise at least one joint, hinge or other suitable type of bending or flexing unit or mechanism  29  and  31 , respectively, to permit the portable modesty guard to extend in at least two different directions or planes. 
         [0017]    In still another embodiment, the top and bottom extendable support members  23  and  25  are formed from a plurality of telescoping units that slide inward or outward in overlapping sections. Regarding the plurality telescoping units, single member  28  and  32  are illustrated in  FIG. 2 , with  28  being a top single unit and  32  being a bottom single unit. The plurality of telescoping units that in this embodiment form the top and bottom extendable support members can be any suitable shape. Such suitable shapes include, but are not limited to, round, oval elliptical, square, rectangular, polygonal, etc. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, screen or shield  27  can be attached, secured or otherwise connected to top and bottom extendable support members  23  via any suitable connection device. Such suitable connection devices include, but are not limited to, at least one retention clip  37 , at least one hanger designed to either hang the screen or shield  27  from the top extendable support member  23  or fit into a slot formed in the bottom surface of the top extendable support member  23 . In another embodiment, screen or shield  27  is attached, secured or otherwise connected to top extendable support member  23  by a loop formed in the material from which screen or shield  27  is itself made of (see screen or screen  27  of  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0019]    In any of the embodiments described above, guard  10  further comprises at least one handle  22  on the exterior surface of end panel  16 . 
         [0020]    Turning to  FIGS. 3 and 4 ,  FIG. 3  is a top illustration of portable modesty guard  10  illustrating portable modesty guard  10  in an extended position where the guard extends in a single plane. On the other hand  FIG. 4  illustrates portable modesty guard  10  in an extended position where the guard extends in two different planes. As would be apparent, the present invention is not limited to either of these embodiments. Rather, portable modesty guard  10  could be designed and/or configured to permit screen or shield  10  to be extended in two or more different planes. 
         [0021]    Regarding the individual portions of portable modesty guard  10  described above, each individual portion can independently be made from any suitable material. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, metal, metal alloys, plastic or polymeric materials, paper, etc. Regarding screen or shield  27 , screen or shield  27  can be formed from any suitable material. Such suitable materials include, but are not limited to, paper, plastic sheeting, polymeric materials, fabric, cloth, polymer coated cloth or fabric, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, screen or shield  27  can be corrugated or pre-folded to permit for easy storage. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  illustrates portable modesty guard  10  attached or mounted to a surface  42  via at least one mounting member, for example suction device  40 . Surface  42  can be any desired surface to which portable modesty guard  10  is to be attached. Such surfaces include, but are not limited to, wood, Formica, metal, plastic, tile, wallboard, etc. As would be apparent, more than one suction device  40  can be utilized to “hand” portable modesty guard  10  to surface  42 . Suction device  40  can be selected from any suitable device that permits one object to be attached to another object via a low grade vacuum. Suitable suction devices include, but are not limited to, suction cups, or other suction devices. 
         [0023]    With regard to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  illustrates portable modesty guard  10  attached or mounted to a surface  42  via at least one mounting member  44 . In this embodiment, each mounting member  44  is independently selected from a magnetic strip, a pressure sensitive adhesive, double sided tape, mounting putty, etc. As can be seen in  FIG. 6  with respect to top extendable support member  23 , the internal end of top and bottom extendable support members  23  and  25  can be secured to casing  14  via an attachment device  45 . Suitable attachment devices  45  include, but are not limited to, rivets, bolts, screws, nails, pins, clips, adhesive bonds, metal welds, ultrasonic welds, etc. 
         [0024]    While in accordance with the patent statutes the best mode and certain embodiments of the invention have been set forth, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, but rather by the scope of the attached. As such, other variants within the spirit and scope of this invention are possible and will present themselves to those skilled in the art.