COLLAPSIBLE PRIVACY SYSTEM

A privacy system is provided. The privacy system may include a central support member, a privacy fabric and a privacy door. The privacy fabric may surround and attach to the central support member. The central support member and the privacy fabric may each comprise an opening. The openings may align forming an entrance to the privacy system. A user may step inside the privacy system through the entrance. Therein, the user may releasably attach the privacy door to the privacy fabric, thereby ensuring privacy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable privacy systems and, more particularly, to a collapsible system that affords users privacy in public areas.

Taking children to public areas, such as beaches, pools, parks and the like may call for situations where privacy is essential yet not afforded by the public area. Currently, there are only makeshift solutions for obtaining the on-the-spot privacy needed in such situation, for example, holding up towels around someone changing their clothes. The alternative is traveling to the nearest sanitary restroom or to one's vehicle.

As can be seen, there is a need for a portable privacy system that immediately affords users privacy in public areas, wherever they are, and that is also convenient to transport and store when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention,

In another aspect of the present invention,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a privacy system. The privacy system may include a central support member, a privacy fabric and a privacy door. The privacy fabric may surround and attach to the central support member. The central support member and the privacy fabric may each comprise an opening. The openings may align forming an entrance to the privacy system. A user may vertically orient the privacy system and then step inside the privacy system through the entrance. Therein, the user may releasably attach the privacy door to the privacy fabric, thereby ensuring privacy.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention may include a privacy system100. The privacy system100may include a top end ring2, a bottom end ring4, a central support member10, a privacy fabric20, a privacy door30, a bottom mesh40and a hook-clip50.

The top end ring2and the bottom end ring4may be a circular or a semi-circular rings made of a material which can be repeatedly bent and straightened out without fracturing. The top end ring2and the bottom end ring4may form openings of sufficient size to circumscribe a user. The top end ring2and the bottom end ring4may have a substantially identical radius and be disposed in parallel planes along a shared axis. The central support member10generally achieves a helically coil shape as it traverses from the bottom the top end ring2and the bottom end ring4.

The central support member10may include at least one elastic spring16interconnecting the top end ring2and the bottom end ring4. The central support member10may be helically coiled in shape with the top end ring2and the bottom end ring4biased in spaced apart relation by at least one elastic spring16. The at least one elastic spring16may be made of a springy material capable of allowing the central support member10to maintain its coiled shape. The at least one elastic spring16may be helically coiled in shape that revolves about the shared axis. The at least one elastic spring16may connect to top end ring2and the bottom end ring4so that the central support member10may contract or collapse, as seen inFIG. 3. The at least one elastic spring16may not revolve about the shared axis by more than three-quarters revolution so that the central support member10may form a support opening27.

In certain embodiments, the central support member10may further include at least one rib12disposed in parallel planes about the shared axis. The at least one rib12may have two planar sides18. The at least one rib12may be of circular or semi-circular shape having an substantially identical radius as the top end ring2and the bottom end ring4. The at least one rib12may be made of a material which can be repeatedly bent and retain its original shape without fracturing. In such embodiments, the at least one elastic spring16biases the top end ring2to the at least one rib12biased in spaced apart relation. The at least one elastic spring16interconnects the bottom end ring4to the at least one rib12. The at least one elastic spring16connections to the two planar sides18may be configured so that the central support member10may contract or collapse, as seen inFIG. 3.

The privacy fabric20may include a sheet having an interior surface22and an outer surface28. The privacy fabric20may be made of opaque, collapsible material, such as nylon and the like. The privacy fabric may surround the central support member10to define a privacy space. In certain embodiments, the central support member10may attach to the interior surface22at predetermined locations.

In an alternate embodiment, the privacy fabric20may be two sheets of material sewn together forming a sleeve. In such embodiment, the central support member10may pass through the center of the two-sheet privacy fabric20sleeve.

The privacy fabric20may include an opening29. The support opening27and the privacy fabric opening29may align forming an entrance25to the privacy system100. In certain embodiments, the privacy fabric20may have a slit. The slit may run from near the top end ring2and the bottom end ring4. The slit may be disposed near the support opening27so as to facilitate access tot eh privacy space.

The privacy door30may be releasably attached to the interior surface22and/or the outer surface28along the entrance25by door fasteners24. The door fasteners24may be any fastener known in the art for fastening or removably securing one object to another including, for example, standard push-button snaps, Velcro-type fasteners, adhesive substances, combinations thereof, and the like.

The bottom mesh40may be made of material with an open weave, netting type structure and the like sufficient to allow sand and dirt to pass through the mesh openings. The bottom mesh40may be attached to the bottom end ring4.

The hook-clip50may include a clamp52, a handle54and a hook56. The clamp52may releasably attach to the top end ring2. The handle54may pivotally connected to the clamp52. The hook56may be of sufficient size and strength to hang desired items from.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The privacy system100disclosed above may be provided. A user may vertically orient the privacy system100and step inside the privacy system100through the entrance25. Therein, the user may releasably attach the door fasteners24to secure the privacy door30over the entrance25. The user may then hang a plurality of items57on the hook56. After exiting the privacy system100, the user may allow sand, dirt, debris and the like to be directed out of the privacy system100by way of the bottom mesh40. Then the user may collapse the privacy system100to store in a carrying case26.

In certain embodiments, the entrance25may be accessed by another individual to assist the user in the privacy system100.