Abstract:
A privacy enclosure system including a positionable seat which transforms into a privacy enclosure. A positionable seat containing a nested positionable privacy curtain support and attached privacy curtain positionably rotates about a support structure where subsequently the positionable privacy curtain support is positionally rotated to an upright position to allow full suspension of an attached privacy curtain therefrom.

Description:
This utility patent application is related to design patent application Ser. No. 29/171,922 filed Dec. 3, 2002, by the same inventor. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is for a privacy enclosure system, and more particularly is for a privacy enclosure system having expandable structure which can be used on a boat, a car or anywhere privacy is required. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     None. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a privacy enclosure system. The privacy enclosure system can be utilized as a privacy enclosure for gaining privacy, such as for, but not limited to, changing clothes or swimming suits on a boat or other recreational vehicle. Also, the privacy enclosure system can be used with a portable toilet unit which can be placed in the lower region of the privacy enclosure. The present invention is provided as a positionable seat which expands and transforms into a privacy structure where the expandable structure and an attached privacy curtain provide for personal privacy. Additionally, certain structural components of the privacy enclosure system can also be utilized for positioning of structures other than for the purposes of privacy, such as table tops, radio and stereo enclosures, food or drink containment or dispensing devices, storage structures, and a host of other devices or structures. 
     The privacy enclosure system includes a positionable seat rotationally secured to a support structure. The positionable seat includes intersecting cavities in which a positionable privacy curtain support and an attached privacy curtain nest or reside when not in use. The positionable seat can be pivoted about pivot mounts located at the upper area of the support structure where such pivoting places the positionable seat at an elevated position to present the positionable privacy curtain support and attached privacy curtain for further deployment by the user. The positionable privacy curtain support is then pivoted about pivot mounts located in the positionable seat to be further positioned to the fully deployed position, whereby the privacy curtain can be fully utilized. Pneumatic damper tubes assist in maintaining the position of the positionable seat and the positionable privacy curtain support in the erected position and in the nested or stowed position. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a privacy enclosure system including a support structure having a base and opposing support panels extending perpendicularly therefrom, a pivot rod extending through the upper region of each of the opposing support panels, a positionable seat pivotally attached to the opposing support panels by the pivot rod, a bottom cavity in the positionable seat formed in part by opposing side panels, a mid-panel and a partial bottom panel, a rear cavity formed in part by a back panel and the opposing side panels, a positionable privacy curtain support which can align in the bottom cavity and rear cavity and which is pivotally attached to the forward and lower region of the opposing side panels, a privacy curtain attached to the positionable privacy curtain support, opposing pneumatic damper tubes pivotally attached between the upper regions of the opposing support structure support panels and the rear of the opposing side panels, opposing pneumatic damper tubes pivotally attached between the lower regions of the opposing side panels and opposing sides of the positionable privacy curtain support, recesses in the rearward edges of the opposing side panels which accommodate opposing pneumatic damper tubes pivotally attached between the upper regions of the opposing support structure support panels and the rear of the opposing side panels, a bottom seat cushion secured to the opposing side panels and a front panel, and a seat back cushion aligned to a seat panel and the rear edge of the bottom seat cushion and between the rearward portions of the side panels. 
     One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a privacy enclosure system suitably disguised as part of and within and about the confines of a seat structure. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a seat which expandably transforms into a privacy enclosure. 
     An additional significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a privacy enclosure system having a positionable seat which is pivotally positioned about the top region of a support structure. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a privacy enclosure system having a positionable seat incorporating a rear cavity and a bottom cavity which mutually intersect. 
     Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a privacy enclosure system including a pivotally positionable privacy curtain support and attached privacy curtain. 
     Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a privacy enclosure system wherein the positionable privacy curtain support and attached privacy curtain are stored in or nest in the rear cavity and a bottom cavity of a positionable seat. 
     A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a privacy enclosure system including a pivotally positionable privacy curtain support and attached privacy curtain which can be rotatably positioned to provide for an erected privacy enclosure. 
     Having thus mentioned certain significant aspects and features of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a privacy enclosure system. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a privacy enclosure system, the present invention, in an extended and deployed position; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of a privacy enclosure system in an extended and deployed position; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the privacy enclosure in use as a seat; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section side view of the privacy enclosure in use as a seat; 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the privacy enclosure system where the positionable seat is rotated to its most upright position; and, 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the privacy enclosure system in the fully extended and deployed position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate isometric and front views of a privacy enclosure system  10 , the present invention, shown being extended and deployed from a stowed and static position, such as for use as a seat as shown in FIG. 3, to be utilized as a privacy enclosure. A positionable seat  12 , in which a positionable privacy curtain support  14  and an attached privacy curtain  16 , represented by dashed lines in FIG. 1, can be housed, is pivotally secured to a support structure  18 . 
     The support structure  18  includes a base  20  having opposing support panels  22  and  24  extending perpendicularly therefrom. The base  20  and opposing side panels  22  and  24  are illustrated as being made as one piece, but these three parts could be made as separate pieces and then suitably joined together. Opposing cover panels  26  and  28 , which can be padded or constructed of soft and flexible material, secure over and about the support panels  22  and  24 . The positionable seat  12  is illustrated in the deployed and inverted position. Locational reference is made to regions of the components forming the positionable seat  12  such as upper, lower, upward, forward or rearward regions or areas of the positionable seat  12  which is inverted for purposes of illustration. Such locational reference and nomenclature refers to and is understood to be the structure orientation as found in the nondeployed or nonextended stowed and static position pictured in FIGS. 3 and 4. The positionable seat  12  includes configured and opposing side panels  30  and  32 , a mid-panel  34  extending between the opposing side panels  30  and  32 , a configured front panel  35  extending substantially between the forward regions of the opposing side panels  30  and  32 , a multi-level bottom panel  33  extending between and along the forward and lower regions of the side panels  30  and  32 , the lower region of the front panel  35  and the lower region of the mid-panel  34 , as well as extending along the lower edge regions of the side panels  30  and  32 , a U-shaped back frame  36  extending substantially between a portion of the rearward regions of the side panels  30  and  32 , a back panel  38  extending between the rearward and upwardly extending regions of the side panels  30  and  32  and a portion of the U-shaped back frame  36 , a partial bottom panel  40  extending between the side panels  30  and  32  and the mid-panel  34 , and a horizontally situated seat panel  41 , visible between the members of the U-shaped partial bottom panel  40 . The positionable seat  12  also includes intersecting bottom and rear cavities  42  and  44 , respectively, where the bottom cavity  42  is formed in part and mostly by a region bounded by the opposing side panels  30  and  32 , the mid-panel  34  and the partial bottom panel  40 , and where the rear cavity  44  is formed in part and mostly by a region bounded by the back panel  38 , the rearward portions of the opposing side panels  30  and  32 , and the U-shaped back frame  36 . The bottom cavity  42  and the rear cavity  44  intersect at approximately a right angle to accommodate the positionable privacy curtain support  14  and the attached privacy curtain  16 , as illustrated in FIG.  5 . The positionable seat  12  also includes pivot pins  46  and  48  extending through the ends of the positionable privacy curtain support  14  and into side panels  30  and  32  for pivotal attachment of the positionable privacy curtain support  14  and attached privacy curtain  16  to the side panels  30  and  32 . 
     Pneumatic tube dampers are incorporated to assist in smooth operation and extended or stowed support of the positionable seat  12  with respect to the support structure  18  and of the positionable privacy curtain support  14  with respect to the positionable seat  12 . Pivot mounts  50  and  52  secure to the inner surfaces of the support panels  22  and  24 , respectively, for pivotal attachment of one end of each of pneumatic tube dampers  54  and  56  to the support structure  18 . The remaining ends of the pneumatic tube dampers  54  and  56  pivotally attach to pivot mounts  58  and  60  which are located in recesses  62  and  64  at the rearward edges of the side panels  30  and  32 . The ends of the pneumatic tube dampers  54  and  56  may be reversed for optional mounting. Optionally, mounting support plates  61  and  63  and opposing backing plates  65  and  67  can be located about the rear edges of the side panels  30  and  32  in or near the recesses  62  and  64  to accommodate mounting of the pivot mounts  58  and  60 . The recesses  62  and  64  accommodate the various extended or contracted positional states of the pneumatic tube dampers  54  and  56 , respectively, when the positionable seat  12  is fully extended, partially extended, or in the stowed position. Pivot mounts  66  and  68  secure to the inner surfaces of the side panels  30  and  32 , respectively, for pivotal attachment of one end of each of pneumatic tube dampers  70  and  72  to the positionable seat  12 . The remaining ends of the pneumatic tube dampers  70  and  72  pivotally attach to pivot mounts  74  and  76  which are located on the inner surface of the positionable privacy curtain support  14 . A pivot rod  77  extends through the upper regions of the support panels  22  and  24  of the support structure  18  and through the back frame  36  of the positionable seat  12  to pivotally attach the positionable seat  12  to the support structure  18 . The positionable seat  12  also includes a bottom seat cushion  78  which extends between the side panels  30  and  32  and mates and secures to the upper surface of the seat panel  41 . The positionable seat  12  also includes a seat back cushion  80  which extends between the side panels  30  and  32  and mates and secures to the back panel  38 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the nondeployed or static state of the privacy enclosure system  10  where the privacy enclosure system  10  is utilized as a seat. The positionable seat  12 , which includes the previously described positionable privacy curtain support  14  and the attached privacy curtain  16 , is held in position with the support structure  18  partly by the pivot rod  77  common to both the positionable seat  12  and the support structure  18 . 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the privacy enclosure system  10  showing the position of the positionable privacy curtain support  14  and the attached privacy curtain  16  where the privacy enclosure system  10  is utilized as a seat. The privacy curtain  16  is shown in dashed lines attached to the positionable privacy curtain support  14  where the positionable privacy curtain support  14  and the attached privacy curtain  16  are stored in the rear cavity  44  and the bottom cavity  42  of the positionable seat  12 . 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the privacy enclosure system  10  where the positionable seat  12  is fully rotated to the most upright position. The positionable privacy curtain support  14  is shown in the stowed position where the positionable privacy curtain support  14  and the attached privacy curtain  16 , shown in dashed lines, are nested and stored in the rear cavity  44  and the bottom cavity  42  of the positionable seat  12 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the privacy enclosure system  10  in the fully extended and deployed position where the positionable seat  12  has been rotatably positioned about the pivot rod  77  to the most upright position and where the positionable privacy curtain support  14  has been rotatably positioned about the pivot pins  46  and  48  (FIG. 2) to the most upright position to allow the privacy curtain  16  to be fully suspended for use from the positionable privacy curtain support  14  by gravitational assistance. 
     MODE OF OPERATION 
     Various figures illustrate the mode of operation of the privacy enclosure system  10 . The privacy enclosure system  10  can be utilized simply as a seat, such as used in, but not limited to, a boat, a recreational vehicle, at a camp, at the beach, or any place where simply seating is desired. The privacy enclosure system  10  can also be used to provide a privacy enclosure for changing clothing, for use of a portable toilet and the like, or for numerous other activities where privacy is desired. Use of the privacy curtain  16  to provide privacy is initiated by a simple transformation of the privacy enclosure system  10  from use as a seat to use as a privacy enclosure. Such erectional transformation is initiated by grasping the positionable seat  12  such as by the edge of the cushion  78  or by grasping beneath the configured front panel  35  shown in FIG.  3  and exerting upward pressure to rotate and establish a new position of the positionable seat  12  about the pivot rod  77  to the upright and overcenter position as shown in FIG.  5 . The pneumatic tube dampers  54  and  56  assist in smooth rotational operation of the positionable seat  12  and serve to stabilize the position of the positionable seat  12  when in the most upright position. The pneumatic tube dampers  54  and  56  also serve to stabilize the motion of the positionable seat  12  when collapsing the privacy enclosure system  10  for utilization as a seat. Transformation for use as a privacy enclosure continues with the manual grasping and positioning of the positionable privacy curtain support  14  and attached privacy curtain  16  about the pivot pins  46  and  48  to the most upright position, such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, to allow full downward deployment, with the assistance of gravity, of the privacy curtain  16 . The pneumatic tube dampers  70  and  72  provide for smooth operational rotation of the positionable privacy curtain support  14  and provide for support of the positionable privacy curtain support  14  and attached privacy curtain  16  in the extended and deployed position. Stowing of the privacy enclosure system  10  is easily accomplished by reversing the erection procedure. It is to be appreciated that the features of the invention may also be incorporated with or without the use of the positionable privacy curtain support  14  and attached privacy curtain  16 . For example and for purposes of illustration, teachings of the invention could be used to provide a seat which could transform to a portable bar, a computer center, a table top, a radio or stereo center, a navigation center, a communication center, an ice box, a baby changing station, and other uses limited only by the imagination. 
     Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 privacy enclosure 
               
               
                   
                 system 
               
               
                 12 
                 positionable seat 
               
               
                 14 
                 positionable 
               
               
                   
                 privacy curtain 
               
               
                   
                 support 
               
               
                 16 
                 privacy curtain 
               
               
                 18 
                 support structure 
               
               
                 20 
                 base 
               
               
                 22 
                 support panel 
               
               
                 24 
                 support panel 
               
               
                 26 
                 cover panel 
               
               
                 28 
                 cover panel 
               
               
                 30 
                 side panel 
               
               
                 32 
                 side panel 
               
               
                 33 
                 bottom panel 
               
               
                 34 
                 mid-panel 
               
               
                 35 
                 front panel 
               
               
                 36 
                 back frame 
               
               
                 38 
                 back panel 
               
               
                 40 
                 partial bottom 
               
               
                   
                 panel 
               
               
                 41 
                 seat panel 
               
               
                 42 
                 bottom cavity 
               
               
                 44 
                 rear cavity 
               
               
                 46 
                 pivot pin 
               
               
                 48 
                 pivot pin 
               
               
                 50 
                 pivot mount 
               
               
                 52 
                 pivot mount 
               
               
                 54 
                 pneumatic tube 
               
               
                   
                 damper 
               
               
                 56 
                 pneumatic tube 
               
               
                   
                 damper 
               
               
                 58 
                 pivot mount 
               
               
                 60 
                 pivot mount 
               
               
                 61 
                 mounting support 
               
               
                   
                 plate 
               
               
                 62 
                 recess 
               
               
                 63 
                 mounting support 
               
               
                   
                 plate 
               
               
                 64 
                 recess 
               
               
                 65 
                 backing plate 
               
               
                 66 
                 pivot mount 
               
               
                 67 
                 backing plate 
               
               
                 68 
                 pivot mount 
               
               
                 70 
                 pneumatic tube 
               
               
                   
                 damper 
               
               
                 72 
                 pneumatic tube 
               
               
                   
                 damper 
               
               
                 74 
                 pivot mount 
               
               
                 76 
                 pivot mount 
               
               
                 77 
                 pivot rod 
               
               
                 78 
                 bottom seat 
               
               
                   
                 cushion 
               
               
                 80 
                 seat back cushion