Abstract:
The portable expanding barrier, or “sutra,” for Muslim worshippers provides protection for the area immediately in front of a worshipper of the Muslim faith during prayer. The barrier comprises several embodiments, including multiple short telescoping segments, coil springs encased in a flexible sleeve, multiple segments keyed together for locking into extended position by partial rotation, hollow tubular segments connected by an elastic cord extending through the segments, and multiple rigid segments pivotally secured to one another at alternate ends of each segment. The device may be integrated with a prayer rug, and mechanisms may be provided for automatic barrier deployment. A compass may be included.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to articles and devices used in religious practices, and particularly to a portable expanding barrier known as a “sutra” or “sutrah” for use by worshippers of the Muslim faith. The barrier serves to protect a space or span directly in front of the worshipper as he or she faces Mecca (Makkah) and the Kaaba shrine during prayer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The Muslim faith requires that practitioners pray several times a day, and that they face toward the holy shrine (Kaaba) in Mecca (or Makkah) while praying. Muslims customarily use a prayer rug or mat, upon which they position themselves during prayer. It is also a tenet of Muslim religious law that a Muslim at prayer should not have his or her immediate path trespassed by another during prayer. This is taken to mean that another person should not step immediately in front of a Muslim at prayer, e.g., closer than about one yard or one meter and between the person at prayer and Mecca. 
     Accordingly, various means have been developed in the past to signify or to provide notice of this protected area. Such devices are known as “sutras” or “sutrahs.” Historically, Muslims have simply placed a stick or similar article in the ground to designate the protected area. More recently, large wooden stands have been developed to serve this purpose, but they are invariably too large, bulky, and massive to be of practicable use for transport. 
     Various devices have been developed in the past for assisting the Muslim at prayer. An example of such is found in International Patent Publication No. 2009/082,992 published on Jul. 9, 2009 to Enerday GMBH. This reference describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a relatively complex electronic device for indicating the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, or Makkah. The device is securely anchored to the underlying surface for use, by a series of screw anchors. 
     French Patent Publication No. 2,999,402 published on Jun. 20, 2014 to Ayoub Belemlih describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a prayer rug or mat having an integral compass for indicating the direction of Mecca (Makkah) for prayer. The rug is reinforced at points of likely highest wear. 
     Thus, a portable expanding barrier for Muslim worshippers solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The portable expanding barrier or “sutra,” or “sutrah,” for Muslim worshippers is a relatively small and compact device that is easily carried for deployment and use during prayer. The device comprises a base with an extensible barrier or marker that is collapsed or retracted into the base for compact storage when not in use. The base may contain a compass or other directional indicator for the worshipper to align himself or herself in the direction of Mecca, or Makkah, during prayer. The device may include a mechanism for automatically deploying the barrier or sutra when activated by the worshipper, or when the base is placed upon an underlying surface. The device may be a stand-alone unit, or may be incorporated with a prayer rug or mat. 
     Numerous embodiments are described herein. One embodiment comprises a telescoping column of several segments to provide sufficient height when extended and to provide for compact storage when retracted. Another embodiment comprises a coil spring that is wrapped or encased in a sleeve of flexible material (fabric, plastic, etc.). Yet another embodiment comprises a series of interlocking rigid sleeves that may be locked in their extended state by rotating each segment through a partial turn relative to the adjoining segment. A further embodiment comprises a series of tubular sections with an elastic cord extending through all of the sections, to draw the sections into alignment with one another for erection of the barrier or marker. Still another embodiment comprises a series of rigid sections pivotally attached to one another at alternating ends of the segments. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a first embodiment of the portable expanding barrier for Muslim worshippers according to the present invention, illustrating the device in a retracted state. 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental, perspective view of a second embodiment of the portable expanding barrier for Muslim worshippers according to the present invention, showing the device as an integral component with a prayer rug or mat and shown in an extended state. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view in section of a third embodiment of the portable expanding barrier for Muslim worshippers according to the present invention, showing details of the extension and retraction mechanism thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view in section of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  of the portable expanding barrier for Muslim worshippers according to the present invention, showing details of an alternative latching mechanism from that of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed side elevation view in section of a fourth embodiment of the portable expanding barrier for Muslim worshippers according to the present invention, illustrating an alternative spring configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a broken away detailed perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the portable expanding barrier for Muslim worshippers according to the present invention, illustrating an alternative means of locking the barrier in an extended state. 
         FIG. 7  is an environmental, perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the portable expanding barrier for Muslim worshippers according to the present invention, illustrating the device in a partially extended state. 
         FIG. 8  is an environmental, perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the portable expanding barrier for Muslim worshippers according to the present invention, illustrating the device in a partially extended state. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The portable expanding barrier for Muslim worshippers serves as a device for protecting a space or area immediately in front of the Muslim worshipper at prayer as the worshipper faces in the direction of the Kaaba shrine in Mecca (Makkah). Trespass by others directly in front of the Muslim worshipper at prayer is believed to affect the prayer and thus the reward received from the prayer. As such, a barrier, or a “sutra” or “sutrah,” used to prevent such trespass can be used. The sutrah is placed in front of the worshipper to serve as a barrier between the worshipper and those passing in areas in front of the worshipper. 
       FIG. 1  provides an environmental perspective view of a first embodiment of the portable expanding barrier, or barrier,  100 . The barrier  100  includes a relatively low, flat base  102  having an upper surface  104  and an opposite lower surface  106 . A single barrier column  108  (shown in its retracted state in  FIG. 1 ) selectively extends from the upper surface  104  of the base  102 , and is generally normal to the plane of the base  102 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the barrier column  108  comprises a plurality of mutually concentric and telescoping tubular segments or sections, with a largest diameter section attached directly to the base  102  with progressively smaller sections or segments contained therein and telescoping upward therefrom to extend the barrier column  108 . When extended, the barrier column  108  can have a height of about 20 cm to about 25 cm. A compass  110 , or other directional indicator, is installed in the upper surface  104  of the base  102  so as to be visible to the worshipper for proper orientation during prayer. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a second embodiment of the portable expanding barrier, designated as barrier  200 . The low, flat base  202  with its upper surface  204 , lower surface  206 , telescoping barrier column  208  (shown extended in  FIG. 2 ), and compass (or other directional indicator)  210  are identical or equivalent to those components  102  through  110  of the embodiment  100  of  FIG. 1 . However, in the embodiment  200  of  FIG. 2 , the lower surface  206  of the base  202  is permanently attached to the prayer rug or mat  212 , with the prayer rug  212  extending from the base  202 , rather than the barrier being a separate component from the rug as in the case of the barrier  100  embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The attachment means is conventional, e.g., adhesive, mechanical fasteners, etc. This facilitates the carriage of the barrier components  202  through  210 , as they are a permanent component of the barrier and prayer rug assembly  200 . 
       FIG. 3  provides a side elevation view in section of a third embodiment portable expanding barrier  300 . The barrier  300  is similar to the barrier  100  of  FIG. 1 , but incorporates a mechanism for automatically extending the barrier column  308  when the base  302  is placed upon an underlying surface. The low, flat base  302  includes an upper surface  304 , an opposite lower surface  306 , and a telescoping column  308  formed of progressively smaller diameter tubular segments  308   a  through  308   g . (More or fewer segments may be provided.) This is essentially the same configuration as used in the telescoping columns  108  and  208 , respectively of the embodiments  100  and  200  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A compass  310  is provided in the upper surface  304  of the base  302 . 
     The automatic column extension mechanism of the portable expanding barrier  300  includes a compression spring  314  disposed in the base  302 , beneath the telescoping column  308 . A latch member  316  has an end  316   a  that extends over the upper edge of the spring  314  to hold the spring in compression and prevent the extension of the spring  314  and column  308 . The latch member  316  comprises an elongate wire or similar member having a distal end  316   b  connected to a trigger  318  that is recessed in a receptacle  320  open to the lower surface  306  of the base  302 . The trigger  318  pivots about a transverse pivot pin  322 , with the opposite free end of the trigger being urged to protrude below the plane of the lower surface  306  of the base  302  by a spring  324 . 
     When the base  302  is placed upon an underlying surface, the surface pushes the protruding free end of the trigger  318  up into its receptacle  320 . This draws the end  316   b  of the latch member  316  to the left, as viewed in  FIG. 3 , thus also drawing the opposite end  316   a  of the latch member clear of the spring  314  to allow the spring  314  to extend the segments  308   b  ( 308   a  is fixed to the upper surface  304  of the base  302 ) through  308   h  to form the extended barrier column, as shown by the column  208  of the embodiment  200  of  FIG. 2 . The column  308  (and other similar columns of other embodiments) is easily compressed when storage is desired, allowing the end  316   a  of the latch member  316  to extend over the end of the compressed spring  314 . It will be seen that this embodiment, and/or any of the other embodiments, may be combined with the prayer rug  212  of the embodiment  200  of  FIG. 2 , if so desired. A passage may be formed through the prayer rug to allow the trigger  318  to protrude through the prayer rug, thereby allowing the trigger to be depressed when the prayer rug and its portable expanding barrier are placed upon an underlying surface. 
     The portable expanding barrier embodiment  400  of  FIG. 4  is similar to the barrier embodiment  300  of  FIG. 3 , with the exception that the trigger  418  extends from the upper surface  404  of the base  402 , rather than from the lower surface as in the embodiment  300  of  FIG. 3 . The barrier  400  of  FIG. 4  includes a base  402  having an upper surface  404 , opposite lower surface  406 , telescoping column  408  formed of tubular segments  408   a  through  408   g  (more or fewer segments may be provided), and compass  410 . The automatic extension mechanism comprises compression spring  414 , latch member  416  with its two opposed ends  416   a  and  416   b , trigger  418  disposed within a receptacle  420  in the base  402  and pivoting on a pivot pin  422 . The spring  424  urges the free end of the trigger  418  outward from the receptacle  420 . The difference between this embodiment  400  and the previous embodiment  300  of  FIG. 3 , is that the trigger receptacle  420  is open to the upper surface  404  of the base  402 , rather than the lower surface. In the embodiment  400  of  FIG. 4 , the trigger  418  must be actuated by the person using the device, rather than the trigger being actuated by placing the device upon an underlying surface as in the embodiment  300  of  FIG. 3 . Nevertheless, the actuation of the trigger  418  still constitutes automatic extension of the telescoping barrier column  408 , as opposed to the worshipper being required to extend each of the tubular column segments  408   b  through  408   g  manually. 
       FIG. 5  is a broken away detailed elevation view in section of a fifth embodiment of the portable expanding barrier, designated as barrier  500 . Only a portion of the base  502  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , to show the alternative barrier column configuration. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the barrier column  508  comprises a compression spring  514   a  that is encased or enclosed in a flexible (e.g., fabric, plastic, etc.) sleeve  514   b , with the column  508  being seated in a receptacle  520  open to the upper surface  504  of the base  502 . Such spring and sleeve enclosures are known in the field of clothes dryer vents, flexible ducts, and the like, and may be compressed to the extent allowable by the spring, due to the flexibility of the sleeve. The release of the barrier column  508  by withdrawal of the end  516   a  of the latch member  516  allows the spring  514   a  and its sleeve  514   b  to extend, thereby forming the extended barrier column. The latch member  516  may be operated by either of the trigger mechanisms of the embodiments  300  or  400  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a broken away detailed perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the expanding barrier column, designated as column  608 . The column  608  is formed of multiple sections or segments of rigid hollow pipe or tube components, e.g., sections  608   a  and  608   b  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Section or portion  608   b  has an outside diameter equal to or slightly less than the inside diameter of the first section or portion  608   a , in order that section  608   b  can telescope concentrically into the first section  608   a . Each section of tube  608   a  and  608   b  includes a pair of longitudinal internal grooves, respectively  626   a  and  626   b , with the grooves terminating in short semicircumferential segments, respectively  628   a  and  628   b . Each section also has a pair of protruding pins, e.g., the pins  630  of the second tubular section  608   b . The pins  630  of each section, e.g., section  608   b , slide within the mating grooves, e.g., grooves  626   a , of the adjoining tubular section. When the various sections are extended to the maximum permitted by the pins  630  reaching the ends of their respective grooves, the adjoining inner section, e.g., section  608   b , is rotated slightly relative to the adjoining outer section, e.g., section  608   a , to position the pins  630  in the corresponding semicircumferential groove segments  628   a . This locks the segments  608   a ,  608   b  in their fully extended state. It will be seen that the same process may be continued through a series of additional tubular segments (not shown) to provide an extended barrier column  608  of any practicable length as desired. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the portable expandable barrier, designated as barrier  700 . The barrier  700  includes a base  702  having an upper surface  704  and an opposite lower surface  706 , similar to corresponding components of other embodiments. A compass  710  is provided in the upper surface  704  of the base  702 . However, the barrier column  708  of the barrier embodiment  700  differs from the barrier columns of other embodiments, comprising a plurality of hollow tubular segments, e.g., segments  708   a  through  708   g  (more or fewer segments may be provided). Each segment has a smaller diameter lower end  726  that fits closely within the larger diameter upper end  728  of the adjacent tubular segment, e.g., the lower end  726  of the second tubular segment  708   b  fits within the upper end  728  of the next lower adjoining tubular segment  708   a , etc. The smaller diameter lower end  726  of the lowermost tubular segment  708   a  seats within a receptacle in the base  702  when the barrier column  708  is erected. Rather than requiring the user to assemble each of the tubular segments with one another, a continuous tensile member  714  (e.g., bungee cord, tension spring, etc.) is installed through the hollow cores of all of the various tubular segments  708   a  through  708   g . When the various tubular segments  708   a  through  708   g  are aligned coaxially with one another, the tensile member  714  draws the smaller ends  726  of each segment into the larger end  728  of the adjoining segment to lock the segments together, thereby forming the completed and erected barrier column. The column may be broken down for storage by withdrawing the smaller ends of each segment from the larger end of the adjoining segment, and folding the segments generally as shown in  FIG. 7 . A barrier storage receptacle  720  is provided in the base  702  for the storage of the tubular segments  708   a  through  708   g.    
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the portable expandable barrier, designated as barrier  800 . The barrier  800  includes a base  802  having an upper surface  804  and an opposite lower surface  806 , similar to corresponding components of other embodiments. A compass  810  is provided in the upper surface  804  of the base  802 . However, the barrier column  808  of the barrier embodiment  800  differs from the barrier columns of other embodiments, comprising a plurality of rigid flat segments, e.g., segments  808   a  through  808   f  (more or fewer segments may be provided). Each segment has a first end  826 , i.e., the lower end of the segment when the barrier column  808  is erected, and an opposite second end  828  that comprises the upper end of the segment when the column  808  is erected. Each first or lower end  826  is secured to a second or upper end  828  of an adjoining segment by a pivot  830 , with the exception of the lower end of the first segment  808   a , which is pivotally secured within the barrier storage receptacle  820 . The various segments  808   a  through  808   f  fold parallel to one another for storage, in the manner of a folding yardstick or the like. The joints formed by the adjoining ends  826 ,  828  and their pivots  830  preferably include sufficient friction, or a decent, etc., for the segments  808   a  through  808   f  to remain aligned with one another in an orientation substantially normal to the plane of the base  802  when the barrier column  808  is erected. The frictional resistance between adjoining segments may be overcome for folding the segments together for storage within the storage receptacle  820  provided in the base  802 . 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.