Abstract:
A fan-type foldable device for sub-dividing for privacy purposes, the space occupied by a passenger seated in a moving vehicle or a movie theatre, is described. The fan type device incorporates a means for coupling onto a side of a seat back, thereby maintaining privacy within the sub-divide. Said fan type device folds out of the way when not in use. The fan type foldable device may be used in a seating arrangement wherein rows of seats are divided by the fan type such that each seated passenger is able to enjoy privacy from adjoining passengers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to seating devices for passenger transport vehicles and, more specifically, to apparatus and methods that provide privacy between seats for passengers utilizing transport vehicles such as aircraft, trains, and buses. Fans often in the shape of a long triangle or of a semicircle, for waving lightly in the hand to create a cooling current of air about a person have been used for a long time. A special kind of folding fan known as Chinese fan, or brise fan is used by Chinese, French, and others. It consists of a set of blades or sticks connected by rivets or other fasteners, through which the blades hinge and space apart. The result is that a semi-circle or arc is spanned by the set of blades or sticks and moved for cooling purposes. Alternatively, a screen may be applied on top of the sticks.  
           [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,754, entitled Display Shutter Device for View Protection on a Portable Computer, teaches a display shutter device for view protection on a portable computer. The shutter device is disposed integrally within the bezel of a portable computer. The shutter device can be disposed proximate the two sides of a display within the bezel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,018, entitled Passenger Service Terminal Particularly in Passenger Cabin of an Aircraft, teaches a passenger service terminal, for example in an aircraft, includes comfort and service components such as a reading lamp, a flight attendant call button, a loudspeaker, an air nozzle, an oxygen mask, an oxygen generator, and an optical display element incorporated in a separate support bail or support rod that cooperates with but remains separate from a passenger seat. U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,183, entitled Privacy Shroud for Aircraft Seats, teaches a privacy shroud assembly specifically designed to increase the privacy of an occupant of a chair structure when the chair structure is in a reclined position for extended periods of rest or sleep.  
           [0003]    However, none of the above patents disclose the use of a Chinese fan, or brise fan as a divider. Neither do the above patents teach storing the divider for any type of seat to create privacy for passengers of aircraft, busses, trains, and other similar passenger conveyance means in the extended position.  
           [0004]    As can be seen, there is a need for folding type privacy divide that can maintain some level of privacy for a group of passengers sitting in close proximity. Ease of use and storage of the privacy divide is desirable. Accordingly, the above folding type divide structure fits the purpose. As can be appreciated, a folding type divider has a relatively simple structure as compare with the above cited prior art patents. Further, a folding type divider can be folded and stored at a convenient location occupying a minimum of space. Therefore, it is desirable to have a folding fan-type divider that may be stored at a location occupying less space when not in use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a device for sub-dividing a space, which comprises a plurality of elongated dividing members each having, a first end rotably connected with the rest of the plurality of elongated dividing members by a connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion comprises a relatively non-moving point in relation to other connecting portions of the plurality of elongated first members, thereby forming a collective connecting portion, and a second end capable of moving apart from the plurality of second ends of the other members in a uniform manner, thereby using the length of the elongated dividing member as a radius spanning an area wherein the area forms part of a circle for subdividing a space; and a mounting member coupled to the collective connecting portion disposed to be coupled to a mounting object having at least one stable location for spanning the area for subdivision. In another aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a seat having a device for sub-dividing a space, which comprises a seating portion having a substantially flat surface for seating; a back member coupled to the substantially flat surface, the back member comprises an inner back surface and two side surfaces, each side surface having a breadth that is substantially the thickness of the back member; a sliding member integrally attached to at least one side surface. And a privacy fan-type for sub-dividing a space, which comprises a plurality of elongated dividing members each having, a first end rotably connected with the rest of the plurality of elongated dividing members by a connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion comprises a relatively non-moving point in relation to other connecting portions of the plurality of elongated first members, thereby forming a collective connecting portion, and a second end capable of moving apart from the a plurality of second ends of the other members in a uniformly manner, thereby using the length of the elongated dividing member as a radius spanning an area wherein the area forms part of a circle for subdividing a space; and a mounting member coupled to the collective connecting portion disposed to be coupled to the sliding member having at least one stable location for spanning the area for subdivision.  
           [0006]    In a further aspect of the present invention, a seating arrangement, which comprises at least two rows of seats, each row includes a plurality of seats. Each seat comprises a seating portion having a substantially flat surface for seating; a back member coupled to the substantially flat surface, the back member comprises an inner back surface and two side surfaces, each side surfaces having a breadth that is substantially the thickness of the back member; a sliding member integrally attached to at least one side surface; and a privacy fan-type for sub-dividing a space. The privacy fan-type comprises a plurality of elongated dividing members each having, a first end rotably connected with the rest of the plurality of elongated dividing members by a connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion comprises a relatively non-moving point in relation to other connecting portions of the plurality of elongated first members, thereby forming a collective connecting portion, and a second end capable of moving apart from the a plurality of second ends of the other members in a uniformly manner, thereby using the length of the elongated dividing member as a radius spanning an area wherein the area forms part of a circle for subdividing a space; and a mounting member coupled to the collective connecting portion disposed to be coupled to the sliding having at least one stable location for spanning the area for subdivision.  
           [0007]    In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method for dividing a space between two seats, comprising the steps of providing a fan-type; attach the fan-type to one of the two seats; and opening the fan-type.  
           [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 depicts a schematic view of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a side view of a seat incorporating the present invention shown in a stowed position;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a side view of a seat incorporating the present invention in the deployed position;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a side view of rows of seats illustrating the present invention in use;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention in use on a multiplicity of seats; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention in use on a back side of a seat. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 1, a device  100  is shown for sub-dividing a space and thereby providing privacy between seats for transport vehicles. The transport vehicles contemplated may include airplanes, buses, trains, oceans liners, riverboats, and any other similar type utilizing rows of seats and for which a divide is desirable. The device  100  generally may comprise a set of elongated members  102 . The elongated members  102  may be made of rigid or semi-rigid materials such as metal and various metal alloys, polymers in various form, and composite materials. Each elongated member  102  has an elongated shape comprising a first end  104  and a second end  106 . The first end  104  has a hinging point  108  that connects the whole set of elongated members  102 . In other words, the set of elongated members  102  first ends  104  comprise a connecting portion  110  that connects the whole set of elongated members  102 . The elongated members  102  rotate in relation to each other using the hinging point  108  as a stationary point. The second end  106  is capable of moving apart from the plurality of second ends  106  of the other members in a uniformly manner. The length of the elongated dividing member  102  may be used as a radius spanning an area by spacing the elongated member  102  apart from each other, thus the area forms part of a circle or arc for subdividing a space. The subdivided space may be the space between any rows of seats, or seats of the same row, and is defined as a three dimensional system having a space for subdivision. In other words, device  100  subdivide a three dimensional space between, for example, two seats. The elongated members  102  may be covered by folding materials (not shown) such as some form of fabric made out of silk, man-made fiber, cotton, etc which apply fire retard or any kind of material not easy to catch fire. In other words, folding material covers elongated member  102  for a more consistent subdivision of the three dimensional subspace. Folding materials comprise folding lines (also not shown) in that when the elongate dividing members are not moving apart in relation to each other, the utilized folding material folds at each folding lines such that the folding material forms sub-areas each stacked on top of the other as shown in later Figures. The above structure is very similar in form or structure to a brise fan. The folding material is analogous to the screen of a brise fan. An intermediate piece  112  may be provided for connecting the congregate of first ends  104  of the elongated members  102  defined as a collective connecting portion  110 . The intermediate piece  112  is further connected to a mounting member  114 , which can cause the device to stay in a set of relatively stable points, thus providing a subdivide at various locations. In other words, a subdivide can be provided such that the three dimensional subspace varies with the location of the relatively stable points in that the location of the mounting member determines the location of the subdivide and therefore the location of device  100 .  
         [0017]    A set of linking members  116  may be provided (only one shown) comprising a first element  118  having a first end  120  connected to a first connecting point  122  located on a first elongated member  102  between its first end  104  and second end  106 , and a second element  124  having a second end  126  connected to a second connecting point  128  located on a second elongated member  102  that is adjacent to the first elongated member  102 . In addition, the second point  128  is at a similar location between the first end  104  and second end  106  of the second elongated member  102  in relation to the first elongated member  102 . The linking member  116  further comprises folding section  130  having a hinge element  132  connected to a second end  126  of the first element  118  and the first end  120  of the second element  124 . The linking members  116  are capable of holding all of the elongated members  102  into a stack when the first elements  118  and the second elements  124  are fully folded in that first elements  118  and second elements  124  both may rotate in a clockwise direction about hinge  132  until they overlap each other. First elements  118  and the second elements  124  are fully folded when the inventive device  100  is not in use. When device  100  is in use, linking members  116  are extended to a degree which is limited only by the combined length of the first element  118  and the second element  124  of the linking members  116 . It is contemplated that each adjacent elongated member  102  may have a linking member  116  spanning therebetween. As can be appreciated, the linking members  116  enhance structure stability for device  100  in that elongated members  102  are connected together at points other than hinging point  108 . The device  100  may be opened or put to use by spacing apart the dividing elongated members  102  in a unidirectional direction  138 , or a bidirectional direction. In the unidirectional situation, each of the top and bottom of the stack of dividing elongated members  102  may be kept relatively stationary in relation to other elongated members  102 .  
         [0018]    It should be noted that the number of the set of elongated members  102  may be comprised of more than three, whereas FIG. 1 merely depicts three for the sake of simplicity and ease of demonstration. In practice, a plurality of elongated members  102  may be used.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a seat  200  wherein a fan fold of the present invention may be applied. The seat  200  has an aft support seat  202  for sub-dividing a space. Aft support seat  202  may include similar elements as device  100  of FIG. 1. The seat may further include a seating portion  204  that has a substantially flat surface  206  for a passenger to sit on. A back member  208  is coupled to the substantially flat surface  206 . The back member  208 , which is coupled to the seating portion  204 , comprises an inner back surface  210  and two side surfaces of which only one side back support seat  212  is shown. Each side of back seat support  212  has a depth that is substantially the thickness of the back member  208 . Back member  208  comprises two sides (only one is shown) such as side  207 . A sliding member  214  is integrally attached to at least one side surface of back member  208 . This integral attachment may be achieved through various means including screws, bolts, rivets, or any suitable attaching means. The aft support seat  202  may be a privacy fan-type for sub-dividing a space, which can be first folded, and then slid down to a stowed position that is in alignment with the length of any one of the two side of back seat support  212 . This may be accomplished through a rail that supports the inventive privacy fan type. It is noted that the length of the rail may substantially span the length of any of the two side surfaces, such as side surface  207 . In addition, the rail may extend further on the back surface such as side surface  207 , if called for, to the seating portion  204  and beyond, if there exists enough space for a suitable extension. A mounting member (not shown), such as device  100  of FIG. 1, that may be a part of, or may be an extension to the fan-type, is coupled to the collective connecting portion (as shown in FIG. 1) of the fan-type. It is disposed to be coupled to the sliding member such as the rail that has at least one stable location for spanning the area for subdivision. An embodiment of the above is depicted in FIG. 6.  
         [0020]    It is noted that FIG. 2 shows only one side surface  207 , to which the rail is mounted for stowing the folded fan-type. But in carrying out the present invention, both side surfaces may have the rail mounted thereupon.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 3, numeral  300  denotes an application using an inventive unfolded fan-type  302  mounted on one side of a reclinable seat for which the present invention may be adapted. Fan types  302  may be used for transport vehicle passenger seats, or they may be used for non-transportational seating situations, including movie theatres. The transport vehicles, for which the inventive privacy seat divide may be used, include airplanes, buses, trains, oceans liners, riverboats, and other similar vehicles using rows of seats where a privacy divide is desirable. The fan-type  302  generally comprises a set of elongated members (shown on FIG. 1). The elongated members may be made of rigid or semi-rigid materials such as metal and various metal alloys, polymers in various forms , and composite materials. Each elongated member has an elongated shape and comprises a first end and a second end. The first end has a hinging point that connects the whole set of elongated members. In other words, the set of elongated members&#39; first ends comprise a connecting portion that connects the whole set of elongated members. The elongated members rotate in relation to each other using the hinging point as a relatively non-moving point. The second end is capable of moving apart from the plurality of second ends of the other members in a uniformly manner, thereby using the length of the elongated dividing member as a radius spanning an area wherein the area forms part of a circle for subdividing a space. The space may be the space between any rows of seats or among one of the rows of seats. The elongated members may be covered by folding materials  304  such as some form of fabric made out of silk, man-made fiber, cotton, etc which apply fire retard or any kind of material not easy to catch fire. Folding materials  304  comprise folding lines  306 . When the elongate dividing members are not moving apart in relation to each other, the utilized folding material  304  folds at each folding line  306  such that the folding material  304  forms sub-areas that are limited by adjacent folding lines  306 , and the extent of the folding material. In other words, similar to a folding fan, the folding material may be subdivided along folding lines into various areas when folded. For example, a line segment of line  308  may form one side of the area, and two adjacent folding lines  306  form another two sides of the area. Sub-areas may be each stacked on top of the other along the folding lines  306 . This is very similar in form or structure with a brise fan. The folding material  304  is similar to the screen of a brise fan. The elongated members  102  are analogous to the sticks or blades of the brise fan. An intermediate piece (not shown) may be provided for connecting the congregate of first ends of the elongated members defined as a collective connecting portion. The intermediate piece is further connected to a mounting member (also not shown), which can stay in a set of relatively stable points, thus provide a subdivide at various locations.  
         [0022]    A linking member (not shown) may be provided comprising a first element having a first end connected to a first connecting point located on a first elongated member between its first end and second end, and a second element having a second end connected to a second connecting point located on a second elongated member that is adjacent to the first elongated member. In addition, the second point is at a similar location between the first end and second end of the second elongated member in relation to the first elongated member. The linking member further comprises folding section having a hinge element connected to a second end of the first element and the first end of the second element. The linking members are capable of holding all the elongated members into a stack when the first elements and the second elements are fully folded. This is a state wherein the fan-type  302  is not in use. When fan-type  302  is in use, linking members are extended limited only by the combined length of the first element and the second element. It is contemplated that each adjacent elongated member has a linking member spanning therebetween. As can be appreciated, the linking members enhance structure stability of fan-type  302 . Still referring to FIG. 3, a coupling member  310  that forms an extension of the fan-type  302  acts as an extension or may be an integral part of the fan-type  302 . It can be stable or non-moving at a location among several locations. In other words, fan-type  302  may be adjusted along sliding member  214  such as the rail  312 . Thus, coupling member  310  causes the fan-type  302  to remain stationary at a particular location when the fan-type  302  is open or is in use. The coupling member  310  may be disposed to slide along a rail  312  that spans the length of a side surface of back seat  212 . In other words, the fan-type  302 , via the coupling member  310 , may slide along rail  312  and be stable at various points on the rail  312 .  
         [0023]    A seat  316  wherein a fan fold or privacy seat divider of the present invention may be applied is described. The seat  316  may have the fan-type  302  for sub-dividing a space. The seat  316  may further include a seating portion  318  that has a substantially flat surface  320  for a passenger to sit on. A back support seat  322  is coupled to the substantially flat surface  320 . The back support seat  322 , which is coupled to the seating portion  318 , comprises an inner back surface  324  and two side surfaces of which only one surface  314  is shown. Each side surface of back seat  212  has a width that is substantially the thickness of the back member. A sliding member  328  is integrally attached to at least one side surface. This integral attachment may be achieved through various means including screws, bolts, rivets, or any suitable attaching means. The fan-type  302  may be a privacy foldable fan-type for sub-dividing a space, which can be first folded, and then slide down to a stow position that is in alignment with the length of any one of the two side surfaces  314 . This may be accomplished through the rail  312  that supports the privacy fan type. It is noted that the length of the rail  312  may substantially span the length of any of the two side surfaces. In addition, the rail  312  may extend further, if called for, to the seating portion and beyond, if there exists enough space for suitable extension. In others words, if rail  312  can be accommodated somewhere on the seat, it may extend beyond the side portion of the back of a seat. The mounting member  310  that may be a part of, or may be an extension to the fan-type  302 , is coupled to the collective connecting portion (not shown) of the fan-type, which is disposed to be coupled to the sliding member  328  such as the rail  312  that has at least one stable location for spanning the area for subdivision.  
         [0024]    When the fan-type  302  is folded along folding lines  306 , it forms a semi-solid bundle that can be slid along rail  312  and stowed in a storage position.  
         [0025]    The forward back surface  324  of the seat  300  may be reclinable thereby carrying the fan type  302  along since it is attached to the seat  300 . Since the occupant of the seat  300  follows the forward back surface  324 , the privacy for the seat&#39;s occupant is maintained regardless of position of the seat forward back surface  324 .  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 4, a side view  400  of a plurality of rows of seats implementing the present invention is depicted. A first row  402 , a second row  404  immediately behind the first row  402 , and a third row  406  immediately behind the second row  404  are described. Only the first seat of each row is shown. Fan-types  408  for the first seat on each row are extended for use. In other words, fan-type  408  is deployed in the open position. As can be appreciated, the present invention provides elegance, ease of use, and maintenance of privacy between seats.  
         [0027]    Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a plurality of rows of seats  500  employing the present invention. A first row  502  and a second row  504  are described. An aisle  506  is located between first column  502  and second column  504 . For example, FIG. 5 may depict the portions of the inside of an airplane having a first window side  508  and a second window side  510 . A plurality of privacy divides  512  separate some of the seats. There is no need to have privacy divides  512  at the window sides  508  and  510 . As an alternative embodiment, there may be more than one privacy divide between two seats, i.e. one on each seat. In other words, between two seats, there may exist two privacy divides each under the control of each seat occupant respectively. Therefore, an occupant of one seat has control that is independent of the neighboring seat.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 6, a side view  600  of a fan fold  602  coupled to a seat side rail  604  mounted on a back side  606  of a seat is described. Seat side rail  604  may comprise a plurality of points  608  and  610  for fan fold  602  to move up or down This movement may be achieved through attaching points on the fan fold  602  at different locations to the side rail  604  of the seat. For example, points  612  may slide up or down seat side rail  606  and be stabilized at different points  608  and  610  thereby fixing fan fold onto a fixed position Various lock points may exist by combining the seat side rail  604  with fan fold  602 . For example, stow position lock points  614  may be provided for stowing the fan fold  602  to a fixed position when the fan fold  602  is not in use. Similarly, deploy position lock points  616  may be are provided for locking the fan fold  602  to a fixed position when the fan fold  602  is in use. Distance  618  may be provided which is dependent upon the type of seat.  
         [0029]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to preferred embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.