Patent Publication Number: US-9414697-B2

Title: Privacy screen

Description:
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to privacy screens and, more particularly, to manually movable privacy screens for workplace environments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Privacy screens are known for use as in workplace environments to provide a visual divide between areas in a workplace. However, the present inventor has appreciated that known privacy screens suffer a number of disadvantages including those of being unable to provide for different pleasing appearances when located in different orientations and not having the capability for side by side abutting engagement in manners which advantageously locate the panels in pleasing arrays. The present inventor has also appreciated that known panels suffer the disadvantage of being cumbersome or awkward to move particularly when the panels may comprise more than one panel permanently connected together. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To at least partially overcome these disadvantages of previously known devices, the present invention provides in one aspect a modular privacy panel with a concave front surface and a parallel convex rear surface which panel is adapted to be disposed in side by side abutting relation with identical adjacent panels and provide a resultant combination screen with both faces appearing as a serpentine shape as seen in top view. 
     To overcome other disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention provides a novel wheeled arrangement facilitating manual movement of a privacy screen panel. 
     In one aspect, the present invention provides a modular privacy screen panel comprising: 
     a floor engaging base, 
     a screen supported on the base and extending vertically upwardly from the base, 
     the screen having a front surface extending from a screen bottom proximate the base upwardly to a screen top and spanning between a first screen side and a second screen side, 
     the front surface being a concave curved surface as seen in top view, 
     the screen having a rear surface extending from the screen bottom proximate the base upwardly to the screen top and spanning between the first screen side and the second screen side, 
     the rear surface being a convex curved rear surface parallel to the front surface, 
     the base being elongate and extending along a straight base longitudinal from a first base side edge underneath the first screen side to a second base side edge underneath the second screen side, the first base edge being straight and normal to the base longitudinal, the second base side edge being straight and parallel to the first base side edge. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a privacy screen panel comprising: 
     a floor engaging base, 
     a central screen supported on the base and extending vertically upwardly from the base, 
     the screen having a front surface extending from a screen bottom proximate the base upwardly to a screen top and spanning between a first screen side and a second screen side, 
     the screen having a rear surface extending from the screen bottom proximate the base upwardly to the screen top and spanning between the first screen side and the second screen side, 
     a first wing screen pivotably mounted to the central screen along the first screen side for pivoting about a vertical first axis from a closed position in which the first wing screen overlies the central screen to opened positions in which the first wing screen extends laterally away from the central screen, 
     a second wing screen pivotably mounted to the central screen along the second screen side for pivoting about a vertical second axis from a closed position in which the second wing screen overlies the central screen to opened positions in which the second wing screen extends laterally away from the central screen, 
     the base being elongate and extending along a straight base longitudinal from a first base side edge underneath the first screen side to a second base side edge underneath the second screen side, 
     the base having a front base edge extending from the first base side edge to the second base side edge, 
     the base having a rear base edge extending from the first base side edge to the second base side edge, 
     a wheel member journalled to the base for rotation about an axis parallel the longitudinal, 
     the wheel member carried by the base such that when the base in a supporting rest position engages the floor to support the central screen to extend vertically upwardly therefrom the wheel member is spaced from engagement with the floor, however, when the panel is pivoted relative the floor about the axis to a tilted transport position, the wheel member engages the floor for rolling engagement facilitating manual rolling movement of the panel while maintained in the transport position along the floor in a direction normal to the axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a modular privacy screen panel in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7  are, respectively, a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a left side and a right side view of the panel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a combination screen formed from three identical panels as shown in  FIG. 1  arranged side-by-side with a concave front surface of each panel directed in the same direction; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the first combination screen shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second combination screen formed from five identical panels as shown in  FIG. 1  arranged side-by-side with each face of the combination screen having a serpentine shape as seen in top view; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the second combination screen as shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a winged privacy screen in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention in a first open position; 
         FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18  comprise, respectively, a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a left side and a right side view of the screen of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a top view of the panel of  FIG. 11  in a closed position; 
         FIG. 20  is a right side view of the panel of  FIG. 17  in a closed position in a position for rolling transport over a floor; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the winged privacy screen of  FIG. 12  in a second open position with a chair disposed between the wing panels; and 
         FIG. 22  is a side view along section line B-B′ in Figure showing a notional person sitting on the chair. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 1  which illustrates a modular privacy screen panel  10  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. The panel comprises a floor engaging base  12  and a screen  14  supported on the base  12  and extending vertically upwardly from the base  12 . The screen  14  has a front surface  16  extending from a screen bottom  18  proximate the base  12  upwardly to a screen top  19  and spanning between a first screen side  20  and a second screen side  21 . The front face  16  is a concave curved surface as seen in top view in  FIG. 4 . The screen  14  has a rear surface  17  extending from the screen bottom  18  proximate the base  12  upwardly to the screen top  19  and also spanning between the first screen side  20  and the second screen side  21 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 4 , the rear surface  17  is a convex curved rear surface parallel to the front surface  16 . Each of the front surface  16  and the rear surface  17  extend vertically upwardly from the base  12 . The base  12  is elongate side to side and extends along a notional straight base longitudinal indicated by the dashed line  22  from a first base side edge  24  underneath the first screen side  20  to a second base side edge  25  underneath the second screen side  21 . The first base side edge  24  is straight and extends normal to the base longitudinal  22 . The second base side edge  25  is also straight and is parallel to the first base side edge  24  and hence is also normal to the base longitudinal  22 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the first screen side  20  does not extend laterally beyond the first base side edge  24  and the second screen side  21  does not extend laterally beyond the second base side edge  25 . Preferably, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the first screen side  20  ends laterally in a vertical extension of the first base side edge  24  and the second screen side  21  ends laterally at a vertical extension of the second base side edge  25 . 
     The base has a front base edge  26  extending from the first base side edge  24  to the second base side edge  25 . The front base edge  26  is a concave curved surface as seen in top view in  FIG. 4  parallel to the front surface  16 . The base  12  has a rear base edge  27  extending from the first base side edge  24  to the second base side edge  25 . The rear base edge  27  is a concave curved surface parallel to the front base edge  26 . As seen in  FIG. 4  in the preferred embodiment, each of the front base edge  26 , the rear base edge  27 , the front surface  16  and the rear surface  17  are parallel curved surfaces identical to a dashed line curved surface  30  indicated in  FIG. 4  which represents a cord of a circle which cord extends between the intersection of the longitudinal  22  with each of the first base edge  24  and the second base edge  25 . Thus, the panel as seen in  FIG. 4  is symmetrical about a center line  31  normal to the longitudinal  22  parallel each of the first base edge  24  and the second base edge  25  and centered between the first base edge  24  and the second base edge  25 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 8  which illustrates a first combination screen  31  in accordance with the present invention formed from three identical panels  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The three panels  10  are located on a floor in a side by side relation with the longitudinal  22  of each panel disposed in alignment. Where the panels abut each other, the first base side edge  24  of a first of the panels engages in a coplanar abutting relation with the second base side edge  25  of a second of the panels such that a first face  32  of the first combination screen has the front surface  16  of each of the panels directed in a first direction and a second face  34  of the first combination screen has the rear surface  17  of each of the panels directed in a second opposite direction. That is to say, the first face of the first combination screen has the concave curved front surfaces  16  all directed in the same direction. 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 10 and 11  which show a second combination screen  34  formed by five identical panels  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , supported on a floor in a side by side relation with the longitudinal  22  of each panel  10  disposed in alignment. For each abutting pair of panels  10 , the first base side edge  24  of a first of the panels engages in a coplanar abutting relation with the first base side edge  24  of a second of the panels  10 . As seen, each of a first face  36  and a second face  37  of the second combination screen has a serpentine shape as seen in top view in  FIG. 11  with the front surface  16  of a first panel directed in a first direction and a rear surface of an adjacent second panel  10  directed in the same direction and similarly with the rear face  17  of a first panel  10  directed in a second direction and the front surface  16  of an adjacent second panel  10  directed in the same second direction. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , the first base side edge  24  and the second base side edge  25  provide abutting surfaces which serve to locate adjacent panels  10  in a side by side relation so as to provide, for example, adjacent panels with their bases to have either an alternating arrangement and a serpentine shape as seen in  FIG. 10  or an identical orientation in appearance as seen in  FIG. 8 . 
     Each of the privacy panels  10  are preferably of a size and a weight which permits each panel to be manually moved preferably by one individual but possibly by two individuals for repositioning on the floor relative to the other panels as may be desired. 
     The screen of each panel  10  is preferably to be provided of a sound dampening material. 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 12 to 20  which illustrate a second embodiment of a privacy screen panel  50  in accordance with the present invention. Elements of a screen panel  50  in a second embodiment are similar to elements in the first embodiment and similar reference numerals are used to refer to similar elements. A panel  50  of  FIG. 12  is to be considered a winged privacy screen panel which includes not only a central screen  14  substantially identical to that illustrated in the first embodiment but also a first winged screen  51  and a second winged screen  52 . As can be seen in  FIG. 12 , the first winged screen  51  is pivotally mounted to the central screen  14  along the first screen side  20  for pivoting about a first vertical axis  53 . Similarly, the second winged screen  52  is pivotally mounted to the central screen  14  along the second screen side  21  for pivoting about a vertical second axis  54 . 
     The panel  50  has a floor engaging base  12  and the central screen  14  is supported on the base  12  to extend vertically upwardly from the base  12 . The central screen  14  has a front surface  16  spanning between the first screen side  20  and the second screen side  21 . In the preferred embodiment, the front surface  16  is a concave curved surface as seen in top view. The screen has a rear surface  17  which is a concave curved rear surface parallel to the front surface  16 . 
     The base  14  is shown as being elongate and extending along a straight base longitudinal  22  from a first base side edge  24  to a second base side edge  25 . The base has a front base edge  26  extending from the first base side edge  24  to the second base side edge  25 . The base has a rear base edge  27  extending from the first base side edge  24  to the second base side edge  25 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 19  which illustrates the winged panel  50  with each of the first wing screen  51  and the second wing screen  52  in a closed position. As seen in  FIG. 19  in the closed position, the first wing screen  51  pivots about the first axis  53  to overlie the front surface  16  of the central screen  14 . Similarly, in the closed position of  FIG. 19 , the second wing screen  52  is pivoted about the second axis  54  to the closed position in which the second wing screen  52  overlies the front surface  16  of the central screen  14 . From the closed position shown in  FIG. 19 , the first wing screen  51  may be pivoted about the first axis  53  to open positions including an open position as shown in  FIG. 12  in which the first wing screen  51  extends laterally away from the central screen  14 . Similarly, the second wing screen  52  can be pivoted about the second axis  54  from the closed position shown in  FIG. 19  to open positions including an open position as shown in  FIG. 12  in which the second wing screen  52  extends laterally away from the central screen  14 . 
     A wheel member  60  is journalled to the base  12  for rotation about a wheel axis  61  parallel the longitudinal  22 . The wheel member  60  comprises an elongate roller with a floor engaging surface  62  disposed coaxially about the axis  61 . The base  12  includes support plate  65  and a slot  64  vertically therethrough adjacent its base rear edge  27 . The slot  64  extends parallel the wheel axis  61 . The roller wheel member  60  is mounted on an axle (not shown) extending parallel the wheel axis  61  with the roller wheel member  60  located within the slot  64  such that the floor engaging surface  62  extends marginally rearwardly of the base  12 , that is, marginally rearwardly of the rear base edge  27  as seen in  FIGS. 15 and 16  and marginally downwardly below the base  12  proximate its rear base edge. As seen in  FIGS. 13, 14, 17 and 18  and particularly in the bottom view of  FIG. 16 , the base  12  includes the upper horizontally disposed support plate  65  from which two flooring engaging support bars or feet  66  extend downwardly to engage the floor. When the panel  50  is in a supporting rest position such as shown in  FIG. 13 , the base  12  engages a floor to support the central panel  14  to extend vertically upwardly from the base  12  and the wheel member is in engagement with the floor to assist with the feet  66  in supporting the panel  50  vertically. From a supporting rest position as shown in  FIG. 12 , the first winged screen  51  and the second winged screen  52  may be moved to the closed position as shown in  FIG. 19 . Subsequently, the panel  50  may then be pivoted relative the floor  70  about the axis  61  to a tilted transport position as shown in  FIG. 20  in which the wheel member  60  engages the floor  70  for rolling engagement with the floor  70  facilitating manual rolling movement of the panel  50  while maintained in a transport position along the floor  70  in a direction normal to the axis  61 . 
     As can be seen in the top views of  FIGS. 15 and 19 , the rear base edge  27  is a convex curved surface. The wheel member  60  is centered relative the base  12  between the base first side edge  24  and the base second side edge  25  to locate the wheel member  60  at a location where the convex curved rear base edge  27  extends farthest rearwardly relative the longitudinal  22  of the base  12  and assists in facilitating on tilting of the panel  50  from the supporting rest position of  FIG. 19  to the tilted transport position of  FIG. 20  that the wheel member  60  may engage the floor  70  without interference from the base  12 . 
     While a roller is shown as a preferred wheel member for engaging a floor, other wheel members may be utilized such as a pair of horizontally spaced wheel members. 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 21 and 22  which show the panel  50  in a second open position and in use with a chair  70  disposed in front of the central screen  14  between the first wing screen  51  and the second wing screen  52 . In  FIG. 22 , a notional person  72  is shown seated on the chair  70 . Each wing screen  51  and  52  has a shape such that the wing screen extends forwardly to a maximum extent at a height proximate the head  76  of the seated person  72  so as to provide optimum lateral blocking of sound at a height above the floor proximate the height of the person&#39;s ears  74  and mouth  75  above the floor and optimum visual screening at a height above the floor proximate a height of the person&#39;s eyes  77  above the floor. In this regard, each wing screen has a vertical back edge  80 , a forwardly extending, preferably horizontal, top edge  81  and a forwardly extending, preferably horizontal bottom edge  82 . An upper front edge  83  extends forwardly and downwardly from the top edge  81  to merge with a lower front edge  84  which lower front edge  84  extends forwardly and upwardly from the bottom edge  82 . The configuration of the upper front edge  83  and the lower front edge  84  is to provide a forward upward portion indicated  85  of each wing screen laterally of the person&#39;s head  76  while somewhat minimizing the area and therefore the mass of the wing screen panel at other areas laterally of the person. Reducing the mass of the other areas of each wing screen assists in preventing the winged panel from tipping forwardly in use. Each wing screen is shown to be polygonal with straight edges, however, the invention is not so limited and the top edge, bottom edge and front edges may be curved. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, many modifications and variations will now occur to a person skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is made to the following claims.