Abstract:
A method of selectively forming a barrier between adjacent seating regions at which first and second support surfaces are respectively located, with the first and second support surfaces configured to support first and second persons in laterally spaced sitting positions. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a barrier assembly having at least one wall structure that is configured to be selectively changed between: a) a storage state; and b) an operative state; and changing the barrier assembly from the storage state into the operative state wherein an exposed surface of the at least one wall structure is situated to obstruct lateral movement of at least one of: a) an arm; b) a leg; c) a head; or d) a torso of a person in the sitting position in the first region into the second seating region.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to laterally adjacent seating arrangements, such as on public/mass transportation systems, and, more particularly, to an assembly that can be used to create a temporary barrier to prevent intrusion by one seated person into the space of a person seated laterally adjacent to the one person. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]    The trend worldwide in mass/public transportation has been to redesign seating so that space is more efficiently utilized. Essentially, this has involved fitting more passengers in the same space. Usually cost savings and efficiency are drivers for this exercise. However, often operators of mass/public transportation systems utilizing trains, buses, airplanes, boats, etc., boost profit at the expense of the comfort of their riders/users, who are not afforded the same volume of space to reside in and oftentimes are in cramped quarters. 
         [0005]    Generally, passenger seats, such as on aircraft, are designed in basic travel class to accommodate a person of average build. While some airlines have restrictions that may preclude an exceptionally large person from occupying only a single seat, generally there are no size restrictions on passengers. As a result, passenger comfort is hit-or-miss, depending upon the size of an adjacent passenger or passengers. It is not uncommon for an individual in a middle seat to be bounded by large individuals who take up their own allotted space and additionally intrude into the space intended for the occupant of the middle seat. 
         [0006]    When one is confronted with a space shortage, the options are few. He/she can contend with the potential inconvenience/discomfort. This may be practical for short trips. However, for long trips, steps may have to be taken to “protect one&#39;s space”. 
         [0007]    A passenger may politely (or impolitely) advise an adjacent passenger of his/her space intrusion. Sometimes a situation may be remedied by this approach. However, oftentimes individuals are incapable of keeping their body fully in a small allotted space. 
         [0008]    Even in situations where adjacent passengers are not particularly large, there still exists a problem with space intrusion. As people sleep on airlines, they tend to lean or collapse, which may result in individuals shifting head, shoulders, and/or arms into an adjacent passenger&#39;s space. Again, a potentially awkward situation arises when an intruding passenger must be confronted. 
         [0009]    In spite of the millions of passengers that travel regularly on mass/public transportation systems, heretofore those experiencing the above problems have had few options, other than those described above. Transportation personnel will generally not get involved to remedy these situations. Movement to a special class with wider seating may strain budgets and, in the end, may not eliminate the problem of space intrusion. 
         [0010]    The result of the above problems is that passengers are often unhappy and at times attempts between passengers to compromise may escalate to the point that there is outward hostility between passengers who are often required to share a relatively compact space. This becomes an increasing problem as there is a worldwide sensitivity to avoiding any disruption on public/mass transportation because of safety concerns, particularly on large airliners. 
         [0011]    The airline, rail, bus, watercraft, etc. industries would welcome any practical solution to the above problems. However, to date no practical solutions, known to the inventor herein, have been devised. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In one form, the invention is directed to a method of selectively forming a barrier between adjacent seating regions at which first and second support surfaces are respectively located. The first and second support surfaces are configured to support first and second persons in laterally spaced sitting positions. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a barrier assembly having at least one wall structure that is configured to be selectively changed between: a) a storage state; and b) an operative state; and changing the barrier assembly from the storage state into the operative state wherein an exposed surface of the at least one wall structure is situated to obstruct lateral movement of at least one of: a) an arm; b) a leg; c) a head; or d) a torso of a person in the sitting position in the first region into the second seating region. 
         [0013]    In one form, the first and second support surfaces are part of a seating structure and the step of obtaining a barrier assembly involves obtaining a barrier assembly that has at least a portion thereof that is fixedly secured to the seating structure. 
         [0014]    In one form, the first and second support surfaces are part of a seating structure and the step of obtaining a barrier assembly involves obtaining a barrier assembly that is configured to be fully separable from the seating structure. 
         [0015]    In one form, the step of obtaining a barrier assembly involves obtaining a barrier assembly having at least one connecting component that cooperates with at least one connecting component on the seat structure to maintain the barrier assembly in the operative state. 
         [0016]    In one form, the exposed surface of the at least one wall structure has an area. The barrier assembly is configured so that the area of the exposed surface of the at least one wall structure is less with the barrier assembly in the storage state than in the operative state. 
         [0017]    In one form, the at least one wall structure has a plurality of parts that are moved by at least one of: a) folding; and b) pivoting relative to each other to change the barrier assembly between the storage and operative states. 
         [0018]    In one form, the at least one wall structure has a region with a plurality of accordion-type folds that are configured to permit the region to be reconfigured as the barrier assembly is changed between the storage and operative states. 
         [0019]    In one form, at least a portion of the exposed surface of the at least one wall structure has a substantially planar shape. 
         [0020]    In one form, the first and second support surfaces are part of a seating structure that is located in one of: a) an airplane; b) a bus; c) a watercraft; and d) a train. 
         [0021]    In one form, the step of changing the barrier assembly from the storage state into the operative state involves moving the barrier assembly so that at least a part of the barrier assembly is frictionally held between first and second structures on the seating structure. 
         [0022]    In one form, the first structure is part of an arm rest and the second structure is a cushion defining one of the support surfaces. 
         [0023]    In one form, the first and second structures are separate back rests for persons in sitting positions on the first and second support surfaces. 
         [0024]    In one form, the method further includes the step of transporting the barrier assembly to the one of the airplane, bus, watercraft, and train. 
         [0025]    In one form, the method further includes the step of changing the barrier assembly back into the storage state by reconfiguring the barrier assembly after use. 
         [0026]    In one form, the step of reconfiguring the barrier assembly involves compacting the barrier assembly so that no dimension of the compacted barrier assembly exceeds 12 inches. 
         [0027]    In one form, the method further includes the step of discarding the reconfigured barrier assembly after use. 
         [0028]    In one form, the method further includes the steps of obtaining a storage container and placing the reconfigured barrier assembly in the storage container. 
         [0029]    In one form, the step of changing the barrier assembly from the storage state into the operative state involves joining separate connectors on the barrier assembly and seating structure to thereby maintain the barrier assembly in the operative state. 
         [0030]    In one form, the invention is directed to a barrier assembly as described above. 
         [0031]    In one form, the barrier assembly is provided in the operative state on one of: a) an airplane; b) a bus; c) a watercraft; and d) a train. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a barrier assembly, according to the invention, that is in an operative state upon a supporting structure on a public/mass transportation vehicle; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of structure for maintaining the barrier assembly in  FIG. 1  in an operative state upon the vehicle; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, perspective view of seating structure within a compartment on a mass/public transportation vehicle and showing one form of the barrier assembly positioned to be placed in its operative state; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of one of the seats in  FIG. 3  showing the barrier assembly being moved towards its operative state and in its operative state, respectively in dotted and solid lines; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the seat in  FIG. 4  with two separate barrier assemblies shown in their operative states; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the inventive barrier assembly in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and showing various fold lines about which parts thereof can be moved to compact the barrier assembly; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary, elevation view showing cooperating connectors on the barrier assembly and vehicle that can be used to releasably maintain the barrier assembly in its operative state; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary, elevation view showing a modified form of connection between the barrier assembly and adjacent seat back rests; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of an alternative pivot connection between parts that allow compaction of the barrier assembly; 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  is an elevation view of a modified form of the barrier assembly incorporating accordion-type folds to facilitate compaction thereof; 
           [0042]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary, front elevation view of a seat with a further modified form of barrier assembly, consisting of three parts which are shown in solid lines in an operative state and in dotted lines in a storage state; 
           [0043]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary, front elevation view of a seat as in  FIGS. 4 and 5  with a modified form of barrier assembly that rests atop an armrest; 
           [0044]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation of a modified form of barrier assembly with a folding arrangement generally as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of a seat with a plurality of a further modified form of barrier assembly shown in operative states thereon; 
           [0046]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation view of one of the barrier assemblies in  FIG. 14  and showing fold lines that permit compaction thereof; 
           [0047]      FIG. 16  depicts one of the barrier assemblies in  FIGS. 14 and 15  compacted by being rolled into a spiral shape; and 
           [0048]      FIG. 17  is an exploded, side elevation view of a further modified form of barrier assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0049]    In  FIG. 1 , a barrier assembly  10 , according to the invention, is shown in schematic form in relationship to a vehicle  12  having an integrated seating structure/support  14  upon which persons are permitted to assume sitting positions in laterally spaced relationship. The barrier assembly  10  cooperates with any suitable supporting structure, as shown at  16 , that may cooperate with, or be part of, the seating structure/support  14  to maintain the barrier assembly  10  in its operative state. The supporting structure  16  may be on the seating structure and/or support therefor. For purposes of simplicity, the seating structure and support are identified as the same structure since the seating structure would typically be fixedly attached to a support, such as a floor, so that the seating structure and support together define a base upon which the barrier assembly  10  can be mounted in the operative state. 
         [0050]    The barrier assembly  10  is changeable to a storage state by reconfiguring the barrier assembly  10  while it is maintained upon the seating structure/support  14  or by separating the barrier assembly  10  from the seating structure/support  14 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 1  is intended to encompass virtually any type of interacting structure between the barrier assembly  10  and vehicle  12  to maintain the barrier assembly in its operative state. For example, the barrier assembly  10  might be simply frictionally held between parts on the seating structure/support  14 . 
         [0052]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the barrier assembly  10  may have one or more connectors  18  to interact with one or more connectors  20  on the vehicle  12 . The connectors  18 ,  20  may be releasably joined or permanently joined. 
         [0053]    The schematic representations in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are intended to encompass the specific embodiments and environments hereinafter described, as well as others that may be modified, in terms of how the components are configured and interact, from the exemplary embodiments herein described. The embodiments specifically described are exemplary in nature only, as virtually an unlimited number of different variations thereof could be readily devised by one skilled in the art with the teachings herein in hand. 
         [0054]    One exemplary configuration for both the vehicle  12  and seating structure  14  is shown in  FIGS. 3-6 . The seating structure  14  depicted is one that is typical to those used in any of an airplane, bus, watercraft, and train to transport passengers on a mass basis, through public or private funding. As depicted in  FIG. 3 , each separate seating structure  14  consists of three laterally adjacent seats  22 ,  24 ,  26 , each with the same basic configuration and defining adjacent seating regions R 1 , R 2 , R 3  for persons in sitting positions on upwardly facing, cushioned support surfaces  28 ,  30 ,  32 . 
         [0055]    The seating regions R 1 , R 2 , R 3  are separated by armrests. For example, seating regions R 1 , R 2  are separated by an upstanding armrest  34  with an upwardly facing surface  36  shared by the occupants of the seats  22 ,  24 . 
         [0056]    As explained in the Background portion herein, there is no structure that keeps the occupant of either seat  22 ,  24  from moving his/her head, arms, legs, and/or torso into the adjacent passenger&#39;s region. The barrier assembly  10  is configured to prevent intrusion, or at least limit the ease with which one passenger can intrude, upon the space of a laterally adjacent passenger. 
         [0057]    In this embodiment, the barrier assembly  10  is shown as a substantially flat/planar wall structure  38  with an overall “L” shape. The L shape is not critical but exemplary of one preferred form. The wall structure  38  defines oppositely exposed surfaces  40 ,  42 , respectively facing the regions R 1 , R 2 . 
         [0058]    In this embodiment, the barrier assembly  10  can be directed from a separated position, as shown in  FIG. 3  and in dotted lines in  FIG. 4 , to between a surface  44  on the armrest  34  and a surface  46  on a cushion  48  defining the support surface  30 . Typically, the cushion  48  will be wedged tightly against the armrest surface  44 , thereby allowing the flat wall structure  38  to be wedged and held between the surfaces  44 ,  46  in its operative state, as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0059]    In the operative state for the barrier assembly  10 , the surface  40  extends along the fore-and-aft dimension of the armrest  34  to thereby block/interfere with movement of the arms of a person in a sitting position on the seat  22  into the region R 2 . Another portion, i.e., the other leg of the “L”, at  50 , projects upwardly and between back rests  52 ,  54  on the seats  22 ,  24 , respectively. The portion  50  projects forwardly from the back rests  52 ,  54  sufficiently so that the surface  40  blocks/interferes with movement of the head of a person in a sitting position on the seat  22  into the region R 2 . 
         [0060]    Optionally, the flat wall structure  38  may extend beyond the aforementioned “L” shape, as shown in  FIG. 1 , to define a portion  56  that coincides with where the legs of the persons in the sitting positions reside on the seats  22 ,  24 , to prevent intrusion of the legs of persons sitting in regions R 1 , R 2  into the other regions R 2 , R 1 . 
         [0061]    As seen in  FIG. 5 , the occupant of the seat  24  may use two barrier assemblies  10 , with the second barrier assembly  10  utilized between regions R 2 , R 3 , in like fashion. 
         [0062]    The barrier assembly  10  may be made as a single piece with a substantially fixed shape. However, preferably, the barrier assembly  10  is made with a collapsible body  58 , with details of one form thereof shown in  FIG. 6 . The body  58  is depicted with a plurality of preformed fold lines FL which allow strategic folding of the body  58  to a compacted storage state, preferably wherein no dimension of the folded body  58  exceeds  12  inches. 
         [0063]    In one preferred form, the barrier assembly  10  is a structure completely separable from the vehicle  12 , though this is not a requirement. With the fully separable structure, the body  58  can be compacted and placed in a storage container  60  which allows the convenient transportation thereof to and from the vehicle  12  by the user. For example, a user may keep the barrier assembly  10  in the storage container  60  as a normal carry-on item that can be conveniently brought to the user&#39;s seat. Once in the vehicle  12 , the user can reconfigure the barrier assembly  10  and place it in its operative state with respect to his/her particular seat. 
         [0064]    Alternatively, an operator of mass/public transportation may make the barrier assemblies  10  available, as in a fixed shape. The barrier assemblies  10  might be stored in a bulk supply within the vehicle  12  to be made available to passengers. The barrier assembly  10 , whether transported to the vehicle  12  by the user or provided by the vehicle operator, may be of such a construction that it can be either reused or disposed of after use. 
         [0065]    The invention contemplates virtually an unlimited number of different ways of maintaining the barrier assembly  10 , or variations thereof in the depicted embodiments, in an operative state. The embodiment in  FIGS. 4-6  may rely strictly upon frictional forces between parts/structures on the seats and the barrier assembly  10  to maintain the same in its operative state. If only frictionally held, the barrier assembly might be readily shifted horizontally and/or vertically to optimize its effectiveness. 
         [0066]    Within the schematic showing in  FIG. 2 , the invention contemplates that the aforementioned connectors  18 ,  20  might be used in place of or in conjunction with the frictional connection. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the seat  24  may incorporate the aforementioned connector  20  in the form of a snap part, cooperating with a snap part  18  on the barrier assembly  10 . The connectors/snap parts  18 ,  20  are joined by moving the connector/snap part  18  in the direction of the arrow  62  in  FIG. 7  against the connector/snap part  20 . This facilitates release of the barrier assembly  10  with complete separation thereof as desired. 
         [0067]    Alternatively, the connectors  18 ,  20  might establish a permanent connection. 
         [0068]    Within the schematic showing of  FIG. 2  is contemplated any type of structure fixedly secured to the seating structure  14  that may cooperate with the barrier assembly  10  for releasable or fixed connection. 
         [0069]    In  FIG. 8 , a modification is shown wherein the barrier assembly  10  has a component  64  that can be captively maintained between the back rests  52 ,  54 , thereby to maintain the barrier assembly  10  in its operative state. The component  64  may be frictionally held between the back rests  52 ,  54  or otherwise suitably connected thereto. 
         [0070]    To reduce the area of the surface  36  on the flat wall structure  38 , thereby to compact the barrier assembly  10  as for transportation, various different structures are contemplated. 
         [0071]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the fold lines FL effectively define separate parts that are moved relative to each other about the fold lines FL to effect aerial compaction. The fold lines FL may be defined by weakening perforations, scoring, etc. 
         [0072]    Alternatively, separate parts  66 ,  68  of the barrier assembly  10  may be movable relative to each other by cooperating pivot connections  70 ,  72 , as shown schematically in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0073]    In  FIG. 10  a barrier assembly  10 ′ is shown wherein one region at  74  has accordion-type folds that allow expansion and contraction along the line indicated by the double-headed arrow  76  to thereby change the barrier assembly  10 ′ between operative and storage states. The separate region at  78  may have a different construction, such as accordion folds with lines thereof extending in a different direction. Alternatively, the entire body  58 ′ of the barrier assembly  10 ′ may be made with the accordion folds all collapsing in the same direction. 
         [0074]    In a further modified form, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the barrier assembly  10 ″ has separate parts/panels  80 ,  82 ,  84  which extend, as shown in solid lines, and compact to an overlying relationship, as shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 10 , with the barrier assembly  10 ″ in a storage state. 
         [0075]    In  FIG. 12 , a modified form of barrier assembly  10 ′″ is shown wherein the barrier assembly body  58 ′″ is offset to define a first portion  86  that bears on the surface  36  of the armrest  34 , with a separate portion  88  depending from the portion  86  and overlying the armrest surface  44 . This allows a vertical wall portion  90  defining the surface  42 ′″ to be centered laterally along the armrest surface  36 , so as to give the occupant of each of the regions R 1 , R 2  access to one half the width thereof. 
         [0076]    In  FIG. 13 , a further modified form of barrier assembly is shown at  10   4′ . In this embodiment, the body  58   4′  is made from folding panels  92   a ,  92   b,    92   c,    92   d,    92   e,  each having the same general square shape. The panels  92   a - 92   e  are movable relative to each other around fold lines FL 1  and allow the combined surface  42   4′  defined thereby to be reduced to the area of one of the panels  92   a - 92   e.  Structure  94  may be provided between any of the panels  92   a - 92   e  to releasably or permanently fix the same in a desired coplanar relationship. 
         [0077]    When collapsed, the body  58   4′  may be disposed of or placed in a storage container  60   4′ . 
         [0078]    While the barrier assemblies described hereinabove have had a generally “L” shape, this is not a requirement. In  FIG. 14 , barrier assemblies  10   5′  are shown having a more simplified construction. Each of the barrier assemblies  10   5′  is in the form of an elongate body  58   5′  that may have a fixed configuration or be reconfigurable, as shown alternatively in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Each of the barrier assemblies  10   5′  can be placed strategically to block movement of an adjacent passenger&#39;s arm, leg, torso, or head. 
         [0079]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , the body  58   5′  may be collapsed by movement of parts thereof around fold lines FL 2 , as in the pattern shown or in an alternative pattern. 
         [0080]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , the body  58   5′  may be rolled into a spiral shape to effect compaction thereof. 
         [0081]    In  FIG. 17 , a further modified form of barrier assembly is shown at  10   6′ . The barrier assembly  10   6′  utilizes one or more support structures  96  that may be attached to or a part of an existing seat structure. The body  58   6′  of the barrier assembly  10   6′  may be slid over the support structure  96  to maintain the barrier assembly  10   6′  in its operative state. 
         [0082]    The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.