PORTABLE MODESTY GUARD

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a portable modesty guard apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable modesty guard for producing a private space in a public, or other, area.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/452,162 filed Mar. 14, 2010, and titled “Portable Modesty Guard.” The full text of this application is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein in its entirety incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a portable modesty guard apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable modesty guard for producing a private space in a public, or other, area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of public spaces for private matters, such as for example, changing clothes in a locker room or nursing a baby, is often done with apprehension or reluctance. As a result, use of public facilities is either avoided completely or some alternative approach is used to obtain privacy and personal dignity. Although some public spaces by design have some elements of privacy built in via public restroom stalls, changing rooms, and shower stalls, these elements are often lacking in quantity, transferability, and accessibility.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the portable modesty guard comprises a casing (or storage container), a top extendable support member, a bottom extendable support member, and a shield (or screen) positioned between the top and bottom extendable support members and secured thereto.

In another embodiment the first and second extendable support members of the portable modesty guard are collapsible.

The portable modesty guard was invented to create privacy and dignity during the use of public spaces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various embodiments of the present invention can be understood by the following drawings and figures. The components are not necessarily to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable modesty guard in a closed position, according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable modesty guard in an open position, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the portable modesty guard in an open position and wherein the first extendable support member and second extendable support member are extended along a single plane, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the portable modesty guard in an open position and the first extendable support member and second extendable support member are extended and disposed in two planes, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the end portion of the casing of the portable modesty guard mounted to a surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is schematic view of the end portion of the casing of the portable modesty guard mounted to a surface, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides various embodiments of a portable modesty guard which allows the user to be shielded from complete open exposure while in public settings. The modesty guard is designed to provide privacy to individuals who are uncomfortable being exposed in public settings.

Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable modesty guard of the present invention in a closed position. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the portable modesty guard 10 comprises a casing 14 with a base 12, an end panel 16, a top extendable support member 23, a bottom extendable support member 25, and a screen or shield 27. As can be seen in FIG. 1, top extendable support member 23 and bottom extendable support member 25 are attached to end panel 16 via any suitable attachment device 18. Such suitable attachment devices include, but are not limited to, rivets, bolts, screws, nails, pins, clips, adhesive bonds, metal welds, ultrasonic welds, etc.

In another embodiment, the top and bottom extendable support members 23 and 25 each can independently further comprise at least one joint, hinge or other suitable type of bending or flexing unit or mechanism 29 and 31, respectively, to permit the portable modesty guard to extend in at least two different directions or planes.

In still another embodiment, the top and bottom extendable support members 23 and 25 are formed from a plurality of telescoping units that slide inward or outward in overlapping sections. Regarding the plurality telescoping units, single member 28 and 32 are illustrated in FIG. 2, with 28 being a top single unit and 32 being a bottom single unit. The plurality of telescoping units that in this embodiment form the top and bottom extendable support members can be any suitable shape. Such suitable shapes include, but are not limited to, round, oval elliptical, square, rectangular, polygonal, etc.

In one embodiment, screen or shield 27 can be attached, secured or otherwise connected to top and bottom extendable support members 23 via any suitable connection device. Such suitable connection devices include, but are not limited to, at least one retention clip 37, at least one hanger designed to either hang the screen or shield 27 from the top extendable support member 23 or fit into a slot formed in the bottom surface of the top extendable support member 23. In another embodiment, screen or shield 27 is attached, secured or otherwise connected to top extendable support member 23 by a loop formed in the material from which screen or shield 27 is itself made of (see screen or screen 27 of FIG. 6).

In any of the embodiments described above, guard 10 further comprises at least one handle 22 on the exterior surface of end panel 16.

Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, FIG. 3 is a top illustration of portable modesty guard 10 illustrating portable modesty guard 10 in an extended position where the guard extends in a single plane. On the other hand FIG. 4 illustrates portable modesty guard 10 in an extended position where the guard extends in two different planes. As would be apparent, the present invention is not limited to either of these embodiments. Rather, portable modesty guard 10 could be designed and/or configured to permit screen or shield 10 to be extended in two or more different planes.

Regarding the individual portions of portable modesty guard 10 described above, each individual portion can independently be made from any suitable material. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, metal, metal alloys, plastic or polymeric materials, paper, etc. Regarding screen or shield 27, screen or shield 27 can be formed from any suitable material. Such suitable materials include, but are not limited to, paper, plastic sheeting, polymeric materials, fabric, cloth, polymer coated cloth or fabric, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, screen or shield 27 can be corrugated or pre-folded to permit for easy storage.

Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 illustrates portable modesty guard 10 attached or mounted to a surface 42 via at least one mounting member, for example suction device 40. Surface 42 can be any desired surface to which portable modesty guard 10 is to be attached. Such surfaces include, but are not limited to, wood, Formica, metal, plastic, tile, wallboard, etc. As would be apparent, more than one suction device 40 can be utilized to “hand” portable modesty guard 10 to surface 42. Suction device 40 can be selected from any suitable device that permits one object to be attached to another object via a low grade vacuum. Suitable suction devices include, but are not limited to, suction cups, or other suction devices.

With regard to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 illustrates portable modesty guard 10 attached or mounted to a surface 42 via at least one mounting member 44. In this embodiment, each mounting member 44 is independently selected from a magnetic strip, a pressure sensitive adhesive, double sided tape, mounting putty, etc. As can be seen in FIG. 6 with respect to top extendable support member 23, the internal end of top and bottom extendable support members 23 and 25 can be secured to casing 14 via an attachment device 45. Suitable attachment devices 45 include, but are not limited to, rivets, bolts, screws, nails, pins, clips, adhesive bonds, metal welds, ultrasonic welds, etc.

While in accordance with the patent statutes the best mode and certain embodiments of the invention have been set forth, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, but rather by the scope of the attached. As such, other variants within the spirit and scope of this invention are possible and will present themselves to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A portable modesty guard comprising:

a casing;

an end panel;

a first extendable support member, the first extendable support member being operatively coupled to the casing and the end panel;

a second extendable support member, the second extendable support member being operatively coupled to the casing and the end panel; and

a shield, the shield extending between the first and second extendable support members.

2. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first extendable support member and a portion of the second arm are substantially parallel.

3. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein the first extendable support member and the second extendable support member comprise a plurality of telescoping units.

4. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein the first extendable support member and the second extendable support member comprise a joint.

5. The portable modesty guard of claim 4, wherein the casing comprises a base and the proximal end of the first extendable support member and the proximal end of the second extendable support member are attached to the base, and the distal end of the first extendable support member and the distal end of the second extendable support member are attached to the end panel.

6. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein shield is corrugated.

7. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein the portable modesty guard comprises a plurality of retainers to attach or secure the shield to the first extendable support member and the second extendable support member.

8. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, further comprising a handle.

9. The portable modesty guard of claim 8, wherein the handle is a carrying strap attached to the end panel.

10. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein the end panel comprises a latch.

11. The portable modesty guard of claim 10, wherein the casing further comprises a notch that receives the latch when the portable modesty guard is in the closed position.

12. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises a mounting element.

13. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein the mounting element is disposed on the external surface of the base of the casing.

14. The portable modesty guard of claim 13, wherein the mounting element is at least one of a magnet and a suction cup.

15. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein the shield is made of a material selected from the group selected the group of: fabric, polymer, and fiber.

16. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein the shield is made of fabric.

17. A portable modesty guard comprising:

a casing having a base;

a first extendable support member and a second extendable support member attached to an inner surface of the base and an end panel, wherein the first extendable support member and the second extendable support member are extendable away from the base;

a shield that extends between the first extendable support member and the second extendable support member; and

wherein the first arm comprises a joint between the proximal end and the distal end which allows the first extendable support member to extend along two planes, and the second extendable support member comprises a joint between the proximal end and the distal end which allows the second arm to extend along two planes.

18. The portable modesty guard of claim 18, wherein the first extendable support member and the second extendable support member comprise a plurality of telescoping units.

19. The portable modesty guard of claim 1, wherein the shield is movable along the first extendable support member and the second extendable support member between the casing and the end panel