Portable room

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6178701
  • Patent Number
    6,178,701
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, August 18, 1998
    26 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 30, 2001
    24 years ago
Abstract
In order to provide a portable room suited for human use, the room is provided with a plurality of walls including three solid wall panels and a fourth wall panel defining a door opening for receiving a door therein. The room also includes a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the fourth wall panel. Each of the wall panels has a wall supporting post operatively associated with at least one of the opposite ends thereof The room also includes hinge means joining each of the wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the wall panels relative to each other. With this arrangement, a removable ceiling is supported on the wall panels and, in a preferred embodiment, cooperates with the wall panels to maintain adjacent ones in substantially perpendicular relation.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention generally relates to portable structures having the ability to be quickly assembled and disassembled and, more particularly, to a portable room that has a structure as well as characteristics which make it well suited for human use.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Over the years, there have been many portable structures that have been developed for a wide range of differing applications. It is generally the case with all such structures that one important goal is to provide for rapid assembly of the structure for its intended use. For some applications, there is little else that matters whereas for human use there are additional needs that must be met.




For instance, it will be appreciated that air circulation may well be an important attribute if the room is to be sufficiently comfortable for a human occupant. It is also typically the case in many applications that the room will need to provide a significant degree of privacy for human occupants, i.e., that the human occupants not be visible from outside the room. Additionally, the human occupants must have adequate lighting, particularly where the portable room is assembled where there is no source of natural light to serve this purpose.




In addition to these requirements, it is important to meet the requirements for nearly all portable rooms, i.e., that it be capable of rapid assembly and disassembly. It is also desirable in many applications to have an effective and efficient manner of transporting the portable room from one location to another when it is desired to disassemble the room at one location, transport it to another location, and reassemble the room for use at the latter location. In other words, the portable room should be constructed so as to cooperate with a transportable carrying case in such manner as to be capable of meeting this requirement.




In one particular application, a portable room can be desirable for utilization as a fitting room especially within modem retail settings such as major department stores and the like. It is often important to be able to modify or change the interior configuration of major department stores without facing the need to tear out permanent internal structures such as walls, shelving systems, and fitting rooms only to have to build new permanent structures in differing arrangements to meet changing needs. In other words, modern retailing is such that major department stores should be a shell with the internal structure having portability characteristics for efficient and cost-effective space reconfiguration.




The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the foregoing problems and achieving one or more of the resulting objects.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable room that can quicldy and easily be assembled, later disassembled, and still later reassembled for reuse. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable room having a transportable carrying case to facilitate transport of the portable room from one location to another. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable room having air circulation, privacy, and illumination for human occupants as, e.g., a fitting room.




As a result, the present invention is directed to a portable room having a plurality of walls including three solid wall panels and a fourth wall panel defining a door opening for receiving a door therein. The room also includes a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the fourth wall panel. Each of the wall panels has a wall supporting post operatively associated with at least one of the opposite ends thereof The room also includes hinge means joining each of the wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the wall panels relative to each other. With this arrangement, a removable ceiling is supported on the wall panels and, in a preferred embodiment, cooperates with the wall panels to maintain adjacent ones in substantially perpendicular relation.




In one respect, at least one of the wall panels has a height dimension which is less than the height of the wall supporting posts to provide a space suitable for air circulation. The air circulation space is advantageously disposed between the bottom of the wall panel(s) and a supporting surface for the wall supporting posts. With this arrangement, the removable ceiling has at least one opening which with the air circulation space cooperates to permit air circulation through the portable room.




In another respect, the portable room is provided with a transportable carrying case having an internal width dimension generally commensurate with the greatest width of the wall panels. The transportable carrying case also advantageously has a height dimension for receiving the four wall panels after collapsible folding movement and also for receiving the door and the removable ceiling therewithin. With this arrangement, the four wall panels are preferably collapsible by folding movement using the hinge means to a width which is no greater than the greatest width of the four wall panels.




In addition, one of the four wall panels preferably includes a panel portion at one end thereof extending generally perpendicular to the remainder of that one of the wall panels. Advantageously, the hinge means joining the one end of that wall panel is associated with the free edge of the panel portion so that the adjacent wall panel can undergo folding movement relative thereto by reason of the hinge means. With this construction, the hinge means joining the other end of that wall panel is such that the adjacent wall panel can undergo folding movement prior to the wall panel adjacent the free edge of the panel portion.




With regard to the removable ceiling, the wall panel cooperating means preferably comprises a flange extending generally parallel to each of the four edges of the removable ceiling which is advantageously shaped so as to be generally rectangular. The flanges define a generally rectangular recess for receiving the upper edges of the wall panels therewithin. In a highly preferred embodiment, the flanges each include an inner flange portion and an outer flange portion spaced apart by a distance generally commensurate with the thickness of the wall panels to define a wall panel-receiving channel therebetween.




With regard to the air circulation opening in the removable ceiling, the room preferably also includes means for restricting visibility from ceiling-mounted security cameras therethrough. The visibility restricting means advantageously comprises a gridwork patterned insert disposed within the opening so as to permit air flow while at the same time restricting visibility from above the portable room. Still additionally, the removable ceiling preferably has a fight fixture integral therewith and the light fixture has an electrical cord and plug extending therefrom for supplying electricity for utilizing the light fixture in order to be able to illuminate the portable room.




As for other details of the present invention, the wall panels preferably include a rear wall panel having a perpendicular panel portion, a front wall panel narrower in width than the rear wall panel by the width of the door, a wider side wall panel and a narrower side wall panel adjacent the panel portion. Advantageously, the wider side wall panel is foldable into confronting relation to the rear wall panel, the front wall panel is foldable into confronting relation to the narrower side wall panel, and the folded front wall panel and narrower side wall panel are foldable into confronting relation to the folded wider side wall panel.




With this construction, the hinge means preferably comprise piano hinges and the door is hingedly mounted to a wall supporting post on the wider side wall panel by a plurality of door hinges on the door and a corresponding plurality of post hinges on the wall supporting post. The door hinges are secured to the post hinges with hinge pins. Additionally, the door preferably has louvers in order to restrict visibility therethrough while at the same time accommodating air circulation through the louvers and the air circulation opening in the removable ceiling to provide comfort for a human occupant within the portable room.




In a most highly preferred embodiment, the portable room may further advantageously include a removable mirror, a removable shelf, and at least one removable hook for articles of clothing.




Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a portable room in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a section of

FIG. 1

taken just below the door handle and looking upwardly with the ceiling removed;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of a transportable carrying case for the portable room of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is an end elevation of

FIG. 3

with end panel removed showing the portable room components within the carrying case;





FIG. 5

is an exploded end elevation of the portable room components after removal from the transportable carrying case;





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of a removable ceiling for use on the portable room of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 7



a


is a side elevation of a coat hook cooperable with a wall panel of the portable room of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 7



b


is a front elevation of a coat hook cooperable with a wall panel of the portable room of

FIG. 1

; and





FIG. 8

is an exploded elevation of a door hinge, post hinge and hinge pin for the portable room of FIG.


1


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




In the illustrations given and with reference first to

FIG. 1

, the reference numeral


10


designates generally a portable room in accordance with the present invention. The portable room


10


includes a plurality of walls including four wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


with at least one of the wall panels


14


defining a door opening


20


therein. The portable room also includes a door


22


hingedly mounted as at


24


for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening


20


defined by the one wall panel


14


. With this construction, the four wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


each have at least one wall supporting post operatively associated with at least one of the opposite ends thereof




More specifically, and referring to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the portable room


10


includes wall supporting posts


26


,


28


,


30


, and


32


at each of the corners as well as an additional wall supporting post


34


between the wall supporting posts


26


and


28


to define one side of the door opening


20


. The wall supporting post


34


cooperates with the free edge


36


of the door


22


, i.e., the post


34


is formed to include a doorstop and carries a strikeplate to receive a conventional latch and lock mechanism which is operated in conventional fashion by the door handles


38


and


40


. With this arrangement, the various wall supporting posts


26


,


28


,


30


,


32


, and


34


may have conventional disk levelers associated with their bottom ends to level the portable room


10


when it is assembled on a supporting surface such as a floor for use in a setting such as a retail store.




Referring to

FIG. 2

, the portable room


10


includes a piano hinge as at


42


,


44


, and


46


for joining each of the four wall panels for collapsible folding movement relative to each other. The hinges


42


,


44


, and


46


cooperate with the four wall panels so that they are collapsible by folding movement to a width which is no greater than the greatest width of the four wall panels. As best shown in

FIG. 5

, the wall panel


12


is of the greatest width and the wall panels


14


,


16


, and


18


are collapsible by folding movement to no greater than this width.




As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 6

, the portable room


10


also includes a removable ceiling


48


having means cooperating with upper edges of the four wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


for maintaining adjacent ones of the four wall panels substantially perpendicular. This advantageously comprises a flange such as


50


extending generally parallel to each of the four edges


52


,


54


,


56


, and


58


of the removable ceiling


48


wherein the ceiling is generally rectangular and the flanges


50


define a generally rectangular recess for receiving the upper edges of the wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


therewithin. In the preferred embodiment, the flanges


50


each include an inner flange portion


50




a


and an outer flange portion


50




b


spaced apart by a distance generally commensurate with the thickness of the wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


to define a wall panel-receiving channel


50




c


therebetween.




As shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, a transportable carrying case


59


is advantageously provided having an internal width dimension generally commensurate with the greatest width of the wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


after collapsible folding movement (compare FIGS.


4


and


5


). The transportable carrying case


59


will also be understood to have an internal width dimension greater than the width of the door


22


and greater than the width of the removable ceiling


48


. Still additionally, the transportable carrying case


59


will be understood to have a height dimension for receiving the four wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


, the door


22


and the removable ceiling


48


therewithin, and it can have casters to facilitate rolling movement from one location to another.




Referring to

FIG. 1

, the portable room


10


preferably is constructed such that at least one, and preferably all, of the wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


have a height dimension less than that of the wall supporting posts


26


,


28


,


30


, and


32


to provide a space for air circulation. The air circulation space is disposed between the bottoms of the wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


and a supporting surface


60


such as a floor on which the wall supporting posts


26


,


28


,


30


,


32


, and


34


rest to permit the flow of air thereunder. Still additionally, the removable ceiling


48


has at least one, and preferably a plurality of openings


62


-


76


which cooperate with the air circulation space under the bottom of the wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


to thereby permit air circulation through the portable room


10


.




Still more specifically, the air circulation openings such as


62


-


76


each include means for restricting visibility from ceiling-mounted security cameras therethrough including respective gridwork patterned inserts such as


78


-


92


disposed within the corresponding openings


62


-


76


to permit air flow while restricting visibility from above the portable room


10


. Still additionally, the removable ceiling


48


also preferably has a light fixture


94


which is integral therewith and the light fixture


94


has an electrical cord


96


and plug


98


extending therefrom for supplying electricity for utilizing the light fixture


94


to provide adequate illumination for a human occupant within the portable room


10


.




As best shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, one of the wall panels such as the rear wall panel


12


preferably has a panel portion such as


12




a


at one end which extends generally perpendicular to the remainder of that one of the wall panels, i.e., the rear wall panel


12


. The hinge


44


joining the one end of that wall panel is associated with the free edge of the panel portion


12




a


so that the adjacent wall panel


18


can undergo folding movement relative thereto. With this arrangement, the hinge


42


joining the other end of the wall panel


12


is associated therewith so that the adjacent wall panel


16


can undergo folding movement prior to the wall panel


18


which is adjacent the free edge of the panel portion


12




a


.




With reference to

FIG. 2

, the wall panels


12


,


14


,


16


, and


18


include not only the rear wall panel


12


, but also a front wall panel


14


which is narrower in width than the rear wall panel


12


by the width of the door


22


, a wider side wall panel


16


, and a narrower side wall panel


18


which is located adjacent the panel portion


12




a


. As best shown in

FIG. 5

, the wider side wall panel


16


is foldable into confronting relation to the rear wall panel


12


, the front wall panel


14


is foldable into confronting relation to the narrower side wall panel


18


, and the folded front wall panel


14


and narrower side wall panel


18


are foldable into confronting relation to the folded wider side wall panel


16


.




With the arrangement just described, the panel set generally designated


100


(see

FIG. 5

) is collapsibly folded into an extremely compact arrangement. This panel set


100


will be seen after it has been folded and is in its place within the transportable carrying case


59


in FIG.


4


. As there shown, the panel set


100


can be placed on an elevated floor


102


provided within the transportable carrying case


102


and is reinforced with structural members


103


.




In the preferred embodiment, the hinges


42


,


44


, and


46


comprise piano hinges and the door


22


is hingedly mounted to the wall supporting post


28


on the wider side wall panel


16


by utilizing a plurality of door hinges


104


on the door


22


and a corresponding plurality of post hinges


106


on the wall supporting post


28


(see FIG.


8


). The door hinges


104


are secured to the post hinges


106


with hinge pins


108


. Advantageously, the door


22


is provided with louvers as at


110


and


112


in order to restrict visibility therethrough while at the same time accommodating air circulation through the louvers and the air circulation openings


62


-


76


in the removable ceiling


48


so as to render the interior suitable for a human occupant therewithin.




With reference to

FIG. 1

, the portable room


10


may advantageously include a wall supporting post


114


associated with the free end of the panel portion


12




a


. The hinge


44


will be seen from

FIG. 2

to be associated with the juncture between the panel portion


12




a


and the wall panel


18


generally at the wall supporting post


114


to accommodate the previously described collapsible folding movement of the various wall panels in the sequence set forth above. With this arrangement, the wall supporting post


114


provides still additional support for the portable room


10


generally at the point of the connection at the hinge


44


.




Referring to

FIGS. 2

,


5


, and


6


, the portable room


10


may also advantageously include a removable mirror


116


, a removable shelf


118


, and at least one removable hook


120


. The removable mirror


116


and the removable shelf


118


can include conventional horizontally extending, downwardly facing flanges (not shown) that cooperate with corresponding conventional horizontally extending, upwardly facing flanges (also not shown) that vertically interlock upon undergoing relative vertical sliding movement. As for the removable hook(s),

FIGS. 7



a


and


7




b


illustrate their shape which permits them to be suspended from the upper edge of the wall panels prior to placement of the removable ceiling thereon.




While in the foregoing there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that the details herein given may be varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. A portable room, comprising:a plurality of walls including three rigid wall panels and a fourth wall panel having a rigid first portion and a second portion, the second portion defining a door opening for receiving a door therein; a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the fourth wall panel second portion; each of the wall panels having a wall supporting post operatively associated with and rigidly secured to at least one of the opposite ends thereof; at least one of the wall panels having a height dimension less than that of the wall supporting posts to provide a space for air circulation; the air circulation space being disposed between the bottom of the wall panel(s) and a supporting surface for the wall supporting posts; hinge means joining each of the wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the wall panels relative to each other; and a removable ceiling supported on the wall panels and having at least one opening which with the air circulation space permits air circulation.
  • 2. The portable room of claim 1 wherein each of the wall panels has a wall supporting post operatively associated with each of the opposite ends thereof.
  • 3. The portable room of claim 1 wherein the hinge means accommodates folding of the wall panels to a width no greater than the greatest width of the wall panels.
  • 4. The portable room of claim 1 including a transportable carrying case having an internal width dimension generally commensurate with the greatest width of the wall panels.
  • 5. The portable room of claim 1 including a transportable carrying case having a height dimension for receiving at least the four wall panels after collapsible folding movement.
  • 6. The portable room of claim 1 wherein the removable ceiling includes means for maintaining adjacent ones of the four wall panels substantially perpendicular.
  • 7. The portable room of claim 1 wherein the air circulation opening includes means for restricting visibility from ceiling-mounted security cameras therethrough.
  • 8. The portable room of claim 1 including a light fixture integral with the removable ceiling having an electrical cord and plug extending therefrom.
  • 9. A portable room, comprising:a plurality of walls including three rigid wall panels and a fourth wall panel having a rigid first portion and a second portion, the second portion defining a door opening for receiving a door therein: a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the fourth wall panel second portion, each of the wall panels having a wall supporting post operatively associated with and rigidly secured to at least one of the opposite ends thereof: at least one of the wall panels having a height dimension less than that of the wall supporting posts to provide a space for air circulation. and further wherein one of the wall panels has a panel portion at one end extending perpendicular to the remainder of that one of the wall panels; the air circulation space being disposed between the bottom of the wall panel(s) and a supporting surface for the wall supporting posts: hinge means joining each of the wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the wall panels relative to each other; and a removable ceiling supported on the wall panels and having at least one opening which with the air circulation space permits air circulation.
  • 10. The portable room of claim 9 wherein the hinge means joining the one end of that one of the wall panels is operatively associated with the free edge of the panel portion.
  • 11. A portable room, comprising:a plurality of walls including four wall panels with at least one of the wall panels defining a door opening for receiving a door therein; a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the one wall panel; each of the four wall panels having at least one wall supporting post operatively associated with and securely affixed to each of the opposite ends thereof; hinge means joining each of the four wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the wall panels relative to each other. at least two of the adjacent wall panels being adapted to cooperate with the hinge means to thereby permit folding of the two adjacent wall panels to a collapsed position wherein the two adjacent wall panels receive therebetween the other two wall panels; and a removable ceiling having means cooperating with the four wall panels for maintaining adjacent ones of the four wall panels substantially perpendicular.
  • 12. The portable room of claim 11 including a transportable carrying case having an internal width dimension generally commensurate with the greatest width of the wall panels.
  • 13. The portable room of claim 11 including a transportable carrying case having a height dimension for receiving at least the four wall panels after collapsible folding movement.
  • 14. A portable room, comprising:a plurality of walls including four wall panels with at least one of the wall panels defining a door opening for receiving a door therein and wherein another one of the wall panels has a panel portion at one end extending perpendicular to the remainder of the another one of the wall panels; a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the one wall panel: each of the four wall panels having at least one wall supporting post operatively associated with and securelv affixed to each of the opposite ends thereof: hinge means joining each of the four wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the wall panels relative to each other; and a removable ceiling having means cooperating with the four wall panels for maintaining adjacent ones of the four wall panels substantially perpendicular.
  • 15. The portable room of claim 14 wherein the hinge means joining the one end of that one of the wall panels is operatively associated with the free edge of the panel portion.
  • 16. A portable fitting room and transportable carrying case, comprising:a plurality of walls including four generally rigid wall panels with at least one of the wall panels defining a door opening for receiving a door therein; a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the one wall panel; each of the four wall panels having at least one wall supporting post operatively associated with at least one of the opposite ends thereof; hinge means joining each of the four wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the four wall panels relative to each other such that the four wall panels being collapsible by folding movement using the hinge means to a width which is no greater than the greatest width of the four wall panels; a removable ceiling having means cooperating with upper edges of the four wall panels for maintaining adjacent ones of the four wall panels substantially perpendicular; and a transportable carrying case having an internal width dimension generally commensurate with the greatest width of the wall panels and a height for receiving the four wall panels after collapsible folding movement, the door and the removable ceiling therewithin.
  • 17. The portable fitting room and transportable carrying case of claim 16 wherein at least one of the wall panels has a height dimension less than that of the wall supporting posts to provide a space for air circulation, the air circulation space being disposed between the bottom of the wall panel(s) and a supporting surface for the wall supporting posts to permit the flow of air thereunder, the removable ceiling having at least one opening therein which cooperates with the air circulation space under the bottom of the wall panel(s) to thereby permit air circulation through the portable room.
  • 18. The portable fitting room and transportable carrying case of claim 16 including a removable mirror, a removable shelf, and at least one removable hook.
  • 19. A portable fitting room and transportable carrying case. comprising:a plurality of walls including four wall panels with at least one of the wall panels defining a door opening for receiving a door therein; a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the one wall panel; each of the four wall panels having at least one wall supporting post operatively associated with at least one of the opposite ends thereof; hinge means joining each of the four wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the four wall panels relative to each other such that the four wall panels being collapsible by folding movement using the hinge means to a width which is no greater than the greatest width of the four wall panels; wherein one of the wall panels has a panel portion at one end extending perpendicular to the remainder of that one of the wall panels, the hinge means joining the one end of that wall panel being associated with the free edge of the panel portion so that the adjacent wall panel can undergo folding movement relative thereto, the hinge means joining the other end of that wall panel being associated therewith so that the adjacent wall panel can undergo folding movement prior to the wall panel adjacent the free edge of the panel portion; a removable ceiling having means cooperating with upper edges of the four wall panels for maintaining adjacent ones of the four wall panels substantially perpendicular: and a transportable carrying case having an internal width dimension generally commensurate with the greatest width of the wall panels and a height for receiving the four wall panels after collapsible folding movement, the door and the removable ceiling therewithin.
  • 20. A portable room, comprising:a plurality of walls including four wall panels with at least one of the wall panels defining a door opening for receiving a door therein; a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the one wall panel; each of the four wall panels having at least one wall supporting post permanently secured thereto; hinge means joining each of the four wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the wall panels and their associated wall supporting posts relative to each other, at least one of the walls being adapted so that the one wall is disposed in spaced relationship from an adjacent wall upon folding movement thereof; and a removable ceiling having means cooperating with the four wall panels for maintaining adjacent ones of the four wall panels substantially perpendicular, the wall panel cooperating means including a flange extending generally parallel to each of four edges of the removable ceiling.
  • 21. The portable room of claim 20 wherein the removable ceiling is generally rectangular and the flanges define a generally rectangular recess for receiving upper edges of the wall panels.
  • 22. The portable room of claim 21 wherein the flanges each include an inner flange portion and an outer flange portion defining a wall panel-receiving channel.
  • 23. The portable room of claim 22 wherein each of the wall panel-receiving channels is perpendicular to the two next adjacent wall panel-receiving channels.
  • 24. A portable fitting room and transportable carrying case, comprising:a plurality of walls including four wall panels with at least one of the wall panels defining a door opening for receiving a door therein; a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the one wall panel;. each of the four wall panels having at least one wall supporting post operatively associated with at least one of the opposite ends thereof; hinge means joining each of the four wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the four wall panels relative to each other such that the four wall panels being collapsible by folding movement using the hinge means to a width which is no greater than the greatest width of the four wall panels; a removable ceiling having means cooperating with upper edges of the four wall panels for maintaining adjacent ones of the four wall panels substantially perpendicular, the wall panel cooperating means further having a flange extending generally parallel to each of four edges of the removable ceiling, the removable ceiling being generally rectangular and the flanges defining a generally rectangular recess for receiving upper edges of the wall panels therewithin, the flanges each including an inner flange portion and an outer flange portion spaced apart by a distance generally commensurate with the thickness of the wall panels to define a wall panel-receiving channel therebetween; and a transportable carrying case having an internal width dimension generally commensurate with the greatest width of the wall panels and a height for receiving the four wall panels after collapsible folding movement, the door and the removable ceiling therewithin.
  • 25. A portable fitting room and transportable carrying case, comprising:a plurality of walls including four wall panels with at least one of the wall panels defining a door opening for receiving a door therein; a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the one wall panel; each of the four wall panels having at least one wall supporting post operatively associated with at least one of the opposite ends thereof; hinge means joining each of the four wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the four wall panels relative to each other such that the four wall panels being collapsible by folding movement using the hinge means to a width which is no greater than the greatest width of the four wall panels; a removable ceiling having means cooperating with upper edges of the four wall panels for maintaining adjacent ones of the four wall panels substantially perpendicular, the ceiling further including an opening, the opening having means for restricting visibility from ceiling-mounted security cameras therehrough, the visibility restricting means comprising a gridwork patterned insert disposed within the opening to permit air flow while restricting visibility from above the portable room, the removable ceiling also having a light fixture integral therewith and having an electrical cord and plug extending therefrom for supplying electricity for utilizing the light fixture to illuminate the portable room; and a transportable carrying case having an internal width dimension generally commensurate with the greatest width of the wall panels and a height for receiving the four wall panels after collapsible folding movement, the door and the removable ceiling therewithin.
  • 26. A portable fitting room and transportable carrying case, comprising:a front wall panel defining a door opening for receiving a door therein, a rear wall panel having a panel portion at one end extending perpendicular to the remainder of the rear wall panel, the front wall panel being narrower in width than the rear wall panel by the width of the door, a wider side wall panel and a narrower side wall panel adjacent the panel portion, the wider side wall panel being foldable into confronting relation to the rear wall panel, the front wall panel being foldable into confronting relation to the narrower side wall panel, and the folded front wall panel and narrower side wall panel being foldable into confronting relation to the folded wider side wall panel; a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the front wall panel; each of the four wall panels having at least one wall supporting post operatively associated with at least one of the opposite ends thereof; hinge means joining each of the four wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the four wall panels relative to each other such that the width which is no greater than the greatest width of the four wall panels, the hinge means joining the narrower side wall panel to a free edge of the panel portion so that the narrower side wall panel can undergo folding movement relative to the rear wall panel, the hinge means further joining the wider side wall panel to another edge of the rear wall panel so that the wider side wall panel can undergo folding movement prior to the narrower side wall panel; a removable ceiling having means cooperating with upper edges of the four wall panels for maintaining adjacent ones of the four wall panels substantially perpendicular; and a transportable carrying case having an internal width dimension generally commensurate with the greatest width of the wall panels and a height for receiving the four wall panels after collapsible folding movement, the door and the removable ceiling therewithin.
  • 27. The portable fitting room and transportable carrying case of claim 26 wherein the hinge means comprises piano hinges and the door is hingedly mounted to a wall supporting post on the wider side wall panel by a plurality of door hinges on the door and a corresponding plurality of post hinges on the wall supporting post wherein the door hinges are secured to the post hinges with hinge pins with the door having louvers to restrict visibility therethrough while at the same time accommodating air circulation through the louvers and the air circulation opening in the removable ceiling.
  • 28. A portable room, comprising:a plurality of rigid walls, a front one of the walls defining a door opening, the front wall and the door opening being adapted to receive a door for substantially closing the opening; a door hingedly mounted to the front wall; a plurality of wall supporting posts, the wall supporting posts being operatively associated with at least two of the walls, the wall supporting posts cooperating with their associated walls to thereby support the portable room on a support surface, at least one of the wall supporting posts cooperating with the front wall to define a portion of the door opening; a plurality of hinges, each of the hinges being adapted to join each of the walls to its adjacent walls, at least one of the hinges being disconnectable, the hinges cooperating with the walls to thereby permit each of the walls to be foldable into confronting relationship with at least one of its adjacent walls; and a removable ceiling being adapted to engage at least some of the walls for maintaining each of the walls substantially perpendicular to its adjacent walls.
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Entry
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