Patent Application
20230407671
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The disclosure relates to screening assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new screening assembly for screening an event from being viewed by passersby. The present invention discloses a screening assembly comprising a set of selectively mutually couplable shielding devices, each of which comprises a foldable frame, a panel, and a base, which is useful in screening an event from being viewed by passersby.
The prior art relates to screening assemblies. Prior art screening assemblies may comprise pairs of trailers with screens that extend between the trailers, roller screens that are akin to horizontally deployable window shades, and screens that are secured between extensible posts, which may have tripodal bases, by means of cables, couplers, and the like. Prior art screening assemblies also may comprise inflatable screens, and screening assemblies that comprise primary screens that extend between extensible posts and secondary screens that are selectively attachable to the extensible posts and the primary screens to increase overall heights of the screening assemblies. Prior art screening assemblies also may comprise screening assemblies that have vertically foldable frames that are rollable, or rectangular foldable frames to which screens and weighted bases are attachable. What is lacking in the prior art screening assembly comprising a set of selectively mutually couplable shielding devices, each of which comprises a foldable frame, a panel, and a base. The panel, which is substantially opaque, is attached to and extends between the lower element and the side elements. The base is attached to the lower element and stabilizes the frame on a surface.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a set of shielding devices, the shielding devices of which are selectively mutually couplable. Each shielding device comprises a frame, a panel, and a base. The frame comprises a lower element and a pair of side elements. The lower element comprises a pair of segments, which are mutually hingedly attached so that said lower element is foldable. Each side element is hingedly attached to a respective opposed end of the lower element and is foldable into substantial abutment with the lower element. The side element comprises a pair of sections, which are mutually hingedly attached so that the side element is foldable. The panel, which is substantially opaque, is attached to and extends between the lower element and the pair of side elements. The base is attached to the lower element and is configured to stabilize the frame on a surface, with the frame being substantially perpendicular to the surface. The set of shielding devices is configured for deployment proximate to a perimeter of a site of an event, such as an accident, a crime scene, and the like, to screen the event from being viewed by passersby.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The panel 16, which is substantially opaque, is attached to and extends between the lower element 20 and the pair of side elements 22. As shown in
The base 18 is attached to the lower element 20 and is configured to stabilize the frame 14 on a surface, with the frame 14 being substantially perpendicular to the surface. As shown in
The set of shielding devices 12 is configured for deployment proximate to a perimeter of a site of an event, such as an accident, a crime scene, and the like, to screen the event from being viewed by passersby. Such events typically distract passersby, such as drivers and pedestrians, leading to backups, additional accidents, and a lack of privacy for those involved with the event. The selectively deployable screening assembly 10 can be used in any situation wherein additional privacy or temporary barrier is desired.
Each of a plurality of first fasteners 40 is attached to a respective shielding device 12 proximate to a first side element 42 of the respective shielding device 12. Each of a plurality of second fasteners 44, which are complementary to the first fasteners 40, is attached to a respective shielding device 12 proximate to a second side element 46 of the respective shielding device 12. As shown in
The selectively deployable screening assembly 10 also may comprise a carrying case 60, as shown in
The selectively deployable screening assembly 10 enables a method of screening an event from being viewed by passersby 62. The method 62 comprises a first step 64 of providing a selectively deployable screening assembly 10 according to the specification above. A second step 66 of the method 62 is unfolding the lower element 20 and the side elements 22 of each shielding device 12. A third step 68 of the method 62 is positioning the shielding devices 12 substantially vertically upon their bases 18 proximate to a perimeter of a site of an event. A fourth step 70 of the method 62 is mutually coupling the shielding devices 12 of the set of shielding devices 12.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
