U.S. patent application number 11/088098 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-28 for portable screen.
Invention is credited to Neocles G. Athanasiades, John E. McLoughlin, Toh K. Meng.
Application Number | 20060213628 11/088098 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37034015 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060213628 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McLoughlin; John E. ; et
al. |
September 28, 2006 |
Portable screen
Abstract
A portable safety screen is constructed of sight blocking
material and supported by spaced apart uprights. A line extends
between the uprights and the sight blocking material is connected
to the line. The sight blocking material has a plurality of air
passage cuts extending therethrough.
Inventors: |
McLoughlin; John E.; (Lake
Grove, NY) ; Athanasiades; Neocles G.; (Setauket,
NY) ; Meng; Toh K.; (Hauppauge, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Frank L. Hart;Attorney at Law
8911 S. 73rd East Ave.
Tulsa
OK
74133
US
|
Family ID: |
37034015 |
Appl. No.: |
11/088098 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/351 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01F 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/351 |
International
Class: |
A47G 5/00 20060101
A47G005/00 |
Claims
1. A portable screen, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart
uprights; a primary support line connected to and extending between
the uprights; and a sight blocking material connected to the
primary support line and extending between the uprights, said
blocking material having a plurality of air passage cuts extending
therethrough.
2. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are a
multiplicity of air passage cuts extending through the sight
blocking material from the bottom of the sight blocking material to
adjacent the primary support line.
3. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the
multiplicity of air passage cuts are transversely separated one
from the other by at least 4 inches.
4. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the
multiplicity of air passage cuts are transversely separated one
from the other in the range of about 4 to about 12 inches.
5. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lower
portion of the uprights is of tri-pod construction.
6. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the tri-pod
lower portion of each upright is removeably connected to the
upright and the end portion of the upright is tapered to a
point.
7. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the line
extending between and connecting the uprights is a nylon line.
8. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the line
extends beyond the last upright on each end and is connectable to a
stationary object for stabilizing the portable screen.
9. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 1, including first and
second lines each extending from the upper end portion of each
upright to the ground at a distance of about 6 feet from the
respective upright, each first and second line being connectable to
a stationary object for stabilizing the portable screen.
10. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sight
blocking material is formed of organic plastic.
11. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the sight
blocking material is formed of polyethylene.
12. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the
uprights are formed of organic plastic.
13. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
portable screen is sufficiently flexible per 50 feet of length to
be rolled into a cylindrical form having a diameter less than 12
inches.
14. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
portable screen is at least 6 feet in height and at least 50 feet
in length.
15. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sight
blocking material includes first and second layers each having air
passage cuts, said air passage cuts of the first layer being
laterally offset relative to the air passage cuts of the second
layer.
16. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 1, including a
stabilizing bar connectable to an upper end portion of an upright
and being maintainable relative to the ground.
17. A portable screen, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the
stabilizing bar is formed of organic plastic.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The subject invention is directed to a portable screen. More
particularly, the subject invention is directed to a portable
screen that can be used to block the sight of an automobile
accident, for example, from the view of passing motorist.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information
Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0004] One of the many problems associated with work of police and
firemen is to prevent pedestrians from watching them work and
getting in their way and hindering their functions. This is
particularly true where there has been an accident on a highway and
on coming motorist significantly slow down or stop to look.
[0005] In the past, there have been a large number of additional
accidents caused by motorist who show down to watch policemen and
firemen work and not watch where they are driving.
[0006] Although the highway department does have barriers to
separate traffic lanes during construction projects, these
structure are sufficient low to prevent some viewing and are of
concrete and require heavy equipment and a great deal of time to
move and set up.
[0007] The subject invention is directed to overcoming one or more
of the problems as set forth above.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A portable screen is provided having a plurality of
uprights. A line is connected to and extends between the uprights.
A sight blocking material is connected to the line and extends
between the uprights. The blocking material has a plurality of air
passage cuts extending therethrough.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of this
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a partial frontal sectional view of one embodiment
of the lower end portion of an upright;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a frontal view of another embodiment of the sight
blocking material of this invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 4 showing
the double layers of the sight blocking material of this
invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is view of one of the supports and a stabilizing bar
used to maintain the support in an upright position;
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a first end portion of the stabilizing bar
connected to the support; and
[0015] FIG. 7 shows a second end portion of the stabilizing bar
secured to the ground.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a portable screen 10 is provided to
shield accidents and work sites from view. The portable screen 10
has a plurality of spaced apart uprights 12-14 connected one to the
other by a primary support line 16. A sight blocking material 18 is
connected to the primary support line 16 and extends between the
uprights 12-14.
[0017] In the preferred embodiment shown, a multiplicity of air
passage cuts 20-26, for example, extend through the sight blocking
material from the bottom of the sight blocking material to a
location adjacent the primary support line. Desirably these cuts
are separated one from the other in the range of about 4 inches to
about 12 inches. Less than about 4 inches is undesirable because
the resulting panels will not be of sufficient stiffness to block
view when a brisk wind is blowing. Greater separation than about 12
inches is undesirable because the force of the wind will place an
undesirable force on the structure and cause it to fall down.
[0018] The sight blocking material 18 can be formed of any material
which is not transparent and which is sufficiently flexible to be
rolled up. In the preferred embodiment, the sight blocking material
18 is the organic plastic polyethylene. The uprights preferably
also formed of organic plastic and the support lines 16 and 28-34
are preferably formed of nylon. It is further preferred that the
portable screen be sufficiently flexible per 50 feet of length to
be rolled into a cylindrical form having a diameter less than about
12 inches and be at least 6 feet high and 50 feet in length.
[0019] To construct the subject portable screen 10 with a height
less than about 6 feet is undesirable because it will not
sufficiently block the view of a motorist elevated in his vehicle
seat. Further, to construct the subject portable screen 10 of a
length less than about 50 feet would not be of sufficient length to
block the view of a two vehicle accident.
[0020] In the preferred embodiment shown, the primary support line
16 extends beyond the last upright on each opposed screen end and
is connectable to a stationary object, such as a stake 36 or tree
38 or vehicle for example, for stabilizing the portable screen 10.
To further desirably stabilize the screen 10, first and second
lines 29, 30 and 31,32 and 33,34 can each extend from and be
connected to an upper end of a respective upright 12-14. Preferably
each line 29-34 extends from the upper end of its respective
upright to the ground at a location a distance of about 6 feet from
the respective upright. Each of the lines 29-34 are connectable to
a stationary object for stabilizing the portable screen 10. In the
preferred embodiment, each upright has first and second laterally
extending lines.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is preferred that the lower
end portion of each upright 12-14 be of a tripod construction or to
provide greater stability to the screen 10. In the embodiment shown
in FIG. 2, the tripod 40 is removeably connected to the upright 12
and the connecting end portion of the upright 12 is tapered to a
point. By this construction, the uprights can be driven into the
ground where greater stability is needed.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, another embodiment of the sight
blocking material 18 of this invention which has first and second
layers or sheets 42,43 each of which has air passage cuts 20-23 for
example and 50-53. It should be noted that the air passage cuts
50-53 of the second layer or sheet 43 of the sight blocking
material 18 are offset relative to the cuts 20-23 of the first
sheet or layer 42. These offset cuts permit continuous sight
blocking when the wind is blowing and tending to separate the
material along the cut lines.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, a stabilizing bar 44 is used instead of
a supporting line for maintaining the support 13 in an upright
position. In this construction, a first end portion 46 of the
stabilizing bar 44 is connectable to the support 13 and a second
end portion 48 is fixed to the ground. The connection of the first
end portion 46 to the stabilizing bar 44 can be a telescopic type
connection as shown in FIG. 6 or of any other suitable
construction. The second end portion 48 can be maintained relative
to the ground by a stake 54 passing through the bar 44 and into the
ground. The second end portion 48 can also be maintained relative
to the ground by other means known in the art without departing
from this invention. The stabilizing bar 44 is preferably formed of
organic plastic such as polyethylene, but can be formed of other
material, such as metal or wood.
[0024] In the case of an accident, a policeman or fireman can
unroll the portable screen 10 of this invention, stabilize the
screen against wind forces, and screen an accident or work area
from the viewing public.
[0025] Other aspects, objects and advantages will be come apparent
from a study of the drawings, the specification and the appended
claims.
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