US20020179132A1 - Expandable collapsible portable dressing curtain - Google Patents
Expandable collapsible portable dressing curtain Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020179132A1 US20020179132A1 US09/841,702 US84170201A US2002179132A1 US 20020179132 A1 US20020179132 A1 US 20020179132A1 US 84170201 A US84170201 A US 84170201A US 2002179132 A1 US2002179132 A1 US 2002179132A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- curtain
- hoop
- sections
- tubular sections
- allowing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H1/00—Buildings or groups of buildings for dwelling or office purposes; General layout, e.g. modular co-ordination or staggered storeys
- E04H1/12—Small buildings or other erections for limited occupation, erected in the open air or arranged in buildings, e.g. kiosks, waiting shelters for bus stops or for filling stations, roofs for railway platforms, watchmen's huts or dressing cubicles
- E04H1/1205—Small buildings erected in the open air
- E04H1/1244—Dressing or beach cabins
Definitions
- This invention relates in general to curtains and in more specifically to portable curtains that may expand and collapse.
- the principal object of the invention is to provide such a device for use in insuring privacy for those who wish and/or need to change their clothes in privacy.
- Another object is to provide such a device in lightweight, flexible material that can expand and collapse for easy storage in such containers as a backpack, duffel bag, or glove compartment of a car.
- a further object is to provide such a device that can be affixed to a surface by way of suction cups or hooks.
- the foregoing objects can be accomplished by providing a device that yields an enclosure made of a lightweight curtain suspended by a hoop that is attached to retractable arms on which suction cups and/or hooks are attached.
- the lightweight curtain's suspension is made possible by a hem on the upper edge of the material through which the hoop is passed.
- the curtain is cut out twice in small sections on opposite diameters along the hem exposing the hoop. Both exposed areas of the hoop are adhered to two separate pluralities of tubular sections.
- the it bottom section is attached to suction cups.
- the upper section has a bottom end portion of reduced diameter fitted in the upper-end portion of the bottom section. The connection between adjacent sections allows one section be placed into the other by way of a sliding action.
- the upper section is nearly inside the entire bottom section. At full expansion, said sections are not to come apart from one another. Cantilevered near the end of each of the bottom sections are small-in-diameter extensions that extend at an angle from said tubular sections as far as the said suction cups and provide support to the entire device. Device maintains stability at full expansion, adhered to a smooth surface by suction cups or to a structure to which hooks may attach and supported with the said cantilevers. Objection of easy storage is made possible at full contraction of upper tubular sections housed in the bottom sections. Hoop is twisted in a fashion that allows its size to be diminished by half as would the doubling of a rubber band.
- FIG. 1 is a side expansion of expandable/portable dressing curtain in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a top perspective of device in FIG. 1 at full expansion.
- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, top perspective of the edge of the device in FIG. 1 showing cutout of curtain's material
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, side perspective of tubular pluralities showing attached suction cups and hooks and supporting cantilevers of such device with parts broken away.
- FIG. 5 is a top perspective of device in FIG. 1 with supporting arms fully contracted and hoop twisted such as the doubling of a rubber band.
- the preferred dressing curtain in accordance with the present invention includes a cylindrical curtain 1 which preferable is of lightweight, durable material suspended by a flexible hoop 3 , attached to retractable arms on which suction cups 2 are attached.
- the curtain's suspension is made possible by a hem in the upper edge of the material through which the hoop is passed.
- the curtain is cut out twice in small sections 8 on opposite diameters exposing the hoop 3 best seen in FIG. 3. Both exposed areas of hoop 3 are adhered to two separate pluralities of tubular sections 5 and 6 as seen in FIG. 3.
- the upper section 5 has a bottom end portion of reduced diameter fitted in the upper-end portion of the bottom section 6 best seen in FIG. 4.
- the bottom section of the two separate tubular pluralities 6 are attached to suction cups 2 .
- cantilevered near the end of each of the bottom sections are small-in-diameter extensions 4 that extend at an angle from tubular sections 5 and 6 as far as the suction cups 2 and provide support to the entire device.
- Device maintains stability at full expansion, adhered to a smooth surface by suction cups 2 or by hooks 9 to structures such as chain-link fencing, supported with the cantilevers 4 .
- Hoop 3 is twisted in a fashion that allows its size to be diminished by half as would the doubling of a rubber band best seen in FIG. 5.
- the height of the curtain can be adjusted to the height of the area of the user's body, which the user may want to keep hidden or covered.
- User may step inside fully expanded curtain while its suction cups or hooks are not adhered to any surface.
- Tubular sections may or may not be contracted.
- suction cups or hooks When suction cups or hooks are secured user pulls outward away from surface so that the upper sections of supporting tubular arms are pulled away from lower sections but sections are to come apart from one another.
- suction cups or hooks are pulled off from surface freeing entire device from surface.
- the construction of the device allows it to be contracted easily and quickly then stored and transported easily in such containers as a backpack, duffel bag, glove compartment or trunk of a car.
- the entire device may drop to the floor and user steps out.
- Hoop of device can be held on opposite diameters and, in a twisting fashion, user will double hoop as one would in the doubling of a rubber band, diminishing size of device by half.
- the height of the device's curtain at full expansion is at least about 36 inches and at least about 25 inches in diameter.
- Attached tubular sections are at least about 12 inches each so that when the sections are extended, full length of device's standards are at least about 2 feet.
- Suction cups are about one inch in diameter.
- Each cantilever should be long enough so that the ends of each of the cantilevers attaches to about the middle the tubular sections while the other ends of each said cantilevers extends to about the edge of the suction cups and/or hooks.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)
Abstract
A curtain is suspended by a hoop that is supported by retractable arms of which suction cups and/or hooks are attached. The entire curtain can be affixed to any smooth surface, such as that of a car door, or to structures such as fences, by way of the suction cups or hooks at the end of the retractable arms. The length of the curtain is such that it will provide needed privacy for one wishing to change clothes. The hoop and curtain are of flexible material to allow contraction and expansion for storage and use respectively.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates in general to curtains and in more specifically to portable curtains that may expand and collapse.
- 2. Prior Art
- Finding a place with privacy in order for one to change clothes, especially for one participating in recreational outdoor sports such as surfing or softball, is common for the sports' participants. In the past participants have had to find hiding places behind small tents, open car doors or even have had others hold towels to hide them. Surfers have had to wrap towels around their waists, over their wet suits, pull down the wet suit, and then change into dry clothing all while trying to keep the towel intact around their waist sometimes exposing themselves in public. These people have not completely solved the problem. Tents aren't big enough to hide behind or aren't portable enough. Open car doors only provide privacy to one side of the body. Towels often fall off of bodies trying to change.
- For differnet purposes, devices are know which collapse and expand that could shield one from viewers using them such as “Ultimate Portable Blind” of Jones U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,706, the “Folding and Telescoping Sports Shelter” of Cook U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,525 and the “Collapsible Prinvacy Shelter” of Maggio U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,265
- No device is known, however, that can attach to most surfaces and provide privacy for changing clothes and fold up in a manner that provides easy storage and transportation of device.
- The principal object of the invention is to provide such a device for use in insuring privacy for those who wish and/or need to change their clothes in privacy.
- It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a device that is built simply and inexpensively.
- Another object is to provide such a device in lightweight, flexible material that can expand and collapse for easy storage in such containers as a backpack, duffel bag, or glove compartment of a car.
- A further object is to provide such a device that can be affixed to a surface by way of suction cups or hooks.
- The foregoing objects can be accomplished by providing a device that yields an enclosure made of a lightweight curtain suspended by a hoop that is attached to retractable arms on which suction cups and/or hooks are attached. The lightweight curtain's suspension is made possible by a hem on the upper edge of the material through which the hoop is passed. The curtain is cut out twice in small sections on opposite diameters along the hem exposing the hoop. Both exposed areas of the hoop are adhered to two separate pluralities of tubular sections. The it bottom section is attached to suction cups. The upper section has a bottom end portion of reduced diameter fitted in the upper-end portion of the bottom section. The connection between adjacent sections allows one section be placed into the other by way of a sliding action. At full contraction of sections, the upper section is nearly inside the entire bottom section. At full expansion, said sections are not to come apart from one another. Cantilevered near the end of each of the bottom sections are small-in-diameter extensions that extend at an angle from said tubular sections as far as the said suction cups and provide support to the entire device. Device maintains stability at full expansion, adhered to a smooth surface by suction cups or to a structure to which hooks may attach and supported with the said cantilevers. Objection of easy storage is made possible at full contraction of upper tubular sections housed in the bottom sections. Hoop is twisted in a fashion that allows its size to be diminished by half as would the doubling of a rubber band.
- Reference Numerals In Drawings:
1 curtain 2 suction cups 3 hoop 4 cantilevers 5 upper tubular section 6 bottom tubular section 8 section cut out 9 hooks - FIG. 1 is a side expansion of expandable/portable dressing curtain in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a top perspective of device in FIG. 1 at full expansion.
- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, top perspective of the edge of the device in FIG. 1 showing cutout of curtain's material
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, side perspective of tubular pluralities showing attached suction cups and hooks and supporting cantilevers of such device with parts broken away.
- FIG. 5 is a top perspective of device in FIG. 1 with supporting arms fully contracted and hoop twisted such as the doubling of a rubber band.
- As shown in the drawings, the preferred dressing curtain in accordance with the present invention includes a
cylindrical curtain 1 which preferable is of lightweight, durable material suspended by aflexible hoop 3, attached to retractable arms on whichsuction cups 2 are attached. The curtain's suspension is made possible by a hem in the upper edge of the material through which the hoop is passed. The curtain is cut out twice insmall sections 8 on opposite diameters exposing thehoop 3 best seen in FIG. 3. Both exposed areas ofhoop 3 are adhered to two separate pluralities oftubular sections - The
upper section 5 has a bottom end portion of reduced diameter fitted in the upper-end portion of thebottom section 6 best seen in FIG. 4. The bottom section of the two separatetubular pluralities 6 are attached tosuction cups 2. - The connection between adjacent sections allows one
section 5 to be placed snugly into the other 6 by way of a sliding action. At full contraction of sections, theupper section 5 is nearly inside theentire bottom section 6 as best seen in FIG. 5. At full expansion, as seen in FIG. 1, said sections are not to come apart from one another - As best seen in FIG. 4, to prevent collapsing of device when in use, cantilevered near the end of each of the bottom sections are small-in-
diameter extensions 4 that extend at an angle fromtubular sections suction cups 2 and provide support to the entire device. Device maintains stability at full expansion, adhered to a smooth surface bysuction cups 2 or by hooks 9 to structures such as chain-link fencing, supported with thecantilevers 4. - Objection of easy storage is made possible at full contraction of upper
tubular sections 5 and housed in thebottom sections 6. Hoop 3 is twisted in a fashion that allows its size to be diminished by half as would the doubling of a rubber band best seen in FIG. 5. - In use, the height of the curtain can be adjusted to the height of the area of the user's body, which the user may want to keep hidden or covered.
- User may step inside fully expanded curtain while its suction cups or hooks are not adhered to any surface. Tubular sections may or may not be contracted. User raises device to desired height and adheres suction cups or hooks to surface. When suction cups or hooks are secured user pulls outward away from surface so that the upper sections of supporting tubular arms are pulled away from lower sections but sections are to come apart from one another.
- To provide support, user may adjust cantilevers so that they are touching surface below the suction cups.
- When user is done with device or no longer needing privacy, suction cups or hooks are pulled off from surface freeing entire device from surface. The construction of the device allows it to be contracted easily and quickly then stored and transported easily in such containers as a backpack, duffel bag, glove compartment or trunk of a car. The entire device may drop to the floor and user steps out. Hoop of device can be held on opposite diameters and, in a twisting fashion, user will double hoop as one would in the doubling of a rubber band, diminishing size of device by half.
- Preferably the height of the device's curtain at full expansion is at least about 36 inches and at least about 25 inches in diameter. Attached tubular sections are at least about 12 inches each so that when the sections are extended, full length of device's standards are at least about 2 feet. Suction cups are about one inch in diameter. Each cantilever should be long enough so that the ends of each of the cantilevers attaches to about the middle the tubular sections while the other ends of each said cantilevers extends to about the edge of the suction cups and/or hooks.
Claims (5)
1. A portable/expandable dressing curtain for use in providing users who wish not to expose themselves in public, comprising of an enclosure made of a lightweight curtain suspended by a hoop, two separate pluralities of tubular sections end to end with the bottom section of said tubular sections attaching to said hoop at opposite diameters, the upper section having a bottom end portion of reduced diameter fitting in the upper-end portion of the bottom section connecting adjacent sections, allowing one section be placed into the other by way of a sliding action allowing, at full contraction of sections, the said upper section nearly inside the entire bottom section and at full expansion, not allowing said sections to come apart from one another, suction cups that receive the lower portion of said bottom sections allowing entire device to be secured to a surface.
2. A portable/expandable dressing curtain comprising of an enclosure made of a cylindrical curtain suspended by a hoop, two separate pluralities of tubular sections end to end for attaching to said hoop at opposite diameters of said curtain to the bottom section of said tubular sections, the upper section having a bottom end portion of reduced diameter fitting in the upper-end portion of the bottom section connecting adjacent sections, including connection means for deterring separation of said tubular arms from hoop, two small-in-diameter extensions cantilevered near the end of each of the bottom tubular sections extending at an angle from said tubular sections as far as attached suction cups at the end of bottom section providing support to the entire device so as to maintain stability at full expansion, assisting said tubular arms in maintaining projection of hoop horizontally, allowing top of said cylindrical curtain to hang high enough that at least only a portion of bottom edge of curtain touches the ground or is suspended completely off the ground.
3. A portable/expandable dressing curtain comprising of an enclosure made of a curtain suspended by a hoop and two separate tubular sections connected to suction cups for use in adhering to a smooth surface and supported with extensions cantilevered from said arms for supporting of entire device.
4. A portable/expandable dressing curtain comprising of an enclosure made of a curtain suspended by two separate pluralities of tubular sections attached to suction cups for adherence to a surface allowing suspension of device, a flexible hoop with physical properties allowing said hoop to be twisted in a fashion as the doubling of a rubber band, diminishing the size of the device by at least half for easy storage.
5. A portable/expandable dressing curtain comprising of an enclosure made of a curtain suspended by a hoop and two separate tubular sections connected to hooks for use in latching to a surface or structure and supported with extensions cantiLevered from said arms for supporting of entire device.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/841,702 US20020179132A1 (en) | 2001-04-23 | 2001-04-23 | Expandable collapsible portable dressing curtain |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/841,702 US20020179132A1 (en) | 2001-04-23 | 2001-04-23 | Expandable collapsible portable dressing curtain |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20020179132A1 true US20020179132A1 (en) | 2002-12-05 |
Family
ID=25285505
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US09/841,702 Abandoned US20020179132A1 (en) | 2001-04-23 | 2001-04-23 | Expandable collapsible portable dressing curtain |
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US (1) | US20020179132A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080054674A1 (en) * | 2006-09-05 | 2008-03-06 | Atmosphere Creative Inc. | Portable privacy shield for an automobile |
US7464983B1 (en) * | 2005-12-12 | 2008-12-16 | Lombardo Acosta | Changing curtain apparatus |
GB2533617A (en) * | 2014-12-23 | 2016-06-29 | Cooper Robert | Shelter assembly |
US9387921B1 (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2016-07-12 | The United States Of America, As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture | Self closing net door for aircraft |
-
2001
- 2001-04-23 US US09/841,702 patent/US20020179132A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7464983B1 (en) * | 2005-12-12 | 2008-12-16 | Lombardo Acosta | Changing curtain apparatus |
US20080054674A1 (en) * | 2006-09-05 | 2008-03-06 | Atmosphere Creative Inc. | Portable privacy shield for an automobile |
US8708027B2 (en) | 2006-09-05 | 2014-04-29 | Atmosphere Creative Inc. | Portable privacy shield for an automobile |
US9387921B1 (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2016-07-12 | The United States Of America, As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture | Self closing net door for aircraft |
GB2533617A (en) * | 2014-12-23 | 2016-06-29 | Cooper Robert | Shelter assembly |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |