US20170370119A1

US20170370119A1 - Portable foldable barriers and methods to produce and use the same

Info

Publication number: US20170370119A1
Application number: US15/632,046
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Allen Powlen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-06-23
Filing date: 2017-06-23
Publication date: 2017-12-28

Abstract

Portable foldable barriers and methods to produce and use the same. An exemplary portable barrier of the present disclosure has a first panel, a second panel connected to the first panel using a first connector, and a third panel connected to the second panel using a second connector, wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel each have a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first connector connects the first surface of the first panel and the first surface of the second panel, and wherein the second connector connects the second surface of the second panel and the second surface of the third panel.

Description

PRIORITY

The present application is related to, and claims the priority benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/353,975, filed Jun. 23, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein expressly and by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Various portable barriers currently on the market may be sufficient for some purposes, but not for all purposes due to the size, weight, configurations, and/or cost of the same.
The present disclosure provides disclosure of relatively inexpensive, lightweight, and portable barriers suitable for a number of purposes including, but not limited to, as portable barriers used in connection with ping pong (table tennis) play.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, comprising a first panel; a second panel connected to the first panel using a first connector; wherein the first panel and the second panel each have a first surface and an opposing second surface; and wherein the first connector connects the first surface of the first panel and the first surface of the second panel.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, comprising a first panel; a second panel connected to the first panel using a first connector; a third panel connected to the second panel using a second connector; wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel each have a first surface and an opposing second surface; wherein the first connector connects the first surface of the first panel and the first surface of the second panel; and wherein the second connector connects the second surface of the second panel and the second surface of the third panel.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, further comprising a fourth panel connected to the third panel using a third connector; wherein the fourth panel also has a first surface and an opposing second surface; and wherein the third connector connects the first surface of the third panel to the first surface of the fourth panel.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, further comprising a fifth panel connected to the fourth panel using a fourth connector; and a sixth panel connected to the fifth panel using a fifth connector; wherein the fifth panel and the sixth panel also each have a first surface and an opposing second surface; wherein the fourth connector connects the second surface of the fourth panel and the second surface of the fifth panel; and wherein the fifth connector connects the first surface of the fifth panel to the first surface of the sixth panel.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, wherein the first connector and the second connector each comprise tape.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, wherein the first connector and the second connector are each selected from the group consisting of a sticker and a hinge.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, further comprising a grip portion applied to at least one of the first panel and/or the third panel.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, wherein the grip portion comprises a quantity of sandpaper.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, wherein the grip portion comprises an aperture defined with each of the first panel and the second panel.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel each comprise a foam section/layer, a first paper substrate adhered to a first side of each of the foam sections/layers, and a second paper substrate adhered to an opposing second side of each of the foam sections/layers.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, wherein at least one of the first panel, the second panel, and/or the third panel has/have a plurality of openings defined therein.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, wherein the first connector, the second connector, and the third connection each comprise tape.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, further comprising a grip portion applied to the first panel and the fourth panel.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, wherein each grip portion comprises a quantity of sandpaper.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, further comprising a grip aperture defined within each of the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, wherein the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector, the fourth connector, and the fifth connector each comprise tape.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, further comprising a grip portion applied to the first panel and the sixth panel
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, comprising a first panel, comprising a first cardboard panel/sheet; a second cardboard panel/sheet connected to the first cardboard panel/sheet; a first cut/notch defined within the first cardboard panel/sheet to allow the second cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the first cut/notch in a first direction; and a second cut/notch defined within the second cardboard panel/sheet to allow the first cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the second cut/notch in a second direction opposite the first direction.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, further comprising a first quantity of tape applied to the second cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the first cut/notch; and a second quantity of tape applied to the first cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the second cut/notch.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, comprising a first panel, comprising a first cardboard panel/sheet; a second cardboard panel/sheet connected to the first cardboard panel/sheet; a third cardboard panel/sheet connected to the second cardboard panel/sheet; a first cut/notch defined within the first cardboard panel/sheet and the second cardboard panel/sheet to allow the third cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the first cut/notch in a first direction; a second cut/notch defined within the second cardboard panel/sheet and the third cardboard panel/sheet to allow the first cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the second cut/notch in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a third cut/notch defined within the first cardboard panel/sheet and the second cardboard panel/sheet to allow the third cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the third cut/notch in the first direction.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portable barrier, further comprising a first quantity of tape applied to the third cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the first cut/notch; and a second quantity of tape applied to the first cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the second cut/notch; and a third quantity of tape applied to the third cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the third cut/notch.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of portable barriers, as shown and described herein.
The present disclosure includes disclosure of methods to produce and/or use portable barriers, as shown and described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, and disclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a portable barrier in an open configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an opposite side of the portable barrier of FIG. 1 in an open configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a portable barrier in an open configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows the portable barrier of FIG. 1 in a closed/folded configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows the portable barrier of FIG. 3 in a closed/folded configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a panel comprising foam core, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A shows a top view of a two-ply cardboard panel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7B shows a top view of a three-ply cardboard panel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows a panel having various openings defined therein/therethrough, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a top view of a three-ply cardboard panel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 shows a panel showing the first planar side and the opposing second planar side, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

An overview of the features, functions and/or configurations of the components depicted in the various figures will now be presented. It should be appreciated that not all of the features of the components of the figures are necessarily described. Some of these non-discussed features, such as various couplers, etc., as well as discussed features are inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed features may be inherent in component geometry and/or configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.
An exemplary portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1, as a front perspective view, positioned upon a substrate 50, such as a floor or table. As shown in FIG. 1, an exemplary portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure comprises a plurality (at least two) panels 102, each panel 102 having a height 104, a width 106, and a thickness 108. The portable barrier 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises four panels 102, labeled as panels 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, and 102 d. In various embodiments, portable barriers 100 can comprise two, three, four, five, six, or more panels 102. Other embodiments, such as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, can comprise a single panel 102 having one or more panel cuts/notches defined therein, as discussed in further detail herein.
Panels 102, as shown in FIG. 1, can be effectively connected to one another using one or more connectors 110. In at least one embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 1, connectors 110 comprise quantities of tape 112 (such as duct tape, masking tape, packing tape, and the like), whereby a first portion of tape 112, for example, is applied to a side or portion of a first panel 102 a, and whereby a second portion of tape 112, for example, is applied to a side or portion of an adjacent second panel 102 b. A first portion of another quantity of tape 112, for example, is applied to a side or portion of a third panel 102 c, and a second portion of that quantity of tape 112, for example, is applied to a side or portion of an adjacent second panel 102 d, in this exemplary embodiment. Tape 112 can span the height 104 of said panels 102, or one or more portions of said height 104 of said panels 102. Exemplary connectors 110 of the present disclosure may include, but are not limited to, duct tape 122, other types of adhesive tape, stickers, other adhesive materials and/or materials used with an adhesive, hinges, and the like, whereby said hinges, for example, could be positioned upon and/or embedded within portions of panels 102.
The “side or portion” of panels 102 referenced above and herein may refer to a first side 1002 or an opposing second side 1004 of a panel, as shown in FIG. 10. First side 1002 is considered as a first planar side of a panel 102, such as a first planar surface, and opposing second side 1004 is considered as a second opposing planar side of the same panel 102, such as a second planar surface. In view of the same, and as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 10 when considered together, a first connector 110 is applied to a first side 1002 of panel 102 a and a first side 1002 of panel 102 b, a second connector 110 is applied to a second side 1004 of panel 102 b and a second side 1004 of panel 102 c, and a third connector 110 is applied to a first side 1002 of panel 102 c and a first side 1002 of panel 102 d.
Exemplary portable barriers 100 of the present disclosure can further comprise one or more grip portions 120, such as shown in FIG. 1. As shown therein, grip portion 120 comprises a quantity of sandpaper 122, such as adhesive sandpaper or sandpaper used within adhesive, whereby sandpaper 122 is positioned upon at least part of one or more panels 102. The exemplary portable barrier 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises two grip portions 120 as adhesive sandpaper 122, where portions of adhesive sandpaper 122 are positioned around portions of the two outer panels 102 a, 102 d, such as at a relative top (as shown in FIG. 1), and/or a relative side or a relative bottom of said panels 102. Sandpaper 122 can, in various embodiments, be positioned only on a relative outside of one or more exemplary panels 102, such as on panels 102 a, 102 d as shown in FIG. 2 (which also wrap around to the opposite sides of panels 102, but which is not necessary). Exemplary grip portions 120 of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, adhesive sandpaper 122 (or sandpaper used with an adhesive to bind to panel 102), one or more grip apertures 124 (described in further detail herein), one or more handles, one or more loops, and the like, providing means for a user to grip an exemplary portable barrier 100 aside from grasping the two relative outside panels of an exemplary barrier 100 when in a folded configuration. Using adhesive sandpaper 122 as a grip portion 120, for example, permits portable barrier 100 can be readily carried, such as when a user grasps a relative front and back of a portable device 100 at the adhesive sandpaper 122 portions. Various panels 102 of the present disclosure can be relatively smooth (low friction) and therefore not permitting an easy grip, and use of adhesive sandpaper 122 (providing higher friction between a hand and portable barrier 100) and/or grip apertures 124 as exemplary grip portions 120 allows easy carrying of a portable barrier 100, when portable barrier 100 is in a folded configuration.
FIG. 2 shows the portable barrier 100 shown in FIG. 1, but as a rear perspective view, positioned upon a substrate 50. As shown therein, a first portion of a quantity of tape 112 is applied to a portion of second panel 102 b, and a second portion of a quantity of tape 112 is applied to a portion of third panel 102 c. As such, and in this exemplary portable barrier 100 embodiment, three separate pieces of duct tape 122 can be used, a first piece applied to a front of portable barrier 100 to connect panel 102 a to panel 102 b, a second piece applied to a back of portable barrier 100 to connect panel 102 b to panel 102 c, and a third piece applied to a front of portable barrier 100 to connect panel 102 c to 102 d. Phrased differently, pieces of duct tape 122 can be used to connect pairs of panels 102 on a front of said panels 102 and to connect said pairs to one another on a back of said panels 102. Duct tape 122 can be used as desired to connect various panels 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, and/or other panels 102, to one another, on a front and/or back of portable barrier 100.
FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of an exemplary portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure positioned upon a substrate 50. As shown therein, such an embodiment comprises six panels 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, 102 e, 102 f, whereby duct tape is used connect panel 102 a to panel 102 b, to connect panel 102 b to 102 c (not shown; duct tape 122 positioned on the opposite side, such as shown in FIG. 2), to connect panel 102 c to panel 102 d, to connect panel 102 d to panel 102 e (not shown; duct tape 122 positioned on the opposite side, such as shown in FIG. 2), and to connect panel 102 e to panel 102 f.
In view of the same, and as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 10 when considered together and the contextual description provided above, a first connector 110 is applied to a first side 1002 of panel 102 a and a first side 1002 of panel 102 b, a second connector 110 is applied to a second side 1004 of panel 102 b and a second side 1004 of panel 102 c, a third connector 110 is applied to a first side 1002 of panel 102 c and a first side 1002 of panel 102 d, a fourth connector 110 is applied to a second side 1004 of panel 102 d and a second side 1004 of panel 102 e, and a fifth connector 110 is applied to a first side 1002 of panel 102 e and a first side 1002 of panel 102 f.
FIG. 3 also shows an embodiment of a portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure, whereby grip portion 120 is a grip aperture 124 defined within various panels 100. Grip apertures 124, as shown in FIG. 3, can be defined within each panel 102 of portable barrier 100, either at once (such as when panels 102 without grip apertures 124 are stacked on top of one another, such as when portable barrier 100 is in a folded configuration), or separately, such as when forming each panel 102 or otherwise preparing each panel 102 for use as part of a portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure. Grip aperture 124, in various embodiments, is sized and shaped to permit a user's palm to fit within said grip aperture 124, so that portable barrier 100 can be readily carried, with a portion if the user's hand within said grip aperture 124, when portable barrier 100 is in a folded configuration.
FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure in a folded configuration, such as a portable barrier 100 embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and/or 2. As shown in FIG. 4, portable barrier 100 can comprise two grip portions 120 as adhesive sandpaper 122, one on a first panel 102 (panel 102 a as shown) and another on a fourth panel 102 (panel 102 d as shown), so that when portable barrier 100 is folded (as shown in FIG. 4), it can be readily carried by gripping the two adhesive sandpaper 122 elements with one hand.
FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure in a folded configuration, such as a portable barrier 100 embodiment shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, portable barrier 100 can comprise grip portions 120 as grip apertures 124 defined within each panel 102 ( panels 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, 102 e, and 102 f, as shown) and defined so that each grip aperture 124 aligns with one another, so that when portable barrier 100 is folded (as shown in FIG. 5), it can be readily carried by placing portions of a hand within each grip aperture 124.
In various portable barrier 100 embodiments of the present disclosure, panels 102 can comprise various materials, including, but not limited to, foam core board, cardboard, wood, metal, plastic, and the like. FIG. 6 shows an exemplary panel 102 of the present disclosure configured as foam core board, comprising a foam section/layer 600, a first paper substrate 602 adhered to a first side of foam section/layer 600, and a second paper substrate 604 adhered to an opposing second side of foam section/layer 600.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show top views of portable barrier 100 embodiments of the present disclosure comprising a single panel 102, but cut/notched so to be able to readily folded, such as with the embodiments of portable barriers 100 shown in FIGS. 1-5 having multiple panels 102. As shown in FIG. 7A, panel 102 is configured as cardboard having a first cardboard layer 700 and a second cardboard layer 702. First cardboard layer 700 can be defined as the region between first cardboard panel/sheet 750 and second cardboard panel/sheet 752, and second cardboard layer 702 can be defined as the region between second cardboard panel/sheet 752 and third card cardboard panel/sheet 754, for example. A first cut/notch 704 a can be defined within first cardboard layer 700 effectively cutting through first cardboard panel/sheet 750, so to allow panel 102 to be easily folded at said cut/notch 704 a. A third cut/notch 704 c can also be defined within first cardboard layer 700 effectively cutting through first cardboard panel/sheet 750, so to allow panel 102 to be easily folded at said cut/notch 704 c. First cut/notch 704 a and third cut/notch 704 c can be on a relative first side of panel 102, while a second cut/notch 704 b can be on a relative opposing second side of panel 102, whereby second cut/notch 704 b can be defined within second cardboard layer 702 effectively cutting through third cardboard panel/sheet 754. Optional tape 112, such as shown in FIG. 7A (and also as applicable to FIG. 7B), can be positioned upon panel 102 on opposite sides of cuts/ notches 704 a, 704 b, and/or 704 c, so to reinforce panel 102 at said cuts/ notches 704 a, 704 b, and/or 704 c while allowing panel 102 to readily fold flat.
The portable barrier 100 embodiment shown in FIG. 7A can be considered as a “two-ply cardboard” embodiment. FIG. 7B shows a “three-ply cardboard” embodiment of a portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7A, panel 102 is configured as cardboard having a first cardboard layer 700, a second cardboard layer 702, and a third cardboard layer 706. First cardboard layer 700 can be defined as the region between first cardboard panel/sheet 750 and second cardboard panel/sheet 752, second cardboard layer 702 can be defined as the region between second cardboard panel/sheet 752 and third card cardboard panel/sheet 754, and third cardboard layer 706 can be defined as the region between third cardboard panel/sheet 754 and fourth cardboard panel/sheet 756, for example. A first cut/notch 704 a can be defined within first cardboard layer 700 and second cardboard layer 702 effectively cutting through first cardboard panel/sheet 750 and second cardboard panel/sheet 752, so to allow panel 102 to be easily folded at said cut/notch 704 a. A third cut/notch 704 c can also be defined within first cardboard layer 700 and second cardboard layer 702 effectively cutting through first cardboard panel/sheet 750 and second cardboard panel/sheet 752, so to allow panel 102 to be easily folded at said cut/notch 704 c. First cut/notch 704 a and third cut/notch 704 c can be on a relative first side of panel 102, while a second cut/notch 704 b can be on a relative opposing second side of panel 102, whereby second cut/notch 704 b can be defined within second cardboard layer 702 and third cardboard layer 706, effectively cutting through third cardboard panel/sheet 754 and fourth cardboard panel/sheet 756. Optional tape 112 (an exemplary connector 110), such as shown in FIG. 7A, can be positioned upon panel 102 on opposite sides of cuts/ notches 704 a, 704 b, and/or 704 c, so to reinforce panel 102 at said cuts/ notches 704 a, 704 b, and/or 704 c while allowing panel 102 to readily fold flat.
Various panels 102 of the present disclosure can have one, two, three, four, or more cuts/ notches 704 a, 704 b, 704 c, and the like, as may be desired. It is noted that said cuts/ notches 704 a, 704, 704 c, and the like, can effectively alternate sides of said panel 102, such as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, to permit easy fan-folding of said panel 102.
Panels 102 of the present disclosure can comprise any number of sizes effective for use as barriers for various purposes. For example, and in at least one embodiment, each panel 102 of a portable barrier 100 can be at or about 18″ wide (a 18″ width 106) by at or about 30″ tall (a 30″ height 104). Other embodiments can be at our about 20″ wide (a 20″ width 106) by at or about 30″ tall (a 30″ height 104). Other sizes, such as widths 106 of 10″, 12″, 14″, 22″, 24″, or larger or smaller, and heights 104 of 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″, 18″, 20″, 24″, 28″, 32″, 36″, 48″, or larger or smaller, are within the scope of the present disclosure.
Exemplary portable barriers 100 of the present disclosure can be used for various purposes, such as ping pong (table tennis) barriers, golf putting barriers, swimming pool barriers, stanchions, room dividers, and/or other uses as may be desired.
FIG. 8 shows an exemplary panel 102 of the present disclosure having openings 800 defined therein. In various embodiments of panels 102 of the present disclosure, said panels 102 can have one, two, three, four, or more openings 800 defined therein, so to reduce weight of panels 102, for example. Openings 800, in various embodiments, have diameters smaller than a diameter of a standard ping pong (table tennis) ball, such as having diameters less than 40 mm.
FIG. 9 shows a portion of another exemplary “three-ply cardboard” embodiment of a portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, panel 102 is configured as cardboard having a first cardboard layer 700, a second cardboard layer 702, and a third cardboard layer 706. First cardboard layer 700 can be defined as the region between first cardboard panel/sheet 750 and second cardboard panel/sheet 752, second cardboard layer 702 can be defined as the region between second cardboard panel/sheet 752 and third card cardboard panel/sheet 754, and third cardboard layer 706 can be defined as the region between third cardboard panel/sheet 754 and fourth cardboard panel/sheet 756, for example. As shown in this example, panel 102 comprises corrugated cardboard, whereby a first corrugation layer 900 is present between a first cardboard panel/sheet 750 and a second cardboard panel/sheet 752, a second corrugation layer 902 is present between second cardboard panel/sheet 752 and a third cardboard panel/sheet 754, and a third corrugation layer 904 is present between third cardboard panel/sheet 754 and a fourth cardboard panel/sheet 756.
A first cut/notch 704 a can be defined within first cardboard layer 700, second cardboard layer 702, and part of third cardboard layer 706, effectively cutting through first cardboard panel/sheet 750, second cardboard panel/sheet 752 third cardboard panel/sheet 754, first corrugation layer 900, and second corrugation layer 902, so to allow panel 102 to be easily folded at said cut/notch 704 a. A second cut/notch 704 b can be on a relative opposing second side of panel 102, whereby second cut/notch 704 b can be defined within second cardboard layer 702 and third cardboard layer 706, effectively cutting through second cardboard panel/sheet 752, third cardboard panel/sheet 754, fourth cardboard panel/sheet 756, second corrugation layer 902, and third corrugation layer 904. Other cuts/notches 704 can be defined therein as may be desired, in various embodiments.
While various embodiments of portable foldable barriers and methods for producing and using the same have been described in considerable detail herein, the embodiments are merely offered as non-limiting examples of the disclosure described herein. It will therefore be understood that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the content thereof.
Further, in describing representative embodiments, the present disclosure may have presented a method and/or a process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition, disclosure directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A portable barrier, comprising:

a first panel;

a second panel connected to the first panel using a first connector;

a third panel connected to the second panel using a second connector;

wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel each have a first surface and an opposing second surface;

wherein the first connector connects the first surface of the first panel and the first surface of the second panel; and

wherein the second connector connects the second surface of the second panel and the second surface of the third panel.

2. The portable barrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth panel connected to the third panel using a third connector;

wherein the fourth panel also has a first surface and an opposing second surface; and

wherein the third connector connects the first surface of the third panel to the first surface of the fourth panel.

3. The portable barrier of claim 2, further comprising:

a fifth panel connected to the fourth panel using a fourth connector; and

a sixth panel connected to the fifth panel using a fifth connector;

wherein the fifth panel and the sixth panel also each have a first surface and an opposing second surface;

wherein the fourth connector connects the second surface of the fourth panel and the second surface of the fifth panel; and

wherein the fifth connector connects the first surface of the fifth panel to the first surface of the sixth panel.

4. The portable barrier of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector each comprise tape.

5. The portable barrier of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are each selected from the group consisting of a sticker and a hinge.

6. The portable barrier of claim 1, further comprises a grip portion applied to at least one of the first panel and/or the third panel.

7. The portable barrier of claim 6, wherein the grip portion comprises a quantity of sandpaper.

8. The portable barrier of claim 6, wherein the grip portion comprises an aperture defined with each of the first panel and the second panel.

9. The portable barrier of claim 1, wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel each comprise a foam section/layer, a first paper substrate adhered to a first side of each of the foam sections/layers, and a second paper substrate adhered to an opposing second side of each of the foam sections/layers.

10. The portable barrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first panel, the second panel, and/or the third panel has/have a plurality of openings defined therein.

11. The portable barrier of claim 2, wherein the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector each comprise tape.

12. The portable barrier of claim 2, further comprising a grip portion applied to the first panel and the fourth panel.

13. The portable barrier of claim 12, wherein each grip portion comprises a quantity of sandpaper.

14. The portable barrier of claim 2, further comprising a grip aperture defined within each of the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel.

15. The portable barrier of claim 3, wherein the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector, the fourth connector, and the fifth connector each comprise tape.

16. The portable barrier of claim 3, further comprising a grip portion applied to the first panel and the sixth panel

17. A portable barrier, comprising:

a first panel, comprising:

a first cardboard panel/sheet;

a second cardboard panel/sheet connected to the first cardboard panel/sheet;

a first cut/notch defined within the first cardboard panel/sheet to allow the second cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the first cut/notch in a first direction; and

a second cut/notch defined within the second cardboard panel/sheet to allow the first cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the second cut/notch in a second direction opposite the first direction.

18. The portable barrier of claim 17, further comprising:

a first quantity of tape applied to the second cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the first cut/notch; and

a second quantity of tape applied to the first cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the second cut/notch.

19. A portable barrier, comprising:

a first panel, comprising:

a first cardboard panel/sheet;

a second cardboard panel/sheet connected to the first cardboard panel/sheet;

a third cardboard panel/sheet connected to the second cardboard panel/sheet;

a first cut/notch defined within the first cardboard panel/sheet and the second cardboard panel/sheet to allow the third cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the first cut/notch in a first direction;

a second cut/notch defined within the second cardboard panel/sheet and the third cardboard panel/sheet to allow the first cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the second cut/notch in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

a third cut/notch defined within the first cardboard panel/sheet and the second cardboard panel/sheet to allow the third cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the third cut/notch in the first direction.

20. The portable barrier of claim 19, further comprising:

a first quantity of tape applied to the third cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the first cut/notch; and

a second quantity of tape applied to the first cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the second cut/notch; and

a third quantity of tape applied to the third cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the third cut/notch.