US20060213628A1

US20060213628A1 - Portable screen

Info

Publication number: US20060213628A1
Application number: US11/088,098
Authority: US
Inventors: John McLoughlin; Neocles Athanasiades; Toh Meng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-24
Filing date: 2005-03-24
Publication date: 2006-09-28

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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
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.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
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.
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.
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.
The subject invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial frontal sectional view of one embodiment of the lower end portion of an upright;
FIG. 3 is a frontal view of another embodiment of the sight blocking material of this invention;
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;
FIG. 5 is view of one of the supports and a stabilizing bar used to maintain the support in an upright position;
FIG. 6 shows a first end portion of the stabilizing bar connected to the support; and
FIG. 7 shows a second end portion of the stabilizing bar secured to the ground.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other aspects, objects and advantages will be come apparent from a study of the drawings, the specification and the appended claims.

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.