Privacy seat divider for transport vehicles

• US 20030146654A1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Tony Hoang, Callahan, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,644,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/463.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/12 Theatre, auditorium, or similar chairs seats detachably mounted on stadium benches A47C1/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/62 Accessories for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0606 with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like class dividers B64D11/0023

Abstract

A fan-type foldable device for sub-dividing for privacy purposes, the space occupied by a passenger seated in a moving vehicle or a movie theatre, is described. The fan type device incorporates a means for coupling onto a side of a seat back, thereby maintaining privacy within the sub-divide. Said fan type device folds out of the way when not in use. The fan type foldable device may be used in a seating arrangement wherein rows of seats are divided by the fan type such that each seated passenger is able to enjoy privacy from adjoining passengers.

Claims

1. A device for sub-dividing a space, comprising:

a plurality of elongated dividing members each having,

a first end rotably connected with the rest of the plurality of elongated dividing members by a connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion comprises a relatively non-moving point in relation to other connecting portions of the plurality of elongated dividing members, thereby forming a collective connecting portion, and

a second end capable of moving apart from the plurality of second ends of the other members in a uniformly manner, thereby using the length of the elongated dividing member as a radius spanning an area wherein the area forms part of a circle for subdividing a space; and

a mounting member coupled to the collective connecting portion disposed to be coupled to a mounting object having at least one stable location for spanning the area for subdivision.

2. The device of claim 1 is further comprised of an intermediate piece coupled with the mounting member and the collective connecting portion.

3. The device of claim 1 is further comprised of a folding material foldingly attached to the plurality of elongated dividing members.

4. A seat having a device for sub-dividing a space, comprising:

a seating portion having a substantially flat surface for seating;

a back member coupled to the substantially flat surface, the back member comprises an inner back surface and two side surfaces, each side surface having a breadth that is substantially the thickness of the back member;

a sliding member integrally attached to at least one side surface; and

a privacy fan-type for sub-dividing a space, comprising;

a plurality of elongated dividing members each having,

a first end rotably connected with the rest of the plurality of elongated dividing members by a connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion comprises a relatively non-moving point in relation to other connecting portions of the plurality of elongated first members, thereby forming a collective connecting portion, and

a second end capable of moving apart from the plurality of second ends of the other members in a uniformly manner, thereby using the length of the elongated dividing member as a radius spanning an area wherein the area forms part of a circle for subdividing a space; and

a mounting member coupled to the collective connecting portion disposed to be coupled to the sliding member having at least one stable location for spanning the area for subdivision.

5. The seat of claim 4 is further comprised of a hinging member connecting the back member and the substantially flat surface.

6. The seat of claim 4, wherein the sliding member comprises a rail coupled to the fan-type for the fan-type to slide up and down on at least one side surface.

7. The seat of claim 4 is further comprised of a folding material foldingly attached to the plurality of elongated dividing members, folding material substantially covering the area.

8. A seating arrangement, comprising:

at least two rows of seats, each row includes a plurality of seats, each seats comprising;

a seating portion having a substantially flat surface for seating;

a back member coupled to the substantially flat surface, the back member comprises an inner back surface and two side surfaces, each side surfaces having a breadth that is substantially the thickness of the back member;

a sliding member integrally attached to at least one side surface; and

a privacy fan-type for sub-dividing a space, comprising;

a plurality of elongated dividing members each having,

a first end rotably connected with the rest of the plurality of elongated dividing members by a connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion comprises a relatively non-moving point in relation to other connecting portions of the plurality of elongated first members, thereby forming a collective connecting portion, and

a second end capable of moving apart from the a plurality of second ends of the other members in a uniformly manner, thereby using the length of the elongated dividing member as a radius spanning an area wherein the area forms part of a circle for subdividing a space; and

a mounting member coupled to the collective connecting portion disposed to be coupled to the sliding having at least one stable location for spanning the area for subdivision.

9. The seating arrangement of claim 8, wherein the at least two rows of seats are part of a moving vehicle.

10. The seating arrangement of claim 8, wherein the at least two rows of seats are part of an indoor environment..

11. A method for dividing a space between two seats, comprising the steps of:

providing a fan-type;

the fan-type to one of the two seats; and

opening the fan-type.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of folding the fan-type.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of stowing the fan-type.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of stowing is achieved by placing the folded fan-type along a side of one of the seats.