PRIVACY SCREEN ASSEMBLY

• US 20090294078A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Hager, Allen C., Gomez, Adrian, Heidmann, Kurt R., Feldpausch, Thomas G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,365,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 160/377
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 5/00 Screens shutters closing an opening E06B9/02; fly-screens E06B9/52; Draught-deflectors

Abstract

A privacy screen assembly has a first elongated support, a second elongated support, and a privacy screen having a first end operably coupled with the first elongated support and a second end operably coupled to the second elongated support, wherein the first privacy screen is positionable between a retracted position and a deployed position. A support member vertically supports the privacy screen and is positionable between a retracted position, wherein the support member is stored within an interior of one of the first elongated support and the second elongated support in a substantially linear configuration, and a deployed position, wherein a substantial portion of the support member extends from the interior of the elongated support and wherein a substantial portion of the support member exits the interior of the elongated support such that less of the support member is present in the interior of the elongated support.

Claims

1. A privacy screen assembly, comprising:

a first elongated support;

a second elongated support;

a first privacy screen having a first end operably coupled with the first elongated support, and a second end operably coupled to the second elongated support; and

a first support member operably received by the first privacy screen such that the first privacy screen is vertically supported by the first support member, the first support member being positionable between a retracted position, wherein the first support member is stored within an interior of a select one of the first elongated support and the second elongated support in a substantially linear configuration, and a deployed position, wherein a substantial portion of the first support member extends from the interior of the select one of the first elongated support and the second elongated support and wherein a substantial portion of the first support member exits the interior of the select one of the first elongated support and second elongated support such that less of the first support member is present in the interior of the select one of the first elongated support and second elongated support than when the first support member is in the retracted position.

2. The privacy screen assembly of claim 1, wherein the second elongated support includes a cavity configured to receive therein the first privacy screen and at least a portion of the first elongated support when the first privacy screen is in the retracted position.

3. The privacy screen assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a first directional translator in abutting contact with the first support member and adapted to redirect the first support member as the first support member is moved between the retracted position and the deployed position and between the deployed position and the retracted position.

4. The privacy screen assembly of claim 3, wherein the first directional translator includes a forcing cone that redirects the longitudinal extent of the first support member from a substantially vertical orientation inside a select one of the first elongated support and the second elongated support to a substantially horizontal orientation outside the select one of the first elongated support and the second elongated support.

5. The privacy screen assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a second support member operably coupled with the first privacy screen such that the first privacy screen is vertically supported by the second support member.

6. The privacy screen assembly of claim 5, wherein the first and second support members each include an arcuate cross section.

7. The privacy screen assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

a second directional translator in abutting contact with the second support member and adapted to redirect the second support member as the second support member is moved between a retracted position wherein the second support member is stored within an interior of a select one of the first elongated support and the second elongated support in a substantially linear configuration, and a deployed position, wherein a substantial portion of the second support member extends from the interior of the select one of the first elongated support and the second elongated support and wherein a substantial portion of the second support member exits the interior of the select one of the first elongated support and second elongated support such that less of the second support member is present in the interior of the select one of the first elongated support and second elongated support than when the first support member is in the retracted position.

8. The privacy screen assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a tether member operably coupled to the second support member and the first support member, wherein the tether member operably couples the first and second support member such that the first support member and second support member deploy and retract at a substantially equal rate.

9. The privacy screen assembly of claim 8, wherein the tether member comprises a shock-absorbing cord connected to the first and second support members.

10. The privacy screen assembly of claim 1, wherein the first privacy screen includes slits through which the first support member extends when in the deployed position.

11. The privacy screen assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a third elongated support; and

a second privacy screen having a first end operably coupled to the first elongated support and a second end operably coupled to the third elongated support, wherein the second privacy screen is positionable between a retracted position and a deployed position.

12. The privacy screen assembly of claim 11, wherein the third elongated support includes a cavity configured to receive therein the second privacy screen and approximately half of the first elongated support when the second privacy screen is in the retracted position, such that the third elongated support and second elongated support fully enclose the first elongated support when the first and second privacy screens are in the retracted position.

13. A privacy screen assembly comprising:

a first elongated support;

a privacy screen having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is removably connected to the first elongated support and wherein the privacy screen is positionable between a retracted position and a deployed position;

a second elongated support connected to the second end of the privacy screen; and

a support member assembly comprising;

a first support member slidably engaged with the privacy screen, the first support member having a substantial portion thereof stored in a vertical linear orientation when the privacy screen is in the retracted position; and

a second support member slidably engaged with the privacy screen, the second support member having a substantial portion thereof stored in a vertical linear orientation when the privacy screen is in the retracted position.

14. The privacy screen assembly of claim 13, wherein the first elongated support is disposed in a partition panel assembly.

15. The privacy screen assembly of claim 13, wherein the first elongated support includes a channel that removably receives a stiffened spine disposed on the first end of the privacy screen.

16. The privacy screen assembly of claim 13, wherein the first elongated support includes first and second channels, and wherein the first channel includes a portion of the privacy screen and the second channel includes a removable filler.

17. In a screen assembly having an extendable and retractable screen extending from a elongated vertical support, the improvement of a support member storage device, comprising:

a support member slidably connected with the privacy screen and being positionable between a linear retracted position inside the elongated vertical support and a linear deployed position outside the elongated vertical support; and

a first directional translator connected to the elongated vertical support that is slidingly engaged with the support member and configured to translate the support member from the linear retracted position to the linear deployed position.

18. The screen assembly of claim 17, wherein the support member includes first and second support members operably engaged with upper and lower portions of the privacy screen.

19. The screen assembly of claim 17, wherein the support member includes an arcuate cross section.

20. The screen assembly of claim 17, wherein the elongated vertical support includes a cavity adapted to receive therein the privacy screen.