Collapsible Privacy Partition for Public Transit Seating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Public transportation vehicles often lack privacy options for passengers, particularly for mothers with infants or individuals with special needs, making it uncomfortable and stressful to travel due to lack of discretion and excessive stimuli.

Innovation Solution

A portable privacy partition system comprising a fabric-covered frame that can be quickly expanded and collapsed, featuring connectors such as hook and loop fasteners or elastic straps to attach to seat frames, providing a flexible and adjustable barrier between seats for enhanced privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a privacy partition is provided for passengers on public transportation, then privacy and comfort are improved, but device complexity and storage space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelack of privacyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The privacy partition is divided into multiple collapsible side panels that can be independently folded against each other, allowing the structure to be segmented into compact sections for easy storage while maintaining full privacy coverage when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side panels are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, with each panel fitting inside the previous one, creating a compact cylindrical storage form that minimizes space requirements while providing full privacy when expanded

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If a privacy partition is quickly expanded to provide privacy, then ease of operation is improved, but structural stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The side panels incorporate flexible joints and elastic properties that allow the structure to dynamically adjust during expansion and contraction, maintaining structural integrity while enabling quick deployment through elastic rebound forces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The privacy partition uses a curved cylindrical framework that provides inherent structural stability through its geometric form, allowing quick expansion while maintaining rigidity and shape retention during use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the privacy partition is made adaptable to various seating configurations, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseating configuration adaptabilityVSAvoidattachment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The privacy partition employs universal attachment mechanisms such as elastic straps with multiple connection points and adjustable fasteners that can secure the structure to various seat types and configurations, enabling one device to serve multiple seating arrangements without requiring complex specialized mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3309072B1Privacy partition, system and method

Publication Date: 2023.07.26 THE BOEING CO

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AI summary

A privacy partition (100, 200, 300) having a frame (101) covered in fabric (102) having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration that defines a perimeter. The privacy partition includes a first connector (106) that selectively connects a portion of the privacy partition to a portion of a seat (10).