Portable personal seating barrier

Abstract

A portable, personal seating barrier constructed of panels, capable of demarcating an individual seating space while also blocking out sensory stimuli from other people in close proximity, is described. In certain embodiments, the panels retract and expand telescopically, through hinging, folding down through a locking or other hinge type mechanism or other folding means, into an easily portable device that can be used in a variety of settings, such as public buses, trains, airplanes, classrooms. The device is free-standing in that it need not be physically attached to any structure, and thus provides a seat and a privacy/sensory barrier from others.

1 . A device for providing portable seating comprising:
 at least one horizontal panel sections and at least one vertical panel sections constructed so as to be pivotally joined by a folding means,   wherein the at least one horizontal panel sections constructed so as to serve as the seat portion of the device,   wherein said at least one vertical panel section constructed so as to serve as a barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vertical panel sections are attached to opposite sides of the at least one horizontal panel sections. 
     
     
         3 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical panel sections and the at least one horizontal panel section further comprises a polymer material, said polymer material constructed so as to provide structure to the device. 
     
     
         4 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the polymer material is bioresistant. 
     
     
         5 . The device as recited in  claim 3  wherein said structure is selected from a group comprising a rigid polymer and a semi-rigid polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said device is constructed so as to fold into a unitary portable structural unit. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one horizontal panel sections are further constructed so as to include individual panels, grooved sections and cut out handles, said individual panels constructed so as to connect through a locking telescoping mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one vertical panel section and at least one horizontal panel section further comprise a hybrid cloth material, the hybrid cloth material constructed so as to provide structure to the device. 
     
     
         9 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the hybrid cloth material is bioresistant. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one horizontal panel sections are further constructed so as to include individual panels. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one horizontal panel sections include grooved sections. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one horizontal panel sections include cut out handles. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one horizontal panel sections are constructed so as to connect through a locking telescoping mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one vertical panel sections include grooved sections. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vertical panel sections include cut out handles. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vertical panel sections are constructed so as to connect through a locking telescoping mechanism.