Privacy barrier with window

Abstract

A barrier assembly for dividing space comprising a first rigid panel member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and forming a first opening, a second rigid panel member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and forming a second opening, the second surfaces secured together with the first opening aligned with the second opening, and a window member having dimensions larger than the first opening, located adjacent to and covering the first opening with a portion of the window member adjacent an outer circumferential edge of the window member sandwiched between portions of the second surfaces adjacent the first and second openings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrier assembly for dividing space, the assembly comprising:
 a first rigid panel member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and forming a first opening;   a second rigid panel member having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and forming a second opening that is the same shape and has the same dimensions as the first panel member, the second surface of the second panel member secured to the second surface of the first panel member with the first opening aligned with the second opening; and   a window member having dimensions larger than the first opening, the window member located adjacent to and covering the first opening with a portion of the window member adjacent an outer circumferential edge of the window member sandwiched between portions of the second surfaces adjacent the first and second openings.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second surface of the second panel member is adhered to the second surface of the first panel member. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier assembly of  claim 2  wherein the window member is adhered to at least one of the second surface of the first panel member and the second surface of the second panel member. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second panel members is formed from rigid polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein the window member is formed out of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-g). 
     
     
         6 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first panel member is a planar member where the first and second surfaces are substantially parallel and wherein the second panel member is a planar member where the first and second surfaces are also substantially parallel. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first panel member has a first shape defined by a circumferential edge and wherein the second panel member has the same shape as the first panel member. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first panel member has a first shape defined by a circumferential edge and wherein the second panel member has a second shape defined by a circumferential edge and wherein the second shape is different than the first shape. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first opening is rectilinear with rounded corners. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first panel member includes a first rigid panel having a circumferential edge and a fabric cover member that covers an external side of the first rigid panel and the circumferential edge of the first rigid panel and the second panel member includes a second rigid panel having a circumferential edge and a fabric cover member that covers an external side of the second rigid panel and the circumferential edge of the second rigid panel. 
     
     
         11 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second panel members has a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  further including at least a first infill member that is formed out of the same material used to form the first panel member and that has a shape and dimensions substantially similar to the shape and dimensions of the first opening, the first infill member receivable within the first opening. 
     
     
         13 . The barrier assembly of  claim 12  wherein the first infill member is retained within the first opening via friction between an edge of the infill member and the edge that forms the first opening. 
     
     
         14 . The barrier assembly of  claim 12  further including a second infill member that is formed out of the same material used to form the second panel member and that has a shape and dimensions substantially similar to the shape and dimensions of the second opening, the second infill member receivable within the second opening. 
     
     
         15 . The barrier assembly of  claim 12  wherein the infill member forms a finger opening. 
     
     
         16 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first panel member forms a third opening and the second panel member forms a fourth opening that has the same shape and dimensions as the third opening and that is aligned with the third opening when the first and second openings are aligned. 
     
     
         17 . The barrier assembly of  claim 16  wherein the window member further covers the third opening. 
     
     
         18 . The barrier assembly of  claim 16  wherein the window member is a first window member, the assembly further including a second window member having dimensions larger than the third opening, the second window member located adjacent to and covering the third opening with a portion of the second window member adjacent an outer circumferential edge of the second window member sandwiched between portions of the second surfaces adjacent the third and fourth openings. 
     
     
         19 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second panel members and the widow member is curved. 
     
     
         20 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first surfaces of the first and second panel members form external surfaces of the barrier assembly. 
     
     
         21 . A barrier assembly for dividing space, the assembly comprising:
 a first rigid panel member having oppositely facing first and second surfaces and forming a first opening, the first panel member formed out of rigid polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material; and   a window member having dimensions larger than the first opening, the window member adhered to and supported by the first rigid panel member adjacent to and covering the first opening with a portion of the window member adjacent an outer circumferential edge of the window member butting up against portions of the second surface adjacent the first opening;   wherein the first surface of the first panel member forms an external surface of the barrier member.   
     
     
         22 . A method of forming a screen assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
 cutting a first shape out of a first fabric material to form a first panel member that has first and second side surfaces;   cutting a second shape out of a second fabric material to form a second panel member that has first and second side surfaces wherein the second shape is substantially identical to the first shape;   cutting a first window opening in the first panel member;   cutting a second window opening in the second panel member wherein the second window opening is substantially identical to the first window opening;   placing a window member adjacent the second side surface of the first panel and so that the window member covers the first opening and portions of the second side surface of the first panel member adjacent the first opening;   placing an adhesive on a second side surface of one of the first and second panel members;   positioning the second panel member with the second side surface of the second panel member facing the second side surface of the first panel member so that the first and second shapes are aligned and so that the first and second openings are aligned; and   pressing the second side surfaces of the first and second panel members together with the window member sandwiched between the second side surfaces of the first and second panel members and covering the first and second openings.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the steps of cutting include stacking the first and second fabric materials together, simultaneously cutting the first and second shapes and simultaneously cutting the first and second windows. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the cutting steps include using a waterjet to cut the fabric materials. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  further including retaining the fabric material removed from the first panel member as an infill member to be used to close off the first opening when desired.