Retrofitting apparatus for a chair that extends around sides of an upper body portion of a user seated in the chair

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to a retrofitting apparatus for use with a chair, the chair including a seat portion, a back portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the seat portion, and at least one armrest that connects to the seat or the back portion via an elongated connector. The retrofitting apparatus includes a screen made up of at least a dorsal panel that is at least in part substantially parallel to the back portion of the chair, and a first and second side panel protruding from a first and second edge of the dorsal panel, respectively, to allow the dorsal panel, first side panel, and second side panel to extend around the sides and the back of the user seated in the chair. The apparatus also includes at least one removable coupling structure configured to couple the armrest or the elongated connector to the screen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retrofitting apparatus for use with a chair, the chair including a seat portion that extends substantially parallel to a surface on which the chair is supported, and a back portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the seat portion and away from the surface, the back portion being configured to support a portion of a back of a user seated in the chair, and at least one armrest that connects to the seat or the back portion via an elongated connector, the retrofitting apparatus comprising:
 a screen including a dorsal panel that is at least in part substantially parallel to the back portion of the chair, a first side panel protruding from a first edge of the dorsal panel, and a second side panel protruding from a second edge of the dorsal panel configured to allow the dorsal panel, first side panel, and second side panel to extend around the sides and the back of the user seated in the chair; and   at least one removable coupling structure including at least one connecting member configured to couple, to the screen, at least one of a portion of the armrest and a portion of the elongated connector.   
     
     
         2 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connecting member of the removable coupling structure includes a two-piece clamping structure that secures the retrofitting apparatus to the chair. 
     
     
         3 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the two-piece clamping structure is attachable to the screen. 
     
     
         4 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the two-piece clamping structure is one of an adjustable strap and an adjustable belt. 
     
     
         5 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a junction connecting the side panels and the dorsal panel. 
     
     
         6 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the junction is formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         7 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the flexible material defines a plurality of grooves that are configured to allow the first and second side panels to bend with respect to the dorsal panel. 
     
     
         8 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of grooves are formed on at least one of a front side and a back side of the first and second edges of the dorsal panel. 
     
     
         9 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the screen is made, at least in part, of at least one of a rigid material, a semi-rigid material, and a flexible material. 
     
     
         10 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the dorsal panel and side panels are made of a rigid or semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         11 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material is one of polyethylene terephthalate and/or an acoustic insulation material. 
     
     
         12 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first side panel and the second side panel has outer side edge portions that taper inwardly toward the dorsal panel and outwardly away from the dorsal panel between a top edge portion and a bottom edge portion of the dorsal panel. 
     
     
         13 . The retrofitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first adjustable attachment device and the second adjustable attachment device is one of an adjustable strap and an adjustable belt. 
     
     
         14 . A privacy screen creation kit for a retrofitting apparatus for use with a chair, the chair including a seat portion that extends substantially parallel to a surface on which the chair is supported, and a back portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the seat portion and away from the surface, the back portion being configured to support a portion of a back of a user seated in the chair, and at least one armrest that connects to the seat or the back portion via an elongated connector, the retrofitting apparatus comprising:
 a screen including a dorsal panel that is at least in part substantially parallel to the back portion of the chair, a first side panel protruding from a first edge of the dorsal panel, and a second side panel protruding from a second edge of the dorsal panel configured to allow the dorsal panel, first side panel, and second side panel to extend around the sides and the back of the user seated in the chair; and   at least one removable coupling structure including at least one connecting member configured to couple, to the screen, at least one of a portion of the armrest and a portion of the elongated connector.   
     
     
         15 . The privacy screen creation kit of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one connecting member of the removable coupling structure includes a two-piece clamping structure that secures the retrofitting apparatus to the chair. 
     
     
         16 . The privacy screen creation kit of  claim 15 , wherein the two-piece clamping structure is attachable to the screen. 
     
     
         17 . The privacy screen creation kit of  claim 15 , wherein the two-piece clamping structure is one of an adjustable strap and an adjustable belt. 
     
     
         18 . The privacy screen creation kit of  claim 14 , further including a junction connecting the side panels and the dorsal panel. 
     
     
         19 . The privacy screen creation kit of  claim 14 , wherein the screen is made, at least in part, of at least one of a rigid material, a semi-rigid material, and a flexible material. 
     
     
         20 . The privacy screen creation kit of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the dorsal panel and side panels are made of a rigid or semi-rigid material.