DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a device, which in particular is intended for use as a simple wind break and/or privacy screen and which can be easily set up and subsequently taken down.

Traditional wind break screens, including those commonly used on the beach, on camp sites etc., give rise to problems due to "swirling winds" which arise as a result of wind shear/turbulence, particularly at the ends of the screen. The height of the screen furthermore causes unintentional shade. Setting up the screen by a person is difficult, especially in some wind, moreover in particular because of the large number of guy- wires and pegs (normally 2 2 and at the ends between 2 or 3).

It is an object of the present invention to provide for an improved device, wherein is provided that the device can be set up more quickly and easier, and wherein the user, - in particular a sun bathing user - is not forced to lie down directly onto the sand or any other natural surface. The stability of the device according to the invention is furthermore considerably better than that of traditional screens.

The invention provides for a device, in particular a wind break screen and/or privacy screen which can be easily set up and subsequently taken down, comprising a ground plane and a corresponding fixedly or detachably connected side frame, which side frame in the. upright position together with the ground plane form at least substantially a tub-shaped assembly.

By providing a tub-shape, formed by the - for example, polygonal, round or oval - ground plane, which is provided with a continuous (in erected position) upwardly extending side frame, a stable circumferential screen is obtained with a fixed (or optionally detachable) base (the ground plane), onto which the user may stretch out.

Preferably, the ground plane and/or the side frame are manufactured from a flexible material, in particular a material that is selected from a group consisting of: optionally impregnated and/or coated, woven or non-woven (non-woven fleece, for example Tyvek ®), natural or artificial fibrous material, sailcloth or plastic film. As a result, the screen is compactly foldable. If the side frame is manufactured from a flexible material, it can be maintained upright by means of, with the side frame fixedly or detachably connected, rigid or resilient reinforcing element, that includes tubes, whalebone (baleen), etc. which commonly are frequently used for tents, wind break screens etc.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention in the erected position of the device, the side frame is maintained outwardly by means of guy elements, wherein the guy elements comprise, for example, one or more guy-wires (guy lines) or wherein a guy element at least partially is made from a flexible material, for example, from the flexible material of which the ground plane and/or the side frame are/is manufactured.

The ground plane is for example octagonal, hexagonal or quadrangular, round or oval. Preferably, each of the guy elements is connected to at least two locations on the side frame, more preferably (also) in the neighbourhood of the locations where the reinforcing elements are connected to the side frame.

Accordingly the device provides for a wind break screen having excellent stability properties, and that moreover is easy to set up. Preferably, the side frame is rather low (eg, about 60 cm high) compared to what is customary in wind screens. In particular, the present device aims to invite users to lie down into the tub-shaped device for enjoying the sun, while being shielded all around from the wind and inquisitive glances, whereas the relatively low side frame hinders the sun as little as possible. In order to prevent, in particular in the spring and autumn, cold "rising" from the ground, the ground plane is manufactured from a heat-insulating and/or reflective material. If desired, a separate or detachable (additional) ground plane can be provided made from such heat-insulating/reflective material. Hereinafter, the invention will be discussed in more detail by means of a few embodiments, with reference to some figures.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a slightly modified example of the embodiment shown in Figure 1. Both figures show a device, which in particular is intended for use as a simple wind break screen and/or privacy screen and which can be easily set up and subsequently taken down; comprising a ground plane 1 and a corresponding fixedly (e.g. sewn) or detachably (for example by means of one or more zippers, or by means of a Velcro ® (hook and loop) connection) connected side frame 2 (i.e. side (b)rim or side edge 2). The side frame 2 is maintained in the upright position and forms together with the ground plane 1 a tub-shaped assembly. The side frame 2 may be manufactured from one continuous web of material, or from multiple interconnected (for example, sewn to each other) pieces of material.

Preferably, the ground plane 1 and/or the side frame 2 are - at least substantially - made of a flexible material, such as an optionally impregnated and/or coated, woven or non-woven (non-woven fleece, e.g. Tyvek ®) natural or artificial fibrous material, sailcloth or plastic film. Preferably, the side frame 2 is - as well as the ground plane 1 - made of such a flexible material. The side frame is maintained upright in the erected position of the device by means of rigid or resilient reinforcing elements 3, which are permanently or detachably connected to the side frame. The reinforcing elements, for example including poles, tubes or whalebone (baleen), are suitable for insertion into the material on the (six) corner points of the ground plane 1 and the side frame 2, as is generally customary to wind screens (the material of the side frame 2 is for this purpose provided with channels in which the reinforcing element 3 can be inserted, for example).

In the erected position of the device the side frame 2 is maintained outwardly by means of guy elements, each comprising one or more guy-wires, for example. Preferably three guy elements 4 are provided, which in the embodiment of figure 1 each comprise two guy-wires 5 (guy lines). In the embodiment of Figure 2, the guy elements are each formed by a triangular piece of flexible material 6, for example the flexible material of which the ground plane and/or the side frame are/is manufactured, optionally reinforced with stitched-in guy-wires, for example.

In both embodiments, the guy elements 4 each engage (connect to) the side frame 2 in the neighbourhood of the locations where the reinforcing elements are connected to the side frame. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the guy-wires 5 each engage upon - or close to - the upper ends of the reinforcing elements 3, while in the embodiment of Figure 2 the triangular guy element 6 engages upon the entire upper edge of the side frame 2. In this embodiment for example, the upper edge of the guy element 6 and the upper edge of the side frame 2 are sewn together. In both embodiments, the lower ends of the guy elements can be attached to the ground by means of pegs 7 etc. Instead of a hexagonal ground plane 1, the device may be provided for instance with an octagonal ground plane, or with a quadrangular ground plane, or with a round or oval ground plane. The remaining structure can thereby be substantially equal to that shown in Figures 1 and 2. Preferably the ground plane 1 is made of a heat-insulating and/or reflective material, or is being arranged such, that a piece of heat-insulating and/or reflective material, for example as an additional "bottom", can be applied on or under the ground plane 1.

Accordingly an improved device is provided, in particular for use as a wind break and/or privacy screen that is set up faster and easier than screens known so far, and wherein the (sunbathing) user does not lie directly on sand or on other surface, whereas the stability of the device is considerably better than that of traditional screens.