US20220346551A1

US20220346551A1 - Portable personal sneeze guard protection system

Info

Publication number: US20220346551A1
Application number: US17/300,245
Authority: US
Inventors: John O'Brien; Diane Conti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-04-29
Filing date: 2021-04-27
Publication date: 2022-11-03

Abstract

A portable sneeze guard system for facilitating personal protection using durable lightweight acrylic and a design which easily supports opening, closing and transportation. This approach includes radial, series, modular and reconfigurable designs and a design which protects student desk areas with desk legs offset from the edge of the desk. This is approach accommodates easy cleaning and easy integration into a professional work environment. It also accommodates ease of transportation by folding the device to a smaller size.

Description

The present invention is filed as a utility patent application and claims the benefit of provisional application 63/101,408 filed on 28 Apr. 2020 and a second provisional application 63/102,718 filed on 27 Jun. 2020, a third provisional application 63/103,005 filed on 13 Jul. 2020, and a fourth provisional application 63/103,551 filed on 9 Aug. 2020, and a fifth provisional application 63/103,917 filed on 1 Sep. 2020.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus designed for use in buffet service where unpackaged prepared food is displayed, and the apparatus acts as a hygiene barrier. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a sneeze guard system, to be used by a single person, to be easily opened, closed, and carried from site to site. Said invention having one or more flexible support side panels, which are continuously flexible and can easily be extended from their closed position to an open position and vice versa. This also relates to protections systems with a radial centering, a serial focus, a combined radial and serial focus, and modular based protections shields.

REFERENCES CITED

The following references are cited.


4,892,366	01/1990	Yerman	312/140.4
6,485,118B2	11/2002	Matus	312/137
20060175940	08/2006	English	312/137
D554,906S	11/2007	Pretty	D6/471
10415285B1	09/2019	Anderson	E05D 11/08

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART

Mandated by various state and local laws and regulations, sneeze guards have been in use for many years and are well known in the food service industry for use in protecting unpackaged prepared foods from certain contaminants when those foods are displayed in a service line for customer viewing and selection. These sneeze guards protect from droplet contamination which may be expelled during a cough or sneeze from the nose or mouth of a potential customer.
Available in various styles and configurations, typically a sneeze guard has some sort of permanent installation using some sort of rigid support frame, hanging from chains, or using multiple rigid and stationary support posts.
Generally, as food service installations are typically not uniform or modular in size, these sneeze guard solutions require a degree of customization.
Some inventors (English 20060175940) have taught that it is desirable to have adjustable position sneeze guards. However, given the fixed constraints of the areas to be protected those adjustments are quite limited. Specifically, English teaches,

- “This adjustable hinge assembly component (adjustable hinge) may be installed and used in a sneeze guard in a manner which allows each of the transparent sneeze guard panes in a series of sneeze guard panes to be adjusted angularly and/or rotationally, within the need to tighten a screw or nut to lock the pane in a particular configuration.”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current environment of highly contagious and health-threatening virus infections, such as covid-19, necessitates that people take care to protect themselves. Protection could be in the form of company/institutional provided sneeze guard like protections that are installed in work environments, libraries, ect. Or that protection could be in the form of a more personal device, which could be maintained and carried by the individual from meeting to meeting to desk in the workplace and even to the library or other places after work. The present invention addresses not food protection, but people protection and more specifically an individual personal protection system (“Personal Protection System”) which can be used by an individual at multiple locations. This system has the advantages that it is easy to setup, is lightweight, easy to use, may be easily moved from site to site, and is easy to carry.
The present invention provides a novel and advantageous sneeze guard system having a highly portable design, easy to adjust side clear panels for protection, visibility and stability, a clear sneeze guard back panel for protection and visibility, a small user convenience slot which allows for safely and easily passing papers or the positioning of a laptop computer so that the screen is visible on the non-user side of the sneeze guard back panel and the keyboard is accessible on the user's side, and an easy to fold arrangement which makes the entire system easy to carry and move.
The present invention is hygienically safe, (“Hygienically Safe”) meaning it protects against droplet contamination which may be expelled during a cough or sneeze from the nose or mouth of another individual in close proximity.
A key objective of the sneeze guard system of the present invention is that the user can easily either setup or close up the system in a matter of 10 seconds or less.
Another important objective of the present invention is that the system be lightweight, durable, and easy to transport from location to location.
Another important objective of the present invention is that the system have a simple and easy carry mechanism such as a built in handle or equivalent.
A further objective of the present invention is that the system have a Hygienically Safe portal to pass papers or allow for positioning of a laptop computer where the display side is on the nonuser side of the clear sneeze guard back panel and the keyboard is on the user side.
Another objective of the present invention is that the side panels simultaneously serve as both protection and support members of the protection system to obviate the use of unattractive or bothersome support legs.
Another objective of the present invention is that it permits opening and closing and movement from site location to site location without the detachment or reattachment of any parts.
Another objective of the present invention is that the back and side panels be easily and completely accessible to facilitate quick cleaning and wipe down.
Another objective of the present invention is that design permits use of multiple systems in a back-to-back, or side-to-side manner or both.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the personal protection system, shown in the open and ready to use mode, according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view, shown in the closed position and ready to carry mode.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the sneeze guard back panel of the personal protection system.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the left panel, with hinge attached, of the personal protection system.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the right panel, with hinge attached, of the personal protection system.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the personal protection system capable of being folded in half, shown in the open and ready to use mode, according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view, shown in the partially closed position.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view, shown in the closed position and ready to carry mode.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of one half of the sneeze guard back panel of the personal protection system.

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of one half of the sneeze guard back panel of the personal protection system.

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the left panel, with hinge attached, of the personal protection system.

FIG. 12 is a detailed view of the right panel, with hinge attached, of the personal protection system.

FIG. 13A, FIG. 13B, FIG. 13C, and FIG. 13D show complete perspective views of a reconfigurable radial based protection system in configurations of 4, 3, 2, and 0 partitions. FIG. 13A shows a radial protection system configured to divide the available surface area into 4 usable spaces. FIG. 13B shows the same radial protection system configured to divide the available surface area into 3 usable spaces. FIG. 13C shows the same radial protection system configured to divide the available surface area into 2 usable spaces. FIG. 13D shows the same radial protection system configured to store the system for later use.

FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B, FIG. 14C, and FIG. 14D show the complete top views of the same radial protection system shown respectively in FIG. 13A, FIG. 13B, FIG. 13C, and FIG. 13D. FIG. 14A shows a top view of radial protection system configured to divide the available surface area into 4 usable spaces. FIG. 14B shows a top view of the same radial protection system configured to divide the available surface area into 3 usable spaces. FIG. 14C shows a top view of the same radial protection system configured to divide the available surface area into 2 usable spaces. FIG. 13D shows a top view of the same radial protection system configured to store the system for later use.

FIG. 15A shows the top view of a serial attached protection system. FIG. 15A has only one unit shown. FIG. 15.b shows a modular version of that system with two units shown connected in series.

FIG. 16A. shows a complete perspective view of a combined radial based and serial attached protection system. FIG. 16.B shows a complete top view of the same combined radial based and serial attached protection system shown in FIG. 16A.

FIG. 17. shows a front view of the main panel of a desk based protection system.

FIG. 18. shows a perspective view of a desk based protection system.

FIG. 19. Shows a perspective view of a desk based protection system with the desk legs offset from the edge of the desk.

FIG. 20. Shows the main protection shield in the system depicted in FIG. 20.

FIG. 21. Shows the side panel to the protection system in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22. Shows an offset block

FIG. 23. Shows another offset block

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To better appreciate the present invention, we first discuss some deficiencies with the prior art which we seek to correct. We first note that while not restricting the present invention to be used only for a personal individual's use, it is for individuals needing Hygienically Safe protection which gave rise to the present invention. We further note that the additional aspects of the present invention specifically included to help an individual's personal use, will also help improve the more general use of a protection device. Those aspects include a high degree of portability, easy of opening and closing, stack-ability of the closed device, back-to-back and side-to-side aesthetic usage, easy to clean and maintain design, and a Hygienically Safe convenience slot.
Prior art solutions have been tailored to the food industry and involve physical anchoring or permanent type installations. Indeed, portability in that environment is to be avoided—except for relocating one securely installed installation to another position. In addition, those prior art solutions integrate no other features beyond installation adjustments.
A main embodiment of the present invention describes a system which is highly portable for personal use. Various embodiments of the system disclosed here facilitate ease of use, user convenience, aesthetic integration of the protection device into the work environment.
FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary protection system 100 for use by an individual. The lightweight and durable use of acrylic clear plastic facilitates the transport and use of this device. FIG. 1 shows the protection device open in the upright position. It is comprised of a sneeze guard back panel 300 with a connected right 500 side panel, and a connect left 400 side panel. Both side panels are connected by a continuous hinge. All panels are see through acrylic. All external edges of the device are finished edges. While the use of clear acrylic is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize equivalent alternate materials such as colored acrylic, or polycarbonate, or colored polycarbonate, or smoked acrylic, or Styrofoam, or Styrofoam like material, or even wood could be used.
FIG. 3 shows the sneeze guard back panel 300 of the protection system. It includes, built into the acrylic, a finished edge through hole 301 of sufficient size to allow a user to hand carry the protection device using this built in handle. The handle through hole is positioned to allow easy balancing of the device when it is carried.
The sneeze guard back panel 300 also has a slot 302 cut out at the bottom of the panel. This convenience slot, (Convenience Slot) has rounded corners 303 and it allows either a laptop or papers to easily pass under the slot. In particular a laptop may be positioned using the slot so as to have the display on the non-user side of the sneeze guard back panel 300 while the keyboard is on the user side. This affords more seating and positioning options for the user. As the sneeze guard back panel is see-through, it permits easy laptop readability and PC camera function through the panel. The convenience slot also allows for power cords and microphone cables to easily fit through the slot.
The back panel also has rounded corners 304 on cornered edges.
The left side panel 400 has an attached continuous hinge on the right for attachment to the back panel 300 on the left. The continuous hinge 401 is shown mounted on the panel.
The right side panel 500 has an attached continuous hinge on the left side for attachment to the back panel 300 on the right. The continuous hinge 501 is shown mounted on the panel.
The side panels 400, 500 rotate independently, each on a continuous hinge 401,501. These hinges are attached by permanent adhesive. The mobility of the two side panels 400, 500 allow for positioning that not only can be conveniently positioned by the user but that also that provides simultaneous support for stability of the protection system, whereby the side panels support the sneeze guard back panel in an upright position. This mobility includes a wide angle of rotation starting at approximately zero degrees for the closed position (“Closed Position”), opening to 90 degrees at a preferred embodiment position, and opening wider than 90 degrees if the user so prefers.
This hinge attached (“Hinge Attached”) panel is a preferred embodiment of the present invention using a continuous hinge adhesively attached. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are equivalent hinge and hinge like attachment options, made of different materials, and attached by adhesive or by metal fasteners which also could be used and are under the scope of the present invention.
The use of two side panels in conjunction with the sneeze guard back panel, ie 3 panels total, is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention could be constructed using only a total 2 panels, or alternatively a total of 4 or more panels and still fall within the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 2 depicts a bottom view 200 of the same protection system 100 depicted in FIG. 1 In FIG. 2 the device is in the Closed Position and ready for transport or storage.
A main embodiment of the present invention describes a system which is highly portable for personal use. Various embodiments of the system disclosed here facilitate ease of use, user convenience, aesthetic integration of the protection device into the work environment.
FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary protection system 600 for use by an individual. The lightweight and durable use of acrylic clear plastic facilitates the transport and use of this device. FIG. 6 shows the protection device open in the upright position. It is comprised of a two sneeze guard back panels 900 and 1000, shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, joined by a continuous hinge with a connected right 1200 side panel, and a connect left 1000 side panel. Both side panels are connected by a continuous hinge. All panels are see through acrylic. All external edges of the device are finished edges. While the use of clear acrylic is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize equivalent alternate materials such as colored acrylic, or polycarbonate, or colored polycarbonate, or smoked acrylic, or Styrofoam, or Styrofoam like material, or even wood could be used.
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show the sneeze guard back panel 900 and 1000 of the protection system.
The sneeze guard back panel parts 900 and 1000 also have a slot 902 and 1002 cut out at the bottom of the panel. This convenience slot, (Convenience Slot) has rounded corners 903 and 1003 and it allows either a laptop or papers or other things to easily pass under the slot. In particular a laptop may be positioned using the slot so as to have the display on the non-user side of the sneeze guard back panel parts 900 and 1000 while the keyboard is on the user side. This affords more seating and positioning options for the user. As the sneeze guard back panel is see-through, it permits easy laptop readability and PC camera function through the panel. The convenience slot also allows for power cords and microphone cables to easily fit through the slot.
The left side panel 1100, which has rounded corners 1104 on cornered edges, has an attached continuous hinge on the right for attachment to the back panel part 900 on the left. The continuous hinge 1103 is shown mounted on the panel.
The right side panel 1200, which has rounded corners 1204 on cornered edges, has an attached continuous hinge on the left side for attachment to the back panel 1000 on the right. The continuous hinge 1201 is shown mounted on the panel.
The side panels 1100, 1200 rotate independently, each on a continuous hinge 1101, 1201. These hinges are attached by permanent adhesive. The mobility of the two side panels 1100, 1200 allow for positioning that not only can be conveniently positioned by the user but that also that provides simultaneous support for stability of the protection system, whereby the side panels support the sneeze guard back panel in an upright position. This mobility includes a wide angle of rotation starting at approximately zero degrees for the closed position (“Closed Position”), opening to 90 degrees at a preferred embodiment position, and opening wider than 90 degrees if the user so prefers.
This hinge attached (“Hinge Attached”) panel is a preferred embodiment of the present invention using a continuous hinge adhesively attached. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are equivalent hinge and hinge like attachment options, made of different materials, and attached by adhesive or by metal fasteners which also could be used and are under the scope of the present invention.
The use of two side panels in conjunction with the sneeze guard back panel, hinged in the center ie 4 panels total, is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention could be constructed using only a total 2 panels, or alternatively a total of 5 or more panels and still fall within the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 7 depicts a bottom view 700 of the same protection system 600 depicted in FIG. 6 In FIG. 7 the device is in the Partially Closed Position as there is still the center hinge that is still open.
FIG. 8 depicts a bottom view 800 of the same protection system 600 depicted in FIG. 6 In FIG. 8 the device is in the Closed Position as the center hinge is now shown fully closed and the system is now ready for transport or storage. Note that the thru hole 1104 located in the top-most side panel of FIG. 8 and thru hole 1204 located in the bottom-most side panel of FIG. 8 are now in a position, while the protection system is closed, to serve in a carrying function. A cord previously strung through those holes, which is secured by a knot located on the cord on the outside facing side of each side panel, will serve to both carry the protection system and simultaneous keep the system in the closed position. The length of the cord is selected by the user to accommodate a convenient carrying position for the size of the user. For example, the user may wish to carry the unit by hand or they may wish to carry the unit by draping the cord over a shoulder. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many cord arrangements and straps and padded straps are possible and manner, length and comfort conditions of the cord, or equivalent, are within the scope of the present invention.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the height of the various back panels and side panels could be varied to accommodate different uses. For example, a very tall person may require that the back panels and side panes be higher. Small children may benefit from shorter heights, or even taller heights if the objective is to protect them when they are both seated and standing. In addition, some school desks are slanted, so an embodiment of the present invention may benefit by having the side panes be slated at an angle corresponding to the slope of the school desk while the back panel part or parts are not slanted. These variations are envisioned as part of the scope of the present invention.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiment presented in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 could be implemented in several different ways. Nothing in this specification should be understood to limit this invention to a specific implementation or a specific material implementation and the system shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 are exemplary systems.
FIG. 13 shows four different perspective views of the same radial based protection system. This system is reconfigurable. For example, in FIG. 13A the system is set up to accommodate four protected partitions of a table. In FIG. 13B the system is reconfigured to accommodate three protected partitions of a table. In. FIG. 13C the system is reconfigured again to accommodate two protected partitions of a table. Finally, in FIG. 13D the system is reconfigured to be closed and is compressed and ready for a storage or transport state.
In each reconfiguring the user adjusts one or more of the hinged partition panels by rotating the panel on it's hinge. FIG. 14 shows the same four different configurations of the arrangement of protection panels shown in FIG. 13 but the FIG. 14 arrangements are depicted from a top view
FIG. 14A shows four distinct protection panels 1401, 1402, 1403, and 1404. The table is shown as a dotted line round table 1405. In this embodiment the panels are all the same size, more specifically they are depicted as square partitions, but those skilled in the are will recognize that the partition size will vary into various rectangular shapes, or even different geometric shapes, for example the bottom edge may need to be at an angle to the horizontal to accommodate a table which is sloped. Nothing in the scope of the present invention limits the partitions to a particular geometric shape. The panels of this embodiment are connected by continuous hinges. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the panels could have been attached to a rotating hub, but in this preferred embodiment connecting one hinge to each panel allows for rotations of the panels to achieve the different arrangements shown in FIG. 13. There may be other equivalent implementations of hub support for connecting radial panels.
Those skilled in the art will see that there is not a limit of four panels connected in this radial manner. A total of three panels could be connected radially as described above but that would limit the total number of partitions to three as there are only three panels to arrange and it would be difficult to achieve a stable placement of two partitions. Four panels, however, is a preferred embodiment of the present invention as it permits the maximum number of different arrangements. A larger size table may create a need for additional connected panels for different arrangements. The inventors recognize this. consider that as the table size increases necessitating additional panels, it will be more practical to adapt a modular approach standardizing on a three or four panel, or both, radial modular unit, connected in the manner described above, and deploying one or more modular units to achieve the desired number of arranged partitions. The inventors also note that it is possible to combine two or more modular units of with the different modular units each containing two or more different number of panels. In other words, it is not necessary to have a modular unit with one fixed number of panels. There may be different modular units each with a different number of panels contained with that unit. This approach would allow for more standard manufacturing units yet still provide complete flexibility in the number of partitions to be arranged for a particular solution.
Two or more modular units may be joined together using a simple U-bold type clip. More specifically, there are commercially available nylon U/J type clamps which could be used off the shelf to connect and de-connect the modular units quickly and easily.
FIG. 15A depicts an arrangement of panels connected in series rather than connected radially. These are shown on a rectangular table 1507 represented by a dashed line. Four of the panels 1502, 1503, 1504, and 1505 are full size panels. This arrangement and number of panels provides stability to the placement of this protection system. Each panel is connected to the adjacent panel by a continuous hinge. Not required in the practice of this invention, but shown here as an aspect of a preferred embodiment, are end panels 1501 and 1506. These are shortened full height panels also connected by a continuous hinge. The purpose of these shortened end panels is twofold. First, they help contribute additional stability to the protection system. Second, they act as anchor points for a modular protection system discussed below.
FIG. 15 B shows two modular units of the type shown in FIG. 15 This figure is shown on a longer table 1508 also represented by a dashed line. As arranged together, note that panels 1501 thru 1506 repeat left to right as there are two instances of the modular unit from FIG. 15A depicted in FIG. 15B.
Note the overlap between panels 1506 and 1501 as shown in FIG. 15B. While these end panels are on hinges and moveable, as are all the other panels, it is possible to adjust these end panels so that they help anchor the two modular units together.
The length of panels 1502 thru 1505 may be varied at the time of manufacture to accommodate the width of the table 1507 and thereby result in partitions of appropriate size for the user company or organization.
the modular unit shown in FIG. 15A and deployed as a two unit arrangement in FIG. 15B can also be anchored by a u bolt type clip discussed above, Doing so would use a commercially available nylon U/J type clamps which could be used off the shelf to connect and de-connect two modular units quickly and easily.
FIG. 16A depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a protection system that is both radially based and has serial linked attachments. As seen in FIG. 16B, which is a top view of FIG. 16A, three radial panels 1601, 1602, and 1603 are shown connected to each other by continuous hinges. Each radial partition 1601, 1602, and 1603, are extended by a serial panel 1604, 1605, and 1606 respectively. These serial extensions provide additional anchoring and stability to the protection system. As one of the preferred embodiments, this may be desirable in uses where small children are to be shielded and the additional anchor points could protect against vigorous action by the children. With such additional anchor points the protection system will be more firmly anchored and harder to topple from pushes and shoves.
As one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the system shown in FIG. 16B has one additional aspect of the invention which should be noted. While it is not required to practice the invention, it is suggested that the panel lengths of 1601, 1602, and 1603, need to be slightly longer than the panel lengths of 1604, 1605, and 1606 so that would allow panels 1604, 1605, and 1606 to close using the hinge and get close to panels 1601, 1602, and 1603 respectively so that the entire protection system could close further for storage or transport.
In the preferred embodiments of the present invention describing radial panels, the drawings show panels of equal size. This is a preferred aspect of the invention but those skilled in the art recognize that panel sizes may be chose to be a different size, most likely height, but not limited or constrained to height, to accommodate a larger size partition or some other special requirement of the user.
As discussed above the protection system's preferred embodiments are constructed of acrylic, or equivalent as discussed previously.
One of the preferred embodiments shown in FIG. 15 also uses panels that are of equal size. The end panels of FIG. 15 are, as discussed, the same height but of much shorter length compared to the mail panel. The ratio of an end panel 1501 or 1506 to any of the full panels 1502 to 1505 should be in the range of 15 to 20% as a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Obviously, this could be made shorter or longer but, if so, such modifications still fall within the scope of the present invention.
It is understood that the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 13, 14, 15, and 16 can be practiced on round or rectangular tables. [0078] In summary, the present invention presents a portable system for facilitating 9 personal protection using durable lightweight acrylic and a design which supports opening, closing and transportation in an easy manner. This approach accommodates easy cleaning and easy integration into a professional work environment. Additionally, the radial, serial, combined radial and serial, and modular embodiments of the present invention discussed above, are also portable in the sense that they can be easily set up, removed, and taken to another location.
One particular challenging environment to protect with an acrylic shield or equivalent is the school desk environment. These desks typical present a small surface area often with molded pencil slots. Usually these desks are rectangular. Sometimes they have a triangular design. Using a device as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 6 is possible but, depending upon the size of the desk, these devices may offer stability challenges.
Some offered solutions use a gripper which is adhered to the desk by some type of adhesive and the gripper is supposed to exert some pressure on the bottom edge of the acrylic holding. Such gripping approaches are marginal as students are often vigorous and push desks when standing causing the top-heavy shields to fall.
Complicating matters is the fact that many desks have legs that extend outward at an angle instead of going straight down to the floor.
FIG. 17 shows a front view of a main panel of desk protection unit. This panel 1701 consists of an upper portion that is rectangular and serves as the main panel protection area to face the student sitting at the desk serving as a sneeze guard from airborne droplets carrying infectious material. On either side are leg supports which serve to anchor the panel on the floor. The area beneath the desk and between the support legs has been cutout so that a student could extend their legs in front of the desk if they so choose. In addition, there are two set of holes in the leg support acrylic to allow for tying or strapping the leg supports to the legs of the desk. Those skilled in the art may recognize that while convenient to have the support legs extend to the floor it may be possible to secure the support legs using shorter legs that do not reach the floor. This too is anticipated by the present invention.
In particular the placement of the hoes 1702 within the leg supports are important in this particular preferred embodiment as some desk legs slop outward and the closer the leg support holes are to the desk itself the less angel that may be introduced. For sloping desk legs, the second set of holes 1703 are not significant in holding the panel and the two holes 1702 are entirely sufficient to secure the panel to the desk.
The use of cable ties or straps or cord or equivalent may be sufficient to secure the leg supports to the desk legs. While the type of binding used is not critical, what is important is that the binding material permit the leg support to be tightly secured to the desk legs.
The leg supports and bindings are not the only things that support this shield unit to the desk. FIG. 18 shows the same panel as shown in FIG. 17 with the attachment of to side panels 1801, and 1802 which start at the main panel and run backwards parallel to where the desk edges would be.
In this embodiment these side panels are shown connected by rotating continuous hinges 1803. The hinges help the rotating panels to position on the desk for the convenience of the student. Those skilled in the art will recognize that different hinges or methods of attachment such as interlocking attachments, bending the acrylic so that it does not move, or just gluing the acrylic is possible as equivalent approaches under the present invention. However in this embodiment the ability to rotate is felt important to the usefulness of the invention.
The combined approach of having leg support 1702 and possibly 1703 together with the support from the side panels provides for a sturdy support environment for this protection unit. That the front panel abuts the front of the desk allows for the pencil slots to still be usable. That the side panels are movable allows for accommodation for either right-handed or left-handed writers as they can move the desired side panel to an angle which works for them.
The support legs are of sufficient width to allow for one inch either side of the one-inch support holes 1702, 1703. The support legs are kept to minimum width to allow for as much leg space for the student under the desk. As the side panel do not require leg support, leg space on the side panels is not at issue.
This embodiment can easily be modified to accommodate the triangle desk design by eliminating one of the side panels.
This embodiment can also be easily modified for a number of holes 1702, 1703 in the leg support allowing manufacturing to make one model number and allowing field installation to select the set of holes most advantageous to secure the leg supports to the desk legs.
FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of a shield protection system 1901 secured to a desk. Note that the system uses multiple offset block 1901 to keep the plane of the shield straight. These offset blocks are one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when the desk legs are offset from the edge of the desk.
FIG. 20 shows a view of the main shield 2001 used in FIG. 19. The two legs 2003 of the main shield 2001 help provide stability to the installation of the shield and these legs are connected to the two back desk legs via a connector strap which goes through holes 2004. A preferred embodiment of the present invention uses two holes per connection but those skilled in the art will recognize that it is possible to secure the shield leg 203 to the desk leg using more or less holes. The positioning of the holes in the vertical direction can also vary but a preferred embodiment or the present invention places the holes 8 inches from the bottom edge of the shield leg 203 and 8 inches from the top of the cutout 2003.
The cutout 2003 in the main shield 2001 is a rectangular area which leaves a free space for the students to extend their legs between the desk legs.
Also shown on the mail shield 2001 is a portion of a continuous hinge 2006 which secures the rotating side panel 2101.
As one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the mail shield 2001 has a slight indent 2005 above the desk surface. This indent serves two purposes: (1) it keeps the surface are of the main shield 2001 which is above the desk surface symmetrical to the area of the side panel 2101 which is attached by a continuous hinge 2006, 2102, (2) and it insures that the length of the this main panel running horizontal to the desk does not overlap the edge of the desk. Overlapping would be less convenient for the desk user.
The offset blocks, 2201, 2301, shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 respectfully serve the purpose of providing space between a recessed desk leg and the plane of the main shield 2001. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are many ways to attach this offset. It may be forked, or curved as it mates with the desk leg or various other geometries. As one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the offset is shown with a hole in the offset block, the size of the hole allowing inserting a desk leg into it. This provides an easy method of installation and attachment. The block itself can be adhered to the shield leg 2003 with double sided tape, or a Velcro patch or any other easy attachment method.
The offset distance of desk legs from the edge of the desk may not be the same for both legs. As one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention two different methods are offered to accommodate that difference in leg offset. FIG. 22 shows the offset block 2201 with two holes and at installation time the block could be rotated to select the hole that fits the best.
FIG. 23 depicts an offset block 2301 with a single hole but which is asymmetric in terms of its location in the length of the longest side. The space represented by A, 2302, represents one distance for the offset and the space represented by B, 2303 represents the second distance. At installation time the offset block 2301 can be rotated to select the matching offset distance.
Note that in FIG. 19 below each offset block 1902 are the two holes corresponding to FIG. 20 2004.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the side panels 1801 1802 do not need to be rectangular but may of a different design shape and may have sloping or rounded edges.
Nothing in this specification should be understood to limit this invention to merely the work environment. This protection system could be used to provide a safe environment to read book in a library or hotel environment, or to eat a quick breakfast in a hotel buffet breakfast room, or many other environments. Although FIG. 1 shows the present invention positioned on a table with respect to a preferred embodiment, nothing in this specification prevents the present invention from being adapted to other environments like baby carriages, golf carts, and other personal use type situations. It is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification. The present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A sneeze guard system comprising a sneeze guard back panel, one or more hinge attached side panels acting as support means for supporting said sneeze guard back panel in a first position, while permitting one or more said side panels to rotate in either direction supporting said sneeze guard back panel in a different position.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said side panels rotate to a closed position.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the sneeze guard back panel has a through hole permitting hand carrying.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sneeze guard back panel has a convenience slot cut into the bottom.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1, with a center hinge in said back panel permitting folding of said sneeze guard panel in half.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the sneeze guard back panel has a small through hole in each outermost side panel permitting a cord to be run through each hole secured by a knot for hand or shoulder carrying.

7. A sneeze guard system comprising three or more hinge attached panels, said panels acting as both a support structure for said system and as sneeze guard protection, said panels able to rotate 0 degrees to 170 degrees or more.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said panels are connected as radial panels.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said panels may be rotated to divide a 360 degree area into two parts, three parts or four parts of approximate equal area.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said panels may be rotated to position adjacent to each other.

11. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said panels are connected as serial panels.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said panels may be positioned with a similar system as two modular units arranged as a larger system.

13. A system as set forth in claim 7, said radial panels are further connected with one or more serial panels, said serial panels acting as both a support structure for said system and as sneeze guard protection.

14. A sneeze guard system to fit together with a standard rectangular or triangular size school desk where a student would sit having their legs under the desk comprising one main panel, said panel acting as both a support structure for said system and as sneeze guard protection, said panel attached to one or more side panels, said side panels able to rotate 0 degrees to 120 degrees or more.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said main panels has a cutout below the desk level to allow said legs to extend under said main panel under the desk.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said main panel has one or more leg supports extending downward from said main panel protection area, said leg support having one or more holes large enough to allow for a strap or tie material to tie said leg support to a said leg of the desk.

17. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said side panels may be rotated to position on the desk surface supplying both support and sneeze guard protection.

18. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said main panel has one or more leg supports extending downward from said main panel protection area, said leg support attaching to an offset block which surrounds said desk leg and extends from the desk leg to the leg support.

19. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said side panels may be rotated to position on the desk surface supplying both support and sneeze guard protection.