Modular food guard apparatus and systems and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A method of converting a modular food guard from a first configuration to a second configuration. The method includes the steps of disengaging a securing means from a vertical mounting member of a food guard apparatus; removing a first bracket member from the vertical mounting member; and removably securing a second bracket member to the vertical mounting member with the securing means, wherein the first and second bracket members have different constructions.

1 .- 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A method of converting a modular food guard from a first configuration to a second configuration, comprising the steps of: 
 disengaging a securing means from a vertical mounting member of a food guard apparatus;    removing a first bracket member from the vertical mounting member; and    removably securing a second bracket member to the vertical mounting member with the securing means, wherein the first and second bracket members have different constructions.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the disengaging step further comprises disengaging a first pair of pivot pins from a first pair of support receptacles disposed in the vertical mounting member, the support receptacles of the first pair of support receptacles being separated by a distance.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the disengaging step further comprises threadably disengaging the first pair of pivot pins from the first pair of support receptacles.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the removably securing step further includes engaging the first pair of support receptacles with the first pair of pivot pins.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the removing step further comprises extracting the first pair of pivot pins from a first pair of support apertures disposed in the first bracket.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: 
 removably attaching a shelf support member to the vertical mounting member; and    supporting a shelf with the shelf support member.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of removably connecting a shield to the second bracket.  
   
   
       19 . A method of assembling a modular food guard comprising the steps of: 
 removably attaching a first bracket to a vertical mounting member of a food guard apparatus by engaging a first pair of support receptacles disposed on the vertical mounting member with a first pair of pivot pins wherein the support receptacle of the first pair of support receptacles are separated by a distance; and    removably attaching a second bracket to the vertical mounting member by engaging a second pair of support receptacles disposed on the vertical mounting member with a second pair of pivot pins, wherein the support receptacles within the second pair of support receptacles are separated by the distance.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of: 
 removably securing a first shield to the first bracket; and    removably securing a second shield to the second bracket.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of: 
 removably connecting a shelf support to the vertical mounting member; and    supporting a shelf on the shelf support member.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of: 
 disengaging one of the pivot pins of the first pair of pivot pins from an associated support receptacle;    rotating the first bracket into a second position; and    securing the first bracket in the second position by re-engaging the associated support receptacle with the pivot pin.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the removably attaching steps further comprise threadably engaging the support receptacles with the pivot pins.