Adjustably positionable sneeze guard

Abstract

An adjustably positionable sneeze guard includes a transparent panel having an upper surface and a lower surface, and at least two continuously flexible legs having a proximal end and a distal end. Preferably, the distal end of each support leg is attached to the lower surface of the transparent panel by means of a thumb screw, and the proximal end of each support leg is secured to a stationary base by means of a c-shaped clamp mechanism. The transparent panel is adjustably positioned on the stationary base in front of and above food, beverage or other items, to provide a barrier which protects said items from contaminants expelled from the mouth or nose of a person on the opposite side of the transparent panel. The adjustable positioning makes the sneeze guard suitable for self service, attended service, and temporary buffet service lines.

1 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard, comprising: 
 a. a transparent panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, a forward edge, and a rearward edge;    b. at least two flexible support legs, continuously flexible from a proximal end to a distal end;    c. a means for attaching said distal end of each said support leg to said lower surface adjacent said rearward edge of said transparent panel; and,    d. a means for mounting said proximal end of each said support leg to a stationary base, whereby, said transparent panel is adjustably positioned on said stationary base in front of and above food, beverage or other items, to provide a barrier which protects said items from contaminants expelled from the mouth or nose of a person on the opposite side of the transparent panel.    
   
   
       2 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard as in  claim 1  in which said panel is constructed of a plastic material.  
   
   
       3 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard as in  claim 1  in which said panel is constructed of an acrylic material.  
   
   
       4 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard as in  claim 1  in which said panel is constructed of a glass material.  
   
   
       5 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard as in  claim 1  in which said support legs are constructed of a flexible tubing material.  
   
   
       6 . A flexible sneeze guard as in  claim 1  in which said support legs are constructed of a spring steel material.  
   
   
       7 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard as in  claim 1  in which said support legs are covered with a vinyl material.  
   
   
       8 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard as in  claim 1  in which said support legs are covered with a rubberized material.  
   
   
       9 . A flexible sneeze guard as in  claim 1 , in which said means for attaching said distal end of said support legs to said panel comprises a screw having a head and a threaded shaft portion, said shaft portion passing through an aperture in said panel into a threaded hole in said distal end, said head being secured in snug relation against said upper surface of said panel.  
   
   
       10 . A flexible sneeze guard as in  claim 1 , in which said means for attaching said distal end of said support legs to said panel comprises a threaded bolt extending from said distal end, said bolt passing through an aperture in said panel from the lower surface thereof into a nut, said nut being secured in snug relation against said upper surface of said panel.  
   
   
       11 . A flexible sneeze guard as in  claim 1 , in which said means for mounting said proximal end of said support legs to said stationary base comprises a threaded connector extending from said proximal end, a plate having a female threaded aperture in an upper side thereof into which said threaded connector is secured, said plate further having a plurality of holes through which screws or bolts may be passed to attach said plate to said stationary base.  
   
   
       12 . A flexible sneeze guard as in  claim 1  in which said means for mounting said proximal end of said support legs to said stationary base is a clamp mechanism comprising: 
 a. a c-shaped bracket having an upper side and a lower side, said proximal end of said support leg having a threaded connector connected to a female threaded aperture in said upper side, and said lower side being provided with a threaded bore; and    b. a rotatable retention member having a threaded shaft engaged with said threaded bore, and said shaft including a disc on an upper end and a hand grasp on a lower end.    
   
   
       14 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard as in  claim 1  in which a small section of said transparent panel, along the entire forward edge thereof, is bent and angled downward.  
   
   
       15 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard, comprising: 
 a. a transparent panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, a forward edge, and a rearward edge;    b. at least two flexible support legs, continuously flexible from a proximal end to a distal end;    c. a connector attaching said distal end of each said support leg to said lower surface adjacent said rearward edge of said transparent panel; and,    d. a connector securing said proximal end of each said support leg to a stationary base, whereby, said transparent panel is adjustably positioned on said stationary base in front of and above food, beverage or other items, to provide a barrier which protects said items from contaminants expelled from the mouth or nose of a person on the opposite side of the transparent panel.    
   
   
       16 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard, comprising: 
 a. a transparent panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, a forward edge, and a rearward edge, and at least two apertures in said panel adjacent the rearward edge thereof;    b. at least two flexible support legs, having a proximal end and a distal end, the number of said support legs corresponding to the number of said apertures in said panel, said distal end further having a threaded hole;    c. at least two knurled knob thumb screws, having a head and a threaded shaft portion, the number corresponding to the number of said apertures, each said shaft portion passing through each said aperture into said threaded hole in said distal end said support leg, said thumb screw being secured in a snug relation against said upper surface of said transparent panel; and,    d. at least two clamp mechanisms, the number corresponding to the number of said support legs, said clamp mechanisms comprising: a c-shaped bracket having an upper side and a lower side, said proximal end of said support leg having a threaded connector connected to a female threaded aperture in said upper side, and said lower side being provided with a threaded bore; and a rotatable retention member having a threaded shaft engaged with said threaded bore, and said shaft including a disc on an upper end and a hand grasp on a lower end, whereby, said transparent panel is adjustably positioned on said stationary base in front of and above food, beverage or other items, to provide a barrier which protects said items from contaminants expelled from the mouth or nose of a person on the opposite side of said transparent panel.    
   
   
       17 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard, comprising: 
 a. a transparent panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, a forward edge, and a rearward edge;    b. at least two flexible support legs having a proximal end and a distal end, a portion of one end of each said support leg being rigid and the remainder of said support leg being continuously flexible to the other end thereof;    c. a connector attaching said distal end of each said support leg to said lower surface adjacent said rearward edge of said transparent panel; and,    d. a connector securing said proximal end of each said support leg to a stationary base, whereby, said transparent panel is adjustably positioned on said stationary base in front of and above food, beverage or other items, to provide a barrier which protects said items from contaminants expelled from the mouth or nose of a person on the opposite side of the transparent panel.    
   
   
       18 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard as in  claim 17  in which said rigid portion of said support leg is removably connected to said continuously flexible portion of said support leg.  
   
   
       19 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard as in  claim 17  in which said rigid portion of said support leg is located at said distal end of said support leg.  
   
   
       20 . An adjustably positionable sneeze guard as in  claim 17  in which said rigid portion of said support leg is located at said proximal end of said support leg.