Sneeze guard

Abstract

There are disclosed various embodiments of sneeze guards. In an embodiment, there is provided a guard assembly including a pane, a frame surrounding the pane, and a pair of support legs in adjustable connection with the guard assembly. The upper portion of each one of the support legs is adjustably attached to the guard assembly. In one embodiment, each support leg includes a height adjustment mechanism. In another embodiment, there is provided a method of using a sneeze guard. The method includes adjusting a pair of support legs in adjustable connection with a guard assembly from closed position with each of the legs disposed substantially parallel with the guard assembly to an opened position with each of the legs disposed substantially perpendicular with the guard assembly. In an embodiment, the method also includes adjusting a height adjustment mechanism to selectively adjust a length of the support leg.

1 . Apparatus comprising: 
 a guard assembly including a pane, a frame substantially surrounding the pane, and the guard assembly having a top portion and a bottom portion in opposition to one another, and lateral portions extending between the top portion and the bottom portion; and    a pair of support legs in adjustable connection with the guard assembly, each one of the support legs having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of each one of the support legs adjustably attached to one of the lateral portions of the guard assembly, respectively, and each one of the support legs including a height adjustment mechanism between the upper portion and the lower portion, so as to allow selective adjustment of a length between the upper portion and the lower portion of each of the support legs, and selective adjustment of a height from the top portion of the guard assembly to the lower portion of each one of the support legs.    
   
   
       2 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the pane comprises a transparent material.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the transparent material includes one selected from the group consisting of acrylic and glass.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a. channeled tubular frame.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the channeled tubular frame is aluminum tubing.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to completely surround the pane.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of connectors attached to each one of the lateral portions of the guard assembly, respectively, wherein the pair of support legs are in adjustable connection with the guard assembly with the pair of connectors.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the pair of connectors each comprise a bushing and a spring pin assembly, respectively.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of support legs includes a pair of mating tubular portions.  
   
   
       10 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the pair of mating tubular portions includes an inner tube at the upper portion and an outer tube at the lower portion.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the height adjustment mechanism includes a connection region having a first connection portion and a second connection portion.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the first connection portion includes a first bushing and spring pin assembly, and wherein the second connection portion includes a second bushing and spring pin assembly.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus comprising: 
 a guard assembly including a pane, a frame substantially surrounding the pane, and the guard assembly having a top portion and a bottom portion in opposition to one another, lateral portions extending between the top portion and the bottom portion;    a pair of adjustable connectors attached to each one of the lateral portions of the guard assembly;    a pair of support legs in adjustable connection with the guard assembly at the pair of adjustable connectors, wherein the legs are configured for adjustment between a closed position with each of the legs disposed substantially parallel with the pane of the guard assembly to an opened position with each of the legs disposed substantially perpendicular with the pane of the guard assembly.    
   
   
       14 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the pane comprises a transparent material.  
   
   
       15 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the transparent material includes one selected from the group consisting of acrylic and glass.  
   
   
       16 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the frame comprises a channeled tubular frame.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the channeled tubular frame is aluminum tubing.  
   
   
       18 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the frame is configured to completely surround the pane.  
   
   
       19 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising a pair of connectors attached to each one of the lateral portions of the guard assembly, respectively, wherein the pair of support legs are in adjustable connection with the guard assembly with the pair of connectors.  
   
   
       20 . Apparatus in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the pair of connectors each comprise a bushing and a spring pin assembly, respectively.  
   
   
       21 . A method of using a sneeze guard, the method comprising: 
 adjusting a pair of support legs in adjustable connection with a guard assembly from a closed position with each of the legs disposed substantially parallel with the guard assembly to an opened position with each of the legs disposed substantially perpendicular with the guard assembly; and    adjusting a height adjustment mechanism of each one of the support legs to selectively adjust a length between an upper portion and a lower portion of each one of the support legs so as to selectively adjust a height from a top portion of the guard assembly to the lower portion of each one of the support legs.    
   
   
       22 . A method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the adjusting the pair of support legs includes rotating an upper portion of each one of the support legs within respective ones of a pair of adjustable connectors attached to the guard assembly.  
   
   
       23 . A method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the adjusting the height adjustment mechanism includes selectively repositioning a first bushing and spring pin assembly of a first connection portion and a second bushing and spring pin assembly of a second connection portion of the pair of support legs, respectively.  
   
   
       24 . A method of using a sneeze guard, the method comprising: 
 adjusting a pair of support legs in adjustable connection with a guard assembly from a closed position with each of the legs disposed substantially parallel with the guard assembly to an opened position with each of the legs disposed substantially perpendicular with the guard assembly.    
   
   
       25 . A method in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the adjusting the pair of support legs includes rotating an upper portion of each one of the support legs within respective ones of a pair of adjustable connectors attached to the guard assembly.