Workspace partition and method for using the same

Abstract

A workspace partition is disclosed that encourages a user to focus on presented tasks without distraction and physically prevents the user from interfering with, or interrupting, the work and attention of adjacent users, while simultaneously allowing another individual to monitor the user. To this end, a workspace partition is provided with a center wall and two sidewalls, wherein the center wall has an opening in its middle lower portion. Users, such as students with disabilities, focus on academic tasks within the workspace partition. The walls of the workspace partition limit distractions outside of the workspace partition and physically prevent users from interfering with adjacent users. Another individual, such as a teacher, can observe and monitor the user through the opening in the center wall. Multiple workspace partitions can be used together to allow multiple users to focus on presented tasks with limited distractions while simultaneously being observed by another individual.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A workspace partition comprising
 a center wall and two sidewalls,   where the sidewalls are at an angle relative to the center wall, where the sidewalls are the same height as the center wall,   where the center wall comprises an opening, where the opening is centered horizontally in the center wall, where the opening extends from the bottom of the centered wall, where the opening has a width greater than ten inches and less than fifteen inches, where the opening has a height greater than eleven inches and less than sixteen inches, where the center wall has a width greater than twenty inches and less than twenty-eight inches, where the center wall has a height greater than sixteen inches and less than twenty inches.   
     
     
         2 . The workspace partition of  claim 1 , wherein the opening has a width of twelve and one-half inches and a height of thirteen and one-half inches. 
     
     
         3 . The workspace partition of  claim 1 , wherein the center wall has a width of twenty-four inches and a height of eighteen inches. 
     
     
         4 . The workspace partition of  claim 1 , wherein the workspace partition consists of cardboard material. 
     
     
         5 . The workspace partition of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls have a width greater than ten inches and less than sixteen inches. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus comprising
 a plurality of workspace partitions and a u-shaped table, where the workspace partitions rest upon the u-shaped table,   where each workspace partition comprises two sidewalls and a center wall,   where the sidewalls are at an angle relative to the center wall,   where the center wall comprises an opening, where the opening has a width greater than ten inches and less than fifteen inches, where the opening has a height greater than eleven inches and less than sixteen inches.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each workspace partition consists of cardboard material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the center wall has a width greater than twenty inches and less than twenty-eight inches. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the center wall has a height greater than sixteen inches and less than twenty inches. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the opening has a width of twelve and one-half inches and a height of thirteen and one-half inches, wherein the opening is centered horizontally in the center wall, wherein the opening extends from the bottom of the centered wall. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the center wall has a width of twenty-four inches and a height of eighteen inches. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the sidewalls have a width greater than ten inches and less than sixteen inches and wherein the sidewalls are the same height as the center wall. 
     
     
         13 . A method of observing a plurality of users comprising
 obtaining a u-shaped table and a plurality of workspace partitions, where each workspace partition comprises two sidewalls and a center wall, where the sidewalls are at an angle relative to the center wall, where the center wall comprises an opening, where the opening has a width greater than ten inches and less than fifteen inches, where the opening has a height greater than eleven inches and less than sixteen inches,   placing the plurality of workspace partitions on the u-shaped table,   having one or more users sit at a workspace partition, where there is no more than one user at each workspace partition,   observing the users through the opening in each workspace partition.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of referencing an item placed before the user by reaching a hand through the opening. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each workspace partition consists of cardboard material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the center wall has a width greater than twenty inches and less than twenty-eight inches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the center wall has a height greater than sixteen inches and less than twenty inches. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the opening has a width of twelve and one-half inches and a height of thirteen and one-half inches. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the center wall has a width of twenty-four inches and a height of eighteen inches. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sidewalls have a width greater than ten inches and less than sixteen inches and wherein the sidewalls are the same height as the center wall.