Shoulder-Supported Microbe Protective Shield

Abstract

A shoulder-supported protective microbe shield is provided that has a transparent and flexible protective shield connected to a shoulder support piece. In one example, the shoulder support piece may be comfortably placed around the neck such that it is fully supported at the back of the wearer's neck, across the shoulders, and rests on the chest. The shoulder support piece is generally U-shaped with a magnet at the top of each leg of the U. In this way, the magnets are spaced apart and positioned approximately at the wearer's sternum. With the shoulder support piece in place, the shield can be removably coupled to the magnets. More particularly, the shield connects to a support bar at its bottom perimeter, and the bar has metal plates that cooperate with the magnets in the shoulder support piece. As a result, the shield may be easily connected to the shoulder support piece, and me can be positioned or rotated into the proper, safe, and comfortable position.

What is claimed, is: 
     
         1 . A wearable shoulder shield for protecting against microbe contamination, comprising:
 a shield, further comprising:
 a support bar having a magnet piece holder at each end; 
 a magnet or a metal plate in each of the support bar's magnet-piece holder; and 
 a substantially transparent and flexible shield coupled to the support bar; 
   a shoulder support, further comprising:
 a U-shaped plastic support having a neck support and two elongated sides, with each side having a respective magnet-piece holder; and 
 a magnet or a metal plate in each magnet-piece holder that is selected to magnetically couple with a respective magnet or metal plate on the support bar; and 
   wherein the shield is magnetically and removably coupled to the shoulder support.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped plastic support is a single piece of molded plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 2 , wherein the magnet piece holders in the U-shaped support are constructed to each retain a respective magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 2 , wherein the magnet piece holders in the U-shaped support are constructed to each retain a respective magnet guide piece, and each magnet guide piece is constructed to retain a magnet. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 1 , wherein support bar has a length, and when not under tension or compression, the U-shaped plastic support is sufficiently ridged to hold the shoulder support's magnets approximately the bar's length apart. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the sides of the U-shaped plastic support have an adjustable length. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the shield pivots around an axis of the magnets or plates in the support bar. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder support weighs less than about 2 US ounces. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 1 , wherein the support bar releasably receives the transparent shield. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 9 , wherein the support bar releasably receives the transparent shield as a friction fit. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 9 , wherein the support bar releasably receives the transparent using an attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 1 , where in the flexible shield is tinted for eye protection or has a UV, antifog, hydrophobic, or antibacterial coating. 
     
     
         13 . A wearable shoulder shield for protecting against contamination, comprising:
 a shoulder support constructed to be worn around a user's neck, the shoulder support having two sides, with each side having a shield connector;   a substantially transparent and flexible shield coupled to a support bar, the support bar having bar connectors at each end; and   wherein the shield connectors attach to the bar connectors to position the transparent and flexible shield in front of the user's face.   
     
     
         14 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 13 , wherein the shoulder support has a support piece that holds and positions the shield connectors. 
     
     
         15 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 14 , wherein the support piece is a cable, rope or chain. 
     
     
         16 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 14 , wherein the shield connectors are a magnet or metal piece and the bar connectors are a mating magnet or metal piece. 
     
     
         17 . A wearable shoulder shield for protecting against microbe contamination, comprising:
 a shield, further comprising:
 a support bar having a bar connector at each end; and 
 a substantially transparent and flexible shield coupled to the support bar; 
   a shoulder support, further comprising:
 a U-shaped support having a neck support and two elongated sides, with each side having a shield connector; and 
   wherein the shield is removably coupled to the shoulder support by connecting the respective bar connectors to the shield connectors.   
     
     
         18 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 17 , wherein the shield connectors and the bar connectors are a mating magnet or metal piece. 
     
     
         19 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 17 , wherein the shield connectors are a hook and loop material and the bar connectors are a mating hook and loop material; or the shield connectors are a snap and the bar connectors are a mating snap. 
     
     
         20 . The wearable shoulder shield according to  claim 17 , wherein the shield connectors or the bar connectors comprise a screw or adhesive tape.