Patent Application
20220090378
The present invention relates to devices facilitating the protection of students on school grounds; more particularly, the present invention relates to a Protection Screen that blocks students from receiving impacts from airborne bacteria or viruses.
The global virus emergency has changed the landscape of how individuals work, play, vacation and attend educational institutions. Telecommuting has become an option for many; however, it is difficult to imagine that students can continue to perform well if they do not interact daily with others of their own age bracket and involve teachers that fulfill the requirements of a daily learning program. Something is lost without the daily rhythm between students and teachers personally working together in a learning environment; but the infectious emergency makes classroom gatherings problematic as ejected microscopic bacteria and viruses can be passed about the room without some protection between students and between students and others in the classroom.
Some solutions to this problem have been offered by others. One particular concept involves placing a U shaped piece of transparent glass or plastic atop a desk so that it might sit in front of a student. Thus, the student is protected from materials from the front or on either side of the student as desks are linearly disposed as usual or in a staggered configuration so that the next student to the right or left is set more to the front or back of the classroom and so forth. However, this solution suffers as it is not easily portable nor storable as it is a single piece of rigid material.
Another solution involves the use of three planar pieces of transparent plastic that are united in to a unitary device through the use of triangular protrusions attached together using the corresponding narrow necks thereof. Two of the planar pieces are attached one to a first end of the central planar piece and another to an opposite end of the central planar piece; these two external pieces can be considered wings of the central planar piece. The wings each have a triangular protrusions on one end emanating from and integrally formed with the specific planar piece. The central planar piece has triangular protrusions on a first end and a second end opposite the first end thereof. Thus, the triangular protrusions of the first end of the central planar piece is attached with the triangular planar protrusion of the first wing; similarly, the triangular protrusions of the second end of the central planar piece is attached with the triangular planar protrusion of the second wing.
However, this solution suffers in that it is not easy to assembly nor clean as the infection materials can persist in areas that are not easy to clean such as the necks of the devices. Additionally, the large triangular protrusions are difficult to store away as they extend beyond the planar material and are apt to engage purses, hair, backpacks, book bags, paper and other such common items found in school settings.
Accordingly, there is a need for a solution that is easily portable, cleanable, and storable that avoids all the problems found in the prior described above.
A student protection screen comprising:
a first pane attached to:
a second pane;
wherein the first pane is also attached to a third pane; and
wherein the second pane is rotationally movable with respect to the first pane.
wherein the third pane is rotationally movable with respect to the first pane.
attachment through integral formation out of the same piece of material.
attachment through a separate connector attaching the first pane to the second pane.
attachment through integral formation out of the same piece of material.
attachment through a separate connector attaching the first pane to the third pane.
a bottom edge of the center pane having an attachment material attached thereto.
a bottom edge of the right pane having an attachment material attached thereto.
a bottom edge of the left pane having an attachment material attached thereto.
an attachment material from a group of attachment materials of: a suction cup, a nanotech suction material strip.
a connector between the first and second panes thereby attaching them together.
a connector between the first and third panes thereby attaching them together.
A student protection shield comprising:
a center pane connected to both a right pane and a left pane forming a U shaped pattern such that the center pane is located in the center of the U shaped pattern; and
wherein the right pane rotates in relationship with a right side of the center pane; and
wherein the left pane rotates in relationship with a left side of the center pane.
a first strip of flexible material attaching the right pane to the center pane;
and a second strip of flexible material attaching the left pane to the center pane.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.
The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in each figure.
Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
Each of the panes shown herein has a broad front surface and a corresponding back surface integrally formed together as one unit bordered by a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge and a right edge. The Left pane's connecting edge would be its right edge and the right pane's connecting edge would be its left edge whilst the center pane has two connecting edges: a left connecting edge to attach to or integrally formed from the right edge of the left pane; and a right connecting edge to attach to or integrally formed from the left edge of the right pane.
Most generally, a shield permits the motion of each of the two extreme portions about the center pane of material 3. In other words, a user can move the left pane 2 and the right pane 2 about the respective connection edges 4. Thus, the connection 4 between the left pane 2 and the center pane of material as well as the connection 4 between the right pane 2 and the center pane permit rotation thereabout; thus, the connection point 4 forms an axis so to speak, for the two opposing extreme portions that form wings on either side of the center pane of material 4.
The material composition of the pieces 2, 3 are preferably transparent or semi-transparent plastics, polymer, plexiglass or glasses; this in order to facilitate the educational experience for the student thereby not interfering in the association with other students or teaching staff. However, other materials are possible even cardboard pieces that have been bent to facilitate this motion along axis 4.
The left and right panes 2 have bottom edges 2A and the center pane of material 3 has a bottom edge 3A that are suitable for application of different types of suction material. These suction materials facilitate the attachment of the shield to the student desk thereby rendering it immobile. Various types of suction material exist which are readily utilized such as a suction cup attached thereto with glue or other attachment mechanism; a double sided adhesive strip having the suction cup(s) attached on one side and the other side to a bottom edge of a pane (a first adhesive side is applied to the edges 2A, 3A); or a nano-suction material such as dual sided Stick UM® strip affixed to the edge 2A, 3A or similar modalities.
The height of the panes or wings is typically 1 foot; the length of the right and left panes is typically 15 inches and the center pane is typically 22 inches long and all of the panes are typically 1/32 inch thickness. These measurements can be modified for students of various different ages and physical sizes and needs. Thus, these dimensions are only used as exemplary.
The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of various implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations, combinations, modifications or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments as disclosed, but that the invention will include all the embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63080348 | Sep 2020 | US |
