Sanitary retractable barrier system

Abstract

Sanitary barrier systems and methods for preventing transmission of biological substances and protecting human health are provided. A retractable barrier system may include a first supporting member and a barrier film. The first supporting member may comprise a first attachment element configured to position the barrier system vertically in use. The barrier film may have a fixed edge and a free edge, wherein the fixed edge is connected to the first supporting member. The barrier film is extendible to a desired length in a use configuration and retractable back on the first supporting member in a storage configuration. The barrier system may include a retracting mechanism such as a crank or a spring-loaded roller. The barrier film may comprise a sanitary portion. The barrier system may be combined with stanchions or queue barriers to protect individuals waiting in lines. The barrier system may also be used to provide barrier inside a multi-person vehicle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Appln. No. 63 / 026,450, filed May 18, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.INTRODUCTION[0002]Human health is impacted by a variety of biological substances encountered on a daily basis. In particular, contact with various biological substances transmitted in a public environment can lead to an illness, possibly severe, in mammals. For example, biological contamination can lead to a variety of illnesses or diseases, including, but not limited to, microbial infection, viral infection, food poisoning, streptococcal infection, anthrax, cold sores, conjunctivitis, coxsackievirus, croup, diphtheria, and ebolic hemorrhagic fever.[0003]Microbes such as bacteria and viruses are often carried by biological substances such as body fluids from cough, sneeze, breath, sweat, and saliva. Highly-contagious microbes can cause severe outbreaks of disease among living persons t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Protective barriers between individuals are conventionally constructed of ridged plastic and are permanently installed. Flexible plastic barriers such as high speed garage doors are typically installed in a permanent location. In automotive applications plastic ridged sheets are permanently installed between front and back seats and cannot be removed. In severe pandemic situations where social distancing is demanded, it would be very difficult to prevent transmission of highly contagious biological substances using conventional protective means in crowded public areas described above. Accordingly, it is highly desirable for portable, easy-to-establish, cost-effective, and reusable sanitary barrier systems to reduce or prevent transmission of harmful biological substances and protect human health.Sanitary Retractable Barrier System

[0007]The barrier film according to the present barrier system described herein may be a substantially clear plastic film. The barrier film may have a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 20 mm, or from about 1 mil to about 10 mil, or from about 3 mil to about 7 mil. The barrier film may have sufficient stiffness or rigidity to reduce deformation upon extension or retraction.

[0018]Advantages of the present barrier systems and methods include: highly-effective in preventing transmissions of biological substance, time saving for establishing a sanitary barrier as it only requires one person to operate the system, cost efficient and environmental-friendly, portable and light weight so it can be carried and taken anywhere, easy to mount on to various structures, compatible with various stabilizing surfaces, retractable and easy to store, non-invasive, non-abusive and less stress, possible to establish continuous barrier to any desired length with sanitary, isolating, and guiding functions combined in one system.

[0019]In particular, the retractable barrier system of the present disclosure can be combined with stanchions or queue barriers or stabilizing surfaces to establish effective sanitary barrier isolating individual persons in close proximity and preventing transmission of biological substances there while waiting in lines in airports, supermarkets, cabins of public transportation vehicles, or other public areas.

Problems solved by technology

In particular, contact with various biological substances transmitted in a public environment can lead to an illness, possibly severe, in mammals.

Highly-contagious microbes can cause severe outbreaks of disease among living persons through person-to-person transmission in public areas such as supermarkets, public transportation spaces, socially-active places, and schools.

Particularly, in restricted or confined or crowded public areas such as ticketing and check-in lines of airport and multi-person vehicles, hospitals, security lines, State & Federal buildings, colleges / universities / high schools / middle schools / grade schools, public transportation vehicles like Uber / Lyft / Taxi / Driving Services, churches, restaurants, persons are always in close proximity with each other, and transmission of biological substances inevitably leads to widespread illness and diseases among persons without effective sanitary protection.

In many public areas, common sanitary means such as hand washing sources or facial masks are often not available nor accessible nor applicable.

In severe pandemic situations where social distancing is demanded, it would be very difficult to prevent transmission of highly contagious biological substances using conventional protective means in crowded public areas described above.

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