Mobile and stationary protective attendant stations

Abstract

An apparatus and method for a protective attendant station (PAS) that may be either mobile or stationary. The PAS has an upper protective portion having a front and two side bullet-resistant transparent/translucent panels and a lower protective portion that uses bullet-resistant material (e.g., stainless steel) and wherein, in the mobile PAS version, the lower protective portion rests upon and is secured to wheel/castor assemblies. The front panel comprises one of several protective window configurations (PWCs) that facilitate speaking between the attendant and another person, while protecting the attendant from COVID transfer or other potentially infectious diseases, from reach-through or from firearm discharge. The mobile PAS includes a brake mechanism that permits the attendant to move the PAS defensively to a more secure location, or to be used offensively against a perpetrator by moving the PAS against the perpetrator and pinning him/her to a wall or other structure until authorities arrive.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective attendant station, said station comprising:
 an upper portion comprising a protective window configuration that is bullet-resistant and transparent;   a lower portion that is also bullet-resistant; and   said upper portion and said lower portion secured together to form a station having an interior configured for the presence of an attendant therein and wherein said bullet-resistant and transparent upper portion provide unobstructed communication between the attendant and another person on an outside location of said protective attendant station while also preventing transfer of moisture droplets while minimizing transfer of Covid and other potentially infectious diseases between the another person and the attendant.   
     
     
         2 . The protective attendant station of  claim 1  wherein said protective window configuration comprises a pair of bullet-resistant and transparent panes which are vertically-oriented such that one pane forms an upper pane and the other pane forms a lower pane and wherein a lower edge of said upper pane overlaps an upper edge of said lower pane, and wherein said lower pane has a lower edge that is in contact with a countertop in said upper portion. 
     
     
         3 . The protective attendant station of  claim 1  wherein said protective window configuration comprises a pair of bullet-resistant and transparent panes which are vertically-oriented such that one pane forms an upper pane and the other pane forms a lower pane and wherein a lower edge of said upper pane overlaps an upper edge of said upper pane but said upper and lower panes are displaced horizontally to form a gap to facilitate speaking and protecting against airborne bacteria, and wherein said lower pane has a lower edge that is in contact with a counter top in said upper portion. 
     
     
         4 . The protective attendant station of  claim 1  wherein said protective window configuration comprises a pair of bullet-resistant and transparent panes which are vertically-oriented such that one pane forms an upper pane and the other pane forms a lower pane and wherein a lower edge of said upper pane overlaps an upper edge of said upper pane but said upper and lower panes are displaced horizontally to form a gap to facilitate speaking, and wherein said lower pane has a lower edge that is positioned above a counter top in said upper portion to allow for pass-through of materials. 
     
     
         5 . The protective attendant station of  claim 4  further comprising an angled bullet-resistant and transparent pane positioned on said countertop, inward of said station, to permit limited pass-through of materials, while protecting the attendant from any reach-through, airborne bacteria. 
     
     
         6 . The protective attendant station of  claim 1  further comprising a wheel assembly secured to a bottom of said lower portion for forming a mobile protective window station, allowing the attendant to maneuver said protective attendant station to other locations on a floor. 
     
     
         7 . The protective attendant station of  claim 6  further comprising a braking mechanism, controllable by the attendant, for making said mobile protective attendant station temporarily stationary, even on non-level floor surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The protective attendant station of  claim 7  wherein said braking mechanism comprises a plurality of vertically-displaceable foot pads, said foot pads deployable by the attendant to lift the wheels out of contact with a floor upon which said wheels roll. 
     
     
         9 . The protective attendant station of  claim 6  wherein said protective window configuration comprises a pair of bullet-resistant and transparent panes which are vertically-oriented such that one pane forms an upper pane and the other pane forms a lower pane and wherein a lower edge of said upper pane overlaps an upper edge of said upper pane, and wherein said lower pane has a lower edge that is in contact with a countertop in said upper portion. 
     
     
         10 . The protective attendant station of  claim 6  wherein said protective window configuration comprises a pair of bullet-resistant and transparent panes which are vertically-oriented such that one pane forms an upper pane and the other pane forms a lower pane and wherein a lower edge of said upper pane overlaps an upper edge of said upper pane but said upper and lower panes are displaced horizontally to form a gap to facilitate speaking and protecting against airborne bacteria, and wherein said lower pane has a lower edge that is in contact with a counter top in said upper portion. 
     
     
         11 . The protective attendant station of  claim 6  wherein said protective window configuration comprises a pair of bullet-resistant and transparent panes which are vertically-oriented such that one pane forms an upper pane and the other pane forms a lower pane and wherein a lower edge of said upper pane overlaps an upper edge of said upper pane but said upper and lower panes are displaced horizontally to form a gap to facilitate speaking, and wherein said lower pane has a lower edge that is positioned above a counter top in said upper portion to allow for pass-through of materials. 
     
     
         12 . The protective attendant station of  claim 11  further comprising an angled bullet-resistant and transparent pane positioned on said countertop, inward of said station, to permit limited pass-through of materials, while protecting the attendant from any reach-through, airborne bacteria. 
     
     
         13 . The protective attendant station of  claim 1  wherein said lower portion in said interior comprises at least storage compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The protective attendant station of  claim 13  wherein a portable ballistic-resistant shield configured for use by the attendant is stowed in said at least one storage compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The protective attendant station of  claim 6  wherein said mobile protective attendant station can be used defensively to rescue another person and to safely relocate said protective attendant station against a wall to provide 360° protection to the attendant, as well as the another person. 
     
     
         16 . The protective attendant station of  claim 6  wherein said mobile protective attendant station can be used offensively by the attendant to maneuver said protective attendant station to trap a perpetrator against a wall or other structure while the attendant remains within said interior of said mobile protective attendant station awaiting arrival of authorities. 
     
     
         17 . The protective attendant station of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of vertical struts for forming said upper portion and said lower portion. 
     
     
         18 . The protective attendant station of  claim 17  wherein said lower portion and said plurality of vertical struts comprise a non-porous, easily maintainable material which can be sanitized on a regular basis to reduce spread of infection and viruses. 
     
     
         19 . The protective attendant station of  claim 18  wherein non-porous, easily maintainable material comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         20 . The protective attendant station of  claim 1  wherein said bullet-resistant and transparent panes comprise thermoplastic that are Level 1 Ballistic-5.0 and Level III Ballistic-7.5 pounds. 
     
     
         21 . The protective attendant station of  claim 1  wherein said protective attendant station can be integrated within an existing attendant station. 
     
     
         22 . The protective attendant station of  claim 21  wherein said existing attendant station is rounded and wherein said protective attendant station further comprises two elongated channel elements, each of which are secured to a respective one of two of a plurality of vertical struts forming said upper portion along a length thereof, each of said elongated channel elements comprising a rounded rectangular cross-section wherein a corner of said rounded rectangular cross-section is open to accommodate a neighboring bullet-resistant transparent/translucent pane when said protective attendant station is installed in the rounded attendant station. 
     
     
         23 . The protective attendant station of  claim 22  wherein said open corner of said elongated channel element comprises a size that corresponds to a width of the neighboring bullet-resistant transparent/translucent pane.