Abstract: A rotation and detent mechanism includes a body defining a cavity and having a travel limiter with two fixed faces protruding into the cavity. A detent plate nests and rotates within the cavity and has two limiting surfaces between which the travel limiter of the body is disposed. One of the limiting surfaces engages a respective one of the travel limiting faces of the body at each extreme of angular rotation of the detent plate. The detent plate includes recesses for engaging one or more spring loaded ball plungers mounted in the body. Each ball plunger engages a recess in the detent plate at certain angular detent positions of the detent plate within the body. The mechanism further includes an axle on which the detent plate rotates, and a coil spring that engages the detent plate, resisting rotation of the detent plate in one rotational direction.

Abstract: An adjustable food shield includes a pair of support columns, a pair of rotation and detent mechanisms, a top shelf resting on and attached to the top ends of the support columns, a pair of rotation arms. One of the rotation arms is coupled respectively to each of the rotation and detent mechanisms, such that the rotation arms are rotatable about an axis generally parallel with a lengthwise dimension of the adjustable food shield. The rotation and detent mechanisms provide detents at a number of angular positions of the rotation arms. The adjustable food shield further comprises a shield panel fixed to the rotation arms.

Abstract: A rotation and detent mechanism includes a body defining a cavity and having a travel limiter with two fixed faces protruding into the cavity. A detent plate nests and rotates within the cavity and has two limiting surfaces between which the travel limiter of the body is disposed. One of the limiting surfaces engages a respective one of the travel limiting faces of the body at each extreme of angular rotation of the detent plate. The detent plate includes recesses for engaging one or more spring loaded ball plungers mounted in the body. Each ball plunger engages a recess in the detent plate at certain angular detent positions of the detent plate within the body. The mechanism further includes an axle on which the detent plate rotates, and a coil spring that engages the detent plate, resisting rotation of the detent plate in one rotational direction.

Abstract: An adjustable food shield includes a pair of support columns, a pair of rotation and detent mechanisms, a top shelf resting on and attached to the top ends of the support columns, a pair of rotation arms. One of the rotation arms is coupled respectively to each of the rotation and detent mechanisms, such that the rotation arms are rotatable about an axis generally parallel with a lengthwise dimension of the adjustable food shield. The rotation and detent mechanisms provide detents at a number of angular positions of the rotation arms. The adjustable food shield further comprises a shield panel fixed to the rotation arms.

Abstract: A food shield includes a panel mounting mechanism that enables extensive adjustability of the food shield. When the mounting mechanism is clamped to a post, a panel coupled to the mounting mechanism can be adjusted angularly about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the post, and the panel can also be translated in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation. The mounting mechanism may include a clamp that includes a main portion and a swing portion that can swing away from the main portion to enable the clamp to be coupled to a post from a side of the post. Detent mechanisms may be provided for the angular adjustment and the translational adjustment. The mounting mechanism may also include a locking mechanism that when engaged fixes the panel in a certain angular position.