Education carrell for instruction and testing environments

Abstract

An education carrel for instruction and testing environments. The carrel includes a non-transparent first panel, a second non-transparent panel, a first-and-second panel retention member, a non-transparent privacy panel, and a non-transparent privacy panel retention member which detachably engages the aforementioned components.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure provides an education carrel for instruction and testing environments. More particularly, the disclosure provides an educational carrel which may, during instruction, be used to provide separate workspaces and, during testing, to provide privacy to the test-taker while providing the opportunity for monitoring by the test proctor, accomplished by an educational carrel with a rear panel which provides an unobstructed view during instruction and which includes a privacy panel for which during testing which blocks the forward view of the test-taker while affording the ability to monitor to the test-taker's work surface to the monitoring test proctor.

2. Description of the Related Art

Educational carrels are well known. Whether incorporating a table or designed to sit atop a work surface, educational carrels include two non-transparent side walls and a non-transparent rear wall affixed to one another to provide a semi-enclosed area where the student may work without external distraction. These may be found in library environments for studying and may be found in classroom environments, for focused work or for test-taking. The use of carrels has been extended to provide students from physically interacting with one another, providing a measure of separateness, to encourage focus.

While useful, these carrels cannot be easily deployed in a classroom setting due to the non-transparent nature of the rear panel as students cannot see the instructor nor can the instructor easily see the students absent a raised dais for the instructor, which provides only limited benefit. As a result, portable carrels are often deployed only for testing conditions, requiring storage, consuming time for deployment, and creating a distracting in the testing area.

Alternatively, eliminating the rear panel eliminates the desires privacy in a test-taking environmental. Additionally, during testing conditions, the test proctor can observe test-takers only from the rear or from above, which reduces the effectiveness of the proctor.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure therefore, overcomes one or more deficiencies in the prior art by providing an education carrel for instruction and testing environments. The present disclosure provides for an educational carrel which may, during instruction, be used to provide separate workspaces and, during testing, to provide privacy to the test-taker while providing the opportunity for monitoring by the test proctor, accomplished by an educational carrel with a rear panel which provides an unobstructed view during instruction and which includes a privacy panel for which during testing which blocks the forward view of the test-taker while affording the ability to monitor to the test-taker's work surface to the monitoring test proctor.

The disclosure includes a carrel for education purposes, comprising: i) a non-transparent first panel, said non-transparent first panel having first panel height, first panel depth, and a first panel rear edge; ii) a non-transparent second panel, said non-transparent second panel having second panel height, second panel depth, and a second panel rear edge said second panel height equivalent to said first panel height; said second panel depth equivalent to said first panel depth; iii) a first-and-second panel retention member, said first-and-second panel retention member affixed substantially perpendicular to said non-transparent first panel near said first panel rear edge, said first panel extending forwardly from said first-and-second panel retention member, said first-and-second panel retention member affixed substantially perpendicular to said non-transparent second panel near said second panel rear edge, said second panel extending forwardly from said first-and-second panel retention member, said first-and-second panel retention member separating said non-transparent first panel and said non-transparent second panel by a separation width; iv) a non-transparent privacy panel, said non-transparent privacy panel having a non-transparent privacy panel width and a non-transparent privacy panel height said non-transparent privacy panel width equivalent to said separation width. said non-transparent privacy panel height no more than ⅔ said first panel height and no less than ½ said first panel height; and v) a privacy panel retention member, said privacy panel retention member affixed to said non-transparent privacy panel or to said first-and-second panel retention member or to said first panel and said second panel and providing detachable attachment of said non-transparent privacy panel to said first-and-second panel retention member or to said first panel and said second panel or to said non-transparent privacy panel.

The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the disclosure will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the described features, advantages and objects of the disclosure, as well as others which will become apparent, are attained and can be understood in detail, more particular description of the disclosure briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only a typical preferred embodiment of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope as the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 from below.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the present disclosure with a different first-and-second panel retention member 1300.

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 from below.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 incorporating a non-transparent privacy panel retention member 1500.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the present disclosure with incorporating a table.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the present disclosure with incorporating a table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided as viewed in perspective and from below, respectively. The educational carrel 1000 includes a non-transparent first panel 1100, a non-transparent second panel 1200, a first-and-second panel retention member 1300, a non-transparent privacy panel 1400, and a non-transparent privacy panel retention member 1500 which detachably engages the first panel 1100 and the second panel 1200 or the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 or the non-transparent privacy panel 1400.

In one embodiment, the non-transparent first panel 1100 includes a first panel front side 1102, a first panel rear side 1104, a first panel interior side 1106, a first panel exterior side 1108, a first panel top side 1110, and a first panel bottom side 1112, a first panel depth 1140, and has a first panel height 1114. Similarly, the non-transparent second panel 1200 includes a second panel second side 1202, a second panel rear side 1204, a second panel interior side 1206, a second panel exterior side 1208, a second panel top side 1210, a second panel depth 1240 and a second panel bottom side 1212 and has a second panel height 1214. The first panel 1100 and the second panel 1200 are equivalent in dimensions and may be translucent or opaque as desired, and are both non-transparent.

A first-and-second panel retention member 1300 maintains the first panel 1100 and the second panel 1200 in relation to one another. The first-and-second panel retention member 1300 may be any structural member which maintains the first panel 1100 and the second panel 1200 in position, such as, for example, the open framework, such as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, a transparent panel, such as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 or in FIG. 5, or FIG. 6, or a bracket as depicted in FIG. 7, or a collection of members. Additionally, a work surface panel may be provided to which the first panel bottom side 1112 and the second panel bottom side 1212 may be affixed to provide further rigidity and structure.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, where the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 is a transparent third panel, it further includes a first-and-second panel retention member interior side 1306, a first-and-second panel retention member exterior side 1308, a first-and-second panel retention member top side 1310, a first-and-second panel retention member bottom side 1312, a first-and-second panel retention member first side 1316 and a first-and-second panel retention member second side 1318 and has a first-and-second panel retention member height 1314 and a first-and-second panel retention member width 1320. The first-and-second panel retention member 1300 is joined or affixed at or near the first-and-second panel retention member first end 1316 to the first panel 1100 at near first panel rear side 1104 so that the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 and the first panel 1100 are substantially perpendicular to one another at an end of each panel. This may be accomplished by nails, screws, bolts, or any other attachment known in the art. Similarly, the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 is joined or affixed at or near the first-and-second panel retention member first end 1316 to the second panel 1200 at near second panel rear side 1204 so that the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 and the second panel 1200 are substantially perpendicular to one another at an end of each panel, and so that the first panel 1100 and the second panel 1200 are parallel and extend forwardly from the rear panel 1300. The first panel top side 1110, the second panel top side 1210 and the third panel top side 1310 are generally aligned and co-planar. The first-and-second panel retention member 1300, however, in addition to being transparent, need not have a third panel height 1314 equivalent to that of first panel height 1114 and second panel height 1214 and so may not extend to meet the first panel bottom side 1112 and/or the second panel bottom side 1212. In such a case, the shorter first-and-second panel retention member height 1314 of the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 provides a glare-free opening for observation by the test proctor of student work. Additionally, where the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 is a transparent panel with a first-and-second panel retention member height 1314 equivalent to a first panel height 1114 a work surface panel may be provided to which the first panel bottom side 1112, the second panel bottom side 1212, the first-and-second panel retention member height bottom side 1312 may be affixed to provide further rigidity and structure.

The non-transparent privacy panel 1400 includes a non-transparent privacy panel interior side 1406, a non-transparent privacy panel top side 1410, a non-transparent privacy panel bottom side 1412, a non-transparent privacy panel first end 1416 and a non-transparent privacy panel second side 1418 and has a non-transparent privacy panel height 1414 and a non-transparent privacy panel width 1420. The non-transparent privacy panel width 1420 is equivalent to the third panel width 1320 while the non-transparent privacy panel height 1414 is less than, preferably 5-7 inches less, than the first panel height 1114 and/or second panel height 1214. The non-transparent privacy panel height 1414 is sufficiently less than than the first panel height 1114 and/or second panel height 1214 to block the student's view of the test proctor and of any student work on the other side of the non-transparent privacy panel 1400 while sufficiently high to permit observation of the student's work.

A non-transparent privacy panel retention device 1500 is provided in connection with the assembled first panel 1100, second panel 1200 and first-and-second panel retention member 1300, to retain the non-transparent privacy panel 1400 adjacent, or within, rear panel 1300, such that the non-transparent privacy panel top side 1410 may be aligned with, or proximate to the first panel top side 1110 and/or the second panel top side 1210. The non-transparent privacy panel retention device 1500 may be a set of hooks, such as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, or a ledge affixed to the non-transparent privacy panel 1400 to engage the top side 1310 of the first-and-second panel retention member 1300, such as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, or in FIG. 6, or the first panel top side 1110 and/or the second panel top side 1210. Alternatively, the non-transparent privacy panel retention device 1500 may be a shelf affixed to the first-and-second panel retention member interior side 1306. In another alternative, the non-transparent privacy panel retention device 1500 may be a set of brackets or hangers, such as illustrated in FIG. 7. Where the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 is a transparent panel, the non-transparent privacy panel retention device 1500 may comprise an interior sleeve 1510 into which the non-transparent privacy panel 1400 may be deposited, such as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Thus, in operation, the instructor may view all students prior to engagement of the non-transparent privacy panel 1400. Thereafter, the students may engage the non-transparent privacy panel 1400 to preclude any vision by students of those in front of them, while permitting the test proctor to view the work of the students.

Referring to FIG. 6, in a further embodiment, the educational carrel 1000 may further include a work platform 6102 on which the first panel 1100 and second panel 1200 are adjacent and to which the first panel 1100 and second panel 1200 may be affixed so as to provide an integral whole. The first-and-second panel retention member 1300 may comprise a rear panel which does not extend to the first panel bottom side 1112 which maintains the positions of the first panel 1100 and second panel 1200. The non-transparent privacy panel retention device 1500 may comprise a pair of open-topped hangers or brackets affixed at the first panel interior side 1106 and the second panel interior side 1206 near the first panel rear side 1104 and the second panel rear side 1204, respectively, proximate to the first panel top side 1110 and the second panel top side 1210, respectively, thereby capturing the non-transparent privacy panel 1400 and retaining it in position.

Referring to FIG. 7, the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 may comprise a wide u-shaped bracket which maintains the positions of the first panel 1100 and second panel 1200. The non-transparent privacy panel retention device 1500 may comprise a pair of open-topped hangers or brackets affixed at the first panel interior side 1106 and the second panel interior side 1206 near the first panel rear side 1104 and the second panel rear side 1204, respectively, proximate to the first panel top side 1110 and the second panel top side 1210, respectively, thereby capturing the non-transparent privacy panel 1400 and retaining it in position. As can be appreciated, multiple educational carrels 1000 may be affixed to a single work surface 6102.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with presently preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to those embodiments. It is therefore, contemplated that various alternative embodiments and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. An carrel for education purposes, comprising:

a non-transparent first panel, said non-transparent first panel having first panel height, first panel depth, and a first panel rear edge;

a non-transparent second panel, said non-transparent second panel having second panel height, second panel depth, and a second panel rear edge said second panel height equivalent to said first panel height; said second panel depth equivalent to said first panel depth;

a first-and-second panel retention member, said first-and-second panel retention member affixed substantially perpendicular to said non-transparent first panel near said first panel rear edge, said first panel extending forwardly from said first-and-second panel retention member, said first-and-second panel retention member affixed substantially perpendicular to said non-transparent second panel near said second panel rear edge, said second panel extending forwardly from said first-and-second panel retention member, said first-and-second panel retention member separating said non-transparent first panel and said non-transparent second panel by a separation width;

a non-transparent privacy panel, said non-transparent privacy panel having a non-transparent privacy panel width and a non-transparent privacy panel height said non-transparent privacy panel width equivalent to said separation width. said non-transparent privacy panel height no more than ⅔ said first panel height and no less than ½ said first panel height.

a privacy panel retention member, said privacy panel retention member affixed to said non-transparent privacy panel or to said first-and-second panel retention member or to said first panel and said second panel and providing detachable attachment of said non-transparent privacy panel to said first-and-second panel retention member or to said first panel and said second panel or to said non-transparent privacy panel.

2. The carrel of claim 1, wherein said first-and-second panel retention member comprises a transparent panel.

3. The carrel of claim 2, wherein said a transparent panel having a transparent panel height,

said transparent panel height equivalent to said first panel height;

said transparent panel having a transparent panel top side;

said first panel having a first panel top side;

said transparent panel top side aligned with said first panel top side.

4. The carrel of claim 2, wherein said transparent panel having a transparent panel height,

said transparent panel height not more than ⅔ of said first panel height and not less than ⅓ of said first panel height;

said transparent panel having a transparent panel top side;

said first panel having a first panel top side;

said transparent panel top side aligned with said first panel top side.

5. The carrel of claim 4, wherein said privacy panel retention member is retained in position with regard to said first-and-second panel retention member with a hook affixed to said privacy panel retention member.

6. The carrel of claim 4, wherein said privacy panel retention member is retained in position with regard to said first-and-second panel retention member with a bracket affixed to said first panel and a bracket affixed to said second panel.

7. The carrel of claim 1, further comprising

a horizontally-aligned panel; said horizontally-aligned panel having a horizontally-aligned panel width and a horizontally-aligned panel depth; said horizontally-aligned panel width being sufficient to support said first panel and said second panel; horizontally-aligned panel depth being sufficient to support said first panel and said second panel;

a leg downwardly dependent from said horizontally-aligned panel.

8. The carrel of claim 7, wherein said first-and-second panel retention member comprises a transparent panel.

9. The carrel of claim 8, wherein said a transparent panel having a transparent panel height,

said transparent panel height equivalent to said first panel height;

said transparent panel having a transparent panel top side;

said first panel having a first panel top side;

said transparent panel top side aligned with said first panel top side.

10. The carrel of claim 8, wherein said a transparent panel having a transparent panel height,

said transparent panel height not more than ⅔ of said first panel height and not less than ⅓ of said first panel height;

said transparent panel having a transparent panel top side;

said first panel having a first panel top side;

said transparent panel top side aligned with said first panel top side.

11. The carrel of claim 10, wherein said privacy panel retention member is retained in position with regard to said first-and-second panel retention member with a hook affixed to said privacy panel retention member.

12. The carrel of claim 10, wherein said privacy panel retention member is retained in position with regard to said first-and-second panel retention member with a bracket affixed to said first panel and a bracket affixed to said second panel.