CURTAIN SYSTEM ADAPTER

Abstract

A sliding adapter for modifying an existing curtain track to be used with a new curtain system includes a first hook portion dimensioned and configured for hooking to a top portion of the existing curtain track, a second hook portion dimensioned and configured for hooking to a bottom portion of the existing curtain track, a vertical member having a first end secured to the first hook portion and a second end secured to the second hook portion, and a rod engaging mechanism disposed below the second hook portion operable to engage a curtain rod of the new curtain system.

Description

FIELD

This disclosure relates to curtains. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a track adapter for modifying a pre-existing curtain track to be used with a new curtain system.

BACKGROUND

Curtains, and more specifically disposable or washable curtains, have long been used in hospitals to provide, for example, privacy and room division. Generally, these curtains are suspended from a track secured to a ceiling. For example, the curtains can be operated to substantially surround a patient's bed for privacy and retracted at other times when privacy is not an issue. The track to which the curtains are suspended are generally designed to assist the extension/retraction of the curtains.

Most of these curtains have two portions, namely, an upper mesh component and a lower opaque component. The upper mesh component is typically above eye level so the privacy function is not compromised. While the mesh component is not necessarily required, the opaque portion cannot extend to the ceiling because, if it did, it is possible that it would interfere with the distribution of water from ceiling mounted sprinklers in the event of a fire. Additionally, mesh portions are generally incorporated to ensure that the opaque portion of the curtain does not interfere with lighting and/or air circulation.

In a hospital application, the curtains become soiled and can collect one or more of bacteria, molds, and viruses (collectively contaminants) during use. This can be a source of cross-contamination, from, for example, one patient to other patients, a health care provider or other staff, and visitors to the hospital. Unfortunately, hospital curtains are also typically difficult to change and/or wash. Generally, if the curtain is provided as a single sheet with the mesh portion above the opaque portion, someone has to gain access to the ceiling level of the room to remove the curtain from the track. This is difficult, labor intensive, and generally requires a ladder of some type to be used.

To address this issue, curtain systems have been designed to allow for easier removal of the curtains from the tracks to which they are suspended. For example, one system includes a curtain suspended from a track attached to a ceiling. The curtain includes a lower opaque portion that is physically separable from the upper mesh portion such that the opaque portion may be removed from the mesh portion and replaced with a clean opaque portion. Since the lower opaque portion provides the privacy function, the upper mesh portion is suspended near the ceiling and is, therefore, in a position where it is less likely to present the cross-contamination risk associated with the lower opaque portion. Therefore, the upper mesh portion does not need to be changed as frequently as the lower opaque portion.

While the configuration described above having a lower opaque portion removable from an upper mesh portion addresses many known problems, some still exist. First, it cannot be assured that the upper mesh portion is free from the contamination described above. Second, while the connection between the upper mesh portion and the lower opaque portion is at a more comfortable work level than the connection between the upper mesh portion and the track, it is still difficult and time consuming for personnel to attach a replacement lower opaque portion to the upper mesh portion. This difficulty is due in part to the multiple fasteners that are used to connect the two portions of the curtain at multiple points along the curtain as well as the fact that the upper mesh portion is prone to movement along the track during the removal of the used opaque portion and then attachment of the new opaque portion.

More recently, curtain systems have been designed and implemented that allow for easy removal of an entire curtain at one time from its track when the curtain is in a retracted position and then easy installation of a clean curtain on the same track. One such system is made by the assignee of the present application, ICP Medical, LLC, under the trademark RAPID REFRESH™. The RAPID REFRESH™ system is shown and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,869,869, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, the RAPID REFRESH™ curtain system includes a hanger assembly 10 from which a curtain 12 can be suspended. Hanger assembly 10 generally includes a plurality of curtain rods 16, a ceiling track engaging component 18 adjacent the upper portion of each rod 16 configured to slidably engage track 20, a curtain release mechanism 22 configured for engagement with the lower portion of each rod 16, and a rod engaging member 24 secured to the curtain 12 and configured for engaging each curtain release mechanism 22 to secure the curtain 12 to the rods 16. In certain embodiments, rods 16 are hollow and may include magnets 26 disposed near the lower portion thereof such that the magnets 26 are helpful in maintaining a substantially adjacent and parallel orientation for a plurality of rods 16 when the curtain 12 is being removed from the rods 16 and associated curtain release mechanisms 22 or installed onto same. As explained in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 8,869,869, hanger assembly 10 differs from traditional assemblies in that a key 28 is inserted through the curtain release mechanisms 22 to release the curtain 12 from each of the rods 16 at one time rather than, with respect to traditional systems, individually removing a plurality of fasteners from each rod to which they are connected. In other words, when key 28 is turned in the proper direction, curtain 12 and the multiple rod engaging members 24 attached thereto simply disengage from the curtain release mechanisms 22. The magnets 26 help to maintain the substantially adjacent orientation of curtain release mechanisms 22 and thus the rods 16 from which the curtain release mechanisms 22 extend.

When installing a new curtain, a second key may then be inserted into slots 14 of the curtain 12 to assist in attaching the curtain 12 to the curtain release mechanisms 22. Using the two keys, the installer easily aligns and engages slots in the curtain release mechanisms 22 with respective rod engaging members 24 to install the new curtain 12.

While the RAPID REFRESH™ curtain system shown in FIG. 1 is merely exemplary, it does generally depict a preferred ceiling track engagement where the ceiling track engaging component 18 of the curtain system engages a groove in track 20 such that the curtain 12 is operable to slide along the track 20. It should also be noted that the ceiling track engaging component 18, while depicted in FIG. 1 as a “T” shaped cross bar, could take various other forms such as a roller assembly to roll along the groove in track 20.

One common track configuration already installed at many facilities that does not use a tongue-and-groove type arrangement for the connection between the curtain and the track is depicted in FIG. 2. In this configuration, track 30 is suspended from the ceiling using a plurality of mounting hangers 32. Each mounting hanger 32 includes a lower arm 34 having an engaging portion on one end operable to engage a groove 36 running along rear portion of the track 30 as shown in the exploded view of FIG. 2A. In order to configure the track 30 as desired for the particular privacy room in which the curtain assembly is to be used, the track 30 is provided in multiple sections. Adjacent sections are then joined together using connecting assemblies (not shown) that are operable to engage the groove 36 running along the rear portion of adjacent track sections. In other words, to configure the track of FIG. 2 according to desired specifications, a plurality of track sections having varying lengths and shapes (e.g., linear or having rounded corners) are connected using connecting assemblies that are configured to be inserted into the groove running along the rear of adjoining track sections.

As the groove 36 in the rear of the track 30 of FIG. 2 is used to both join adjacent track sections as well as to connect the track 30 to mounting hangers 32, the groove 36 of track 30 is not compatible with a tongue-and-groove type arrangement as with typical ceiling track engaging components described above, such as ceiling track engaging component 18 of the RAPID REFRESH™ system, because the “tongue” or “roller” connection is blocked by the connecting assemblies.

In view of the above, one problem with selling and implementing new and improved curtain systems such as the RAPID REFRESH™ system in large facilities such as hospitals having countless privacy sections and/or room divisions is that a certain track specifically designed for the existing curtain system is already installed at each privacy section. Thus, to implement a new curtain system, the old track must be removed and a new track designed for the new system must then be secured to the ceiling. This requires additional time and expense, which often discourages facilities from implementing the new system despite the fact that the new system would be preferred by the operator once implemented.

What is needed therefore is a track adapter operable to be secured to an existing track that does not include an appropriate groove for retracting and extending a curtain so that a new and improved curtain system can be implemented with the existing track.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a sliding adapter for modifying an existing curtain track to be used with a new curtain system includes a first hook portion dimensioned and configured for hooking to a top portion of the existing curtain track, the first hook portion including a convex inner surface; a second hook portion dimensioned and configured for hooking to a bottom portion of the existing curtain track, the second hook portion including a convex inner surface; a vertical member having a first end secured to the first hook portion and a second end secured to the second hook portion; a gap portion provided between the first hook portion and the second hook portion on a side of the adapter opposite the vertical member; and a rod engaging mechanism disposed below the second hook portion operable to engage a curtain rod of the new curtain system.

According to certain embodiments, at least a portion of the vertical member includes a convex inner surface. Additionally, the first hook portion, the second hook portion, and the vertical member includes an inner portion having an inner width and an outer framing portion having an outer width, the outer width of the outer framing portion being greater than the inner width of the inner portion.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, a sliding adapter includes a first hook portion dimensioned and configured for hooking to a top portion of the existing curtain track; a second hook portion dimensioned and configured for hooking to a bottom portion of the existing curtain track; a vertical member having a first end secured to the first hook portion and a second end secured to the second hook portion; and a rod engaging mechanism disposed below the second hook portion operable to engage a curtain rod of the new curtain system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages of the disclosure are apparent by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a prior art curtain system;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of another prior art curtain system;

FIG. 2A is an exploded rear view of the curtain track of the prior art curtain system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a sliding adapter according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the sliding adapter of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a first side view of the sliding adapter of FIGS. 3-4;

FIG. 6 is a opposing side view of the sliding adapter of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a sliding adapter secured to an existing curtain track for modifying the track to be used with a new curtain system according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 3-7, sliding adapter 50 is dimensioned and configured to slide along the perimeter of track 30, or similar tracks lacking accessible sliding grooves. Adapter 50 includes a first hook portion 52 dimensioned and configured for hooking around a top portion 38 of the existing curtain track 30, a second hook portion 54 dimensioned and configured for hooking around a bottom portion 40 of the track 30, and a rod engaging mechanism 62 disposed below the second hook portion 54 configured for connecting curtain rods of a curtain system, such as the RAPID REFRESH™ system described above, to the adapter 50. Together, the first and second hook portions 52, 54 secure the adapter 50 to the track 30.

The adapter 50 further includes a vertical support member 58 on one side of the adapter 50, which connects the hook portions 52, 54. The vertical support member 58 is dimensioned to substantially correspond to the height of the track 30 such that a gap portion 62 is disposed between the hook portions 52, 54 on the side opposite the vertical support member 58. As a result, the adapter 50 generally takes the shape of a modified “C” where the gap portion 62 allows for sliding of the adapter 50 along the track 30 without any interference with track connections/assemblies extending from the groove 32 in the rear of the track 30.

In preferred embodiments, adapter 50 is substantially rigid/inflexible and includes no moving parts. Thus, in order to secure the rigid adapter to the track 30, the side of one of the track sections must be accessible to slide each adapter 50 onto the track 30. In other words, to install a new curtain system onto an existing track 30, a track section may be removed or otherwise separated from an adjacent track section. Then, a number of rigid adapters 50 as needed are slid onto the track 30.

In alternate embodiments, the adapter 50 is flexible or otherwise includes moveable parts such that the adapter 50 is operable to move between an installation position for installing the adapter 50 onto the track 30 and a working position where the adapter 50 is in secure but sliding engagement with the track 30. For example, one or more of the adapters 50 may be flexible enough to be flexed outward to the installation position and then naturally “snap” back to the working position after the hook portions 52, 54 are flexed around the top and bottom portions 38, 40 of the track 30. In yet another embodiment, the vertical support member 58 may include two respective sliding members such that the vertical member 58 can be lengthened to the installation position and then shortened to the working position.

As shown, the rod engaging mechanism 62 preferably extends below the second hook portion 54. In preferred embodiments, the rod engaging mechanism 62 is in the form of a ring. However, other shapes and features of the rod engaging mechanism 62 are contemplated and within the scope of the present disclosure, such as a hook or a magnet, so long as the rod engaging mechanism is operable to securely connect to the rod of the curtain system to be installed on the track 30. Referring to FIG. 7, an exemplary connection of the rod engaging mechanism 62 to a rod 16 of the RAPID REFRESH™ is shown. In this embodiment, the ceiling track engaging component 18 of the RAPID REFRESH™ system shown in FIG. 1 has been replaced with an adapter engaging component 19 for engaging the rod engaging mechanism 62 of adapter 50. In particular, the adapter engaging component 19 includes a first hook 21 for securing to the rod engaging mechanism 62 and a second hook 23 for securing to a D-ring 25 attached to rod 16. However, other adapter engaging components 19 may be utilized so long it is operable to be secured to the rod engaging mechanism 62 on one end and the rod 16 at the other end.

Referring to FIGS. 4-5, in another aspect of the disclosure, the first hook portion 52, second hook portion 54, and vertical member 58 preferably include convex/rounded inner surfaces 53, 55, and 59, respectively. The convex inner surfaces assist the adapter 50 in sliding over the area in which adjoining track sections are connected. In other words, because track 30 is typically installed by connecting multiple track sections together, track 30 includes numerous connection areas along the track 30. As a result of poor assembly of the track, as well as general part tolerances provided when manufacturing the track sections, the outer track surface at the connection areas will often include small gaps, protrusions, and other irregularities that prevent the adapter 50 from sliding smoothly along track 30. Providing convex/rounded surfaces at the portions of the adapter 50 that contacts the track 30 as the adapter 50 slides along the track 30 allows the adapter 50 to easily traverse these irregularities at the connection areas.

Similarly, the width of the portions of the adapter 50 that contact the track 30 is preferably minimized to allow the adapter 50 to more easily slide along the track 30 with less friction. However, the desire for a smaller width is balanced in part by the need to make sure the adapter does not get hung up along the connection areas of adjoining sections of the track. Additionally, as described above, the adapter 50 is preferably substantially rigid and must be strong enough to support a curtain system. Thus, in preferred embodiments, the adapter 50 includes an outer portion 70 having a greater width than the inner surface portions 53, 55, and 59 that contact the track 30. The wider outer portion 70 provides additional strength to the adapter 50 while the thinner inner surface portion allows for smoother movement along the track. In preferred embodiments, the width of the outer portion 70 is about 0.2 inches while the width of the inner portions is between about 0.05 inches to about 0.1 inches.

In the event the adapter 50 does get hung up at one of the connection areas of the track 30, caught on an adjacent adapter 50 or unintended part of the curtain system, or otherwise is obstructed from easy sliding along the track 30 as desired, the vertical support member 58 preferably includes a handle portion 74 that extends in a direction opposite from the track 30 and the hook portions 52, 54. The handle portion 74 allows a user to easily grab and maneuver the adapter 50 as desired to free it up from whatever is obstructing its desired movement.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. A sliding adapter for modifying an existing curtain track to be used with a new curtain system, the adapter comprising: a first hook portion dimensioned and configured for hooking to a top portion of the existing curtain track, the first hook portion including a convex inner surface;a second hook portion dimensioned and configured for hooking to a bottom portion of the existing curtain track, the second hook portion including a convex inner surface;a vertical member having a first end secured to the first hook portion and a second end secured to the second hook portion;a gap portion provided between the first hook portion and the second hook portion on a side of the adapter opposite the vertical member; anda rod engaging mechanism disposed below the second hook portion operable to engage a curtain rod of the new curtain system.

2. The sliding adapter of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the vertical member includes a convex inner surface.

3. The sliding adapter of claim 1 wherein the first hook portion, the second hook portion, and the vertical member includes an inner portion having an inner width and an outer framing portion having an outer width, the outer width of the outer framing portion being greater than the inner width of the inner portion.

4. The sliding adapter of claim 1 wherein the rod engaging mechanism is a ring.

5. A sliding adapter for modifying an existing curtain track to be used with a new curtain system, the adapter comprising: a first hook portion dimensioned and configured for hooking to a top portion of the existing curtain track;a second hook portion dimensioned and configured for hooking to a bottom portion of the existing curtain track;a vertical member having a first end secured to the first hook portion and a second end secured to the second hook portion; anda rod engaging mechanism disposed below the second hook portion operable to engage a curtain rod of the new curtain system.

6. The sliding adapter of claim 1 wherein a gap portion is provided between the first hook portion and the second hook portion on a side of the adapter opposite the vertical member.

7. The sliding adapter of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first hook portion and at least a portion of the second hook portion include a convex inner surface.

8. The sliding adapter of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the vertical member includes a convex inner surface.

9. The sliding adapter of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the vertical member includes a convex inner surface.

10. The sliding adapter of claim 1 wherein the first hook portion, the second hook portion, and the vertical member includes an inner portion having an inner width and an outer framing portion having an outer width, the outer width of the outer framing portion being greater than the inner width of the inner portion.

11. The sliding adapter of claim 1 wherein the rod engaging mechanism is a ring.