BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to privacy curtains, and more specifically, to methods and systems for deployment of privacy curtains.
Privacy curtains, and more specifically disposable or washable curtains, have long been used, in hospitals for example, to provide privacy, room division, and to cover storage areas to a lesser extent. Generally, these curtains are suspended from a track on a ceiling for operation. 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.
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. This mesh component is not necessarily required, however, the opaque portion cannot extend to the ceiling. Generally, the opaque portion cannot extend to the ceiling because if it did, it is possible that it would interfere with ceiling mounted sprinklers in the event of a fire because the water from the sprinklers cannot pass through the opaque material. Other reasons that mesh portions are generally incorporated are that they ensure that the opaque portion of the curtain does not interfere with lighting and/or air circulation.
In the hospital application, the curtains become soiled and can collect one or of bacteria, molds, and viruses during use. This can be a source of cross-contamination, for example, from one patient to one or more of another patient, a health care provider or other staff, and a visitor to the hospital. Unfortunately, hospital curtains are also typically difficult to change and/or wash. Generally, if the curtain is provided in a single, combined mesh portion/opaque portion embodiment, someone has to gain access to the ceiling level of the room to change the curtain. This is difficult, labor intensive, and generally requires that a ladder of some type be used.
There are some known two piece curtains. Generally, the opaque portion is separated from the mesh portion and a new opaque portion is attached to the existing mesh portion. While this addresses the need for a ladder, it is still labor intensive and does not address the possibility that the mesh portion retains one or more of the above described contaminants. With respect to the labor required for replacement, the person making the replacement with this type of curtain has to make a plurality of attachments between the opaque and mesh portions while holding the replacement opaque portion of the curtain, or has to operate a zipper or similar device that extends the entire length of the curtain. At least one of the problems with this type of arrangement is that the mesh portion or similar mechanism is generally not in a fixed position, adding to the difficulty of curtain replacement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, a privacy curtain system is provided that includes a curtain having a plurality of rod engaging members extending therefrom, a curtain gathering cord slidably engaged with the curtain, and a plurality of rods. The plurality of rods each includes a lower hooking member configured to engage one of the rod engaging members. The curtain gathering cord is operable to cause the rod engaging members to release from a respective lower hooking member.
In another aspect, a privacy curtain is provided that includes a curtain main portion and a plurality of rod engaging members. The rod engaging members each include a first end and a second end. The second ends are attached to the curtain main portion and the first ends are releasably attached to the curtain main portion.
In still another aspect, a system for the deployment of privacy curtains is provided. The system includes a track system and a plurality of rods. Each rod includes a lower hooking member configured to engage the privacy curtain, an upper track engagement member configured for attachment to the track system, an elongated central member extending from the upper track engagement member, and a lower nestable member between the lower hooking member and the elongated central member. The lower nestable member includes at least one magnet encased therein. The magnets such oriented such that when the plurality of rods are substantially adjacent one another for the changing of a privacy curtain, the magnets operate to maintain the substantially adjacent positioning.
In yet another aspect, a privacy curtain system is provided that includes a curtain having a plurality of rod engaging members extending therefrom, a curtain gathering cord slidably engaged with the curtain, and a plurality of rods. Each rod includes a lower hooking member configured to engage one of the rod engaging members, an upper track engagement member configured for attachment to a ceiling mounted track system, and an elongated central member extending between the upper track engagement member and the lower hooking member. The curtain gathering cord is operable to release respective rod engaging members from respective lower hooking members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a known privacy curtain system.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of a hanger assembly from which a privacy curtain is suspended.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of one embodiment of a privacy curtain system that incorporates a gathering cord for removal of the privacy curtain from a plurality of rods.
FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate a rod engaging member utilized to attach a privacy curtain to a rod suspended from a ceiling track, along with operation of the rod engaging members.
FIG. 5 illustrates operation of the ribbon loop and the binding cord with respect to the attachment of a privacy curtain to a rod.
FIG. 6 illustrates utilization of the gathering cord to release a privacy curtain from a plurality of rods through operation of a plurality of rod engaging members.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a privacy curtain that incorporates integrally formed rod engaging members.
FIG. 8 is a side view of one embodiment of a rod that may be utilized to hang a curtain from a ceiling mounted track system.
FIG. 9 is a front view of the rod of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of several of the rods described with respect to FIGS. 8 and 9 in a substantially adjacent position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a known privacy curtain 10. Curtain 10 includes an upper mesh portion 12 and a lower opaque portion 14 that is suspended from the upper mesh portion 12. The lower opaque portion 14 is removable from the upper mesh portion 12. As described above, the upper mesh portion is constructed in part from a mesh material to allow for lighting, air circulation, and the operation of fire sprinklers. The lower opaque portion is constructed from an opaque material to provide privacy when the curtain 10 is in an extended position. The curtain 10 is suspended from a track 20 attached to a ceiling 22 as is well known. In this example, the upper mesh portion 12 of curtain 10 and the lower opaque portion 14 include a series of mating fasteners 30. The mating fasteners 30 are provided to removably suspend the lower opaque portion 14 from the upper mesh portion 12. The upper mesh portion 12 is configured with reinforced holes 18 which are engaged by hooks (not shown) hanging from track 20.
As discussed above, conventional privacy curtains tend to become soiled and are prone to contamination with one or more bacteria, mold, and viruses. To address this issue, the lower opaque portion 14 may be disposable, and can be changed as often as necessary to address the issues noted above. Since the lower opaque portion 14 provides the privacy function, the upper mesh portion 12 is suspended near the ceiling and is, therefore, not in a position where it is less likely to present the cross-contamination risk associated with the lower opaque portion 14. Therefore, the upper mesh portion 12 need not be changed nearly as frequently as the lower opaque portion 14.
While the configuration of FIG. 1 addresses many known problems, some still exist. One, it cannot be assured that the upper mesh portion 12 is free from the contamination described above. Two, while the fasteners 30 may be at a comfortable work level, it is still difficult for personnel to attach a replacement lower opaque portion 14 to the upper mesh portion 12. This difficulty is due to the fact that the area of upper mesh portion 12 where the fasteners 30 are located is prone to movement as it is distant from the engagement of the upper mesh portion 12 with the track 20.
At least one other privacy curtain system has addressed the contamination issue by replacing the upper mesh portion 12 with a series of rods. This provides the lighting and fire sprinkler capabilities while still addressing the contamination issue. Examples of these systems are shown in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, a hanger assembly 50 is illustrated that is configured for the suspending of a curtain 52 similar to the lower opaque portion 14 shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of rods 54 extend down from a track 60 that is attached to a ceiling 62. While the assembly of FIG. 2 has several features, one feature that is common with the curtain system of FIG. 1 is that a lower end 70 of the rods 54 is relatively free to move with respect to a user, as it can essentially pivot about its upper end 72. In addition, the rods 54, especially at the lower end 70 are free to move with respect to each other. This freedom of movement causes difficulty for the person removing an old curtain 52 and installing a new curtain 52 at the lower end.
Another issue with the system of FIG. 2 is that curtain 52 has to be removed from each rod 54 individually, and a new curtain 52 has to be attached to each rod 54 individually as individual hooks 80, engaged with the lower end 70 of rods 54 are utilized to attach curtain 52 to rods 54. Generally, when a person replaces one of curtains 10 and 52, they have to gather up the curtain in their arms to control the bulk of the curtain while they detach the curtain from the rod or upper mesh portion. While it may never be possible to completely eliminate personnel contact with soiled and/or contaminated curtains, it is possible to reduce the amount of contact between the two as further explained herein.
The following descriptions, and accompanying figures, are related to embodiments that address some of the issues described above with respect to the removal of old privacy curtains, and the subsequent attachment of new privacy curtains.
More specifically, FIG. 3 is an illustration of one embodiment of a curtain system 100. Curtain system 100 includes a curtain 102, and a plurality of rods 104 that extend from tracked hooks 106 which are located within a track 110 of the type that is attached to a ceiling (not shown). The tracked hooks 106 are capable of lateral movement within the track 110 for the purpose of opening and closing the curtain 102. When the curtain 102 is open, the rods 104 are in a position substantially adjacent one another, as further addressed below. This position may also be referred to as having the curtain 102 in a gathered position. When the curtain 102 is closed the rods 104 are moved from the substantially adjacent position to a configuration where they are substantially spread out along the length of the track 110. This position may also be referred to as having the curtain 102 in a deployed position. In one embodiment, a binding cord 112 extends between the rods 104 and is secured to each of the rods 104. As it is secured to each of the rods 104, binding cord 112 operates to dictate a maximum distance between the individual rods 104. As addressed in detail below, rod engaging members 120 are secured within the curtain 102 and are configured to engage a lower end 122 of the rods 104. The engagement between a rod engaging member 120 and a respective lower end 122 may be any type of mechanical configuration, several of which are described below.
In the illustrated embodiment, the curtain 102 is also configured with a curtain gathering cord 130. While curtain gathering cord 130 may be operative to gather the curtain 102, as further illustrated in the following figures, curtain gathering cord 130 is further operative to release the curtain 102 from the rods 104. In the illustrated embodiment, and in other embodiments described hereafter, the curtains are fabricated from either a disposable material or a material that may be reused after a cleaning process.
FIGS. 4A through 4D illustrate one embodiment of a rod engaging member 150 that can be utilized with a curtain of the type described with respect to FIG. 3. The embodiment of rod engaging member 150 shown in FIGS. 4A-4D may sometimes be referred to as a looped ribbon. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the rod engaging member 150 is elongated and has a loop 152 formed in a first end 154, and a slot 156 therethrough formed near a second end 158. The rod engaging member 150 is fabricated from a material, and the loop 152 is sized so that when the rod engaging member 150 is bent into a substantially circular configuration, at least a portion of the first end 154 containing the loop 152 will pass through the slot 156 formed near the second end 158. As shown in FIG. 4C, once a portion of the loop 152 is extending through slot 156, a gathering cord 160 can be passed through the loop 152, retaining a position of the loop 152 with respect to the slot 156. A completed configuration shown in FIG. 4D as the engagement of the first end 154 with the second end 158 forms a hoop which can engage a rod as further described with respect to FIG. 5. As further described, gathering cord 160 can be grasped and pulled by a user such that the cord is no longer within the loop 152, the loop is then free to move away from the slot 156. When a plurality of such rod engaging members 150 are deployed with a curtain, removal of the gathering cord 160 from the rod engaging members 150 will operate to release the curtain from the apparatus from which it hung. This operation is described in further detail herein. An optional end ring 162 may be attached to the gathering cord 160 to allow a user to more easily pull the gathering cord 160 through, and from, a curtain. As shown in subsequent figures, and as mentioned above, operation of the gathering cord 160 allows a user to easily remove a curtain from a plurality of the rods 104 described above with respect to FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 illustrates one of the rod engaging members 150 (ribbon loops) from FIG. 4, where the second end 158 is attached to a curtain 170. The first end 154 passes through slot 156 and a least a portion of the surface of the curtain 170. Gathering cord 160 is secured within a channel 172 formed in the curtain material that is formed during the fabrication process associated with curtain 170. The fabrication process may include attaching the second ends 158 of the rod engaging members 150 to the curtain material through, for example, a stitching process or through a heat activated attachment process. The channel 172 may be formed through the stitching process, the heat treatment process or through another process. In any event, when the curtain fabrication process is complete, the gathering cord 160 is slidably engaged with the curtain 170 and the gathering cord 160 passes through the loops 152 of the rod engaging members 150 to form the ribbon loops as shown in FIG. 4D. Such a configuration allows the curtain 170 to be hung from a plurality of rods 104. After the utilization of curtain 170 is complete, and as can be seen in FIG. 5, when the gathering cord 160 is pulled from engagement with the curtain 170, loop 152 will release from slot 156, and gravity will cause the curtain 170 and attached rod engaging members 150 to fall away from the lower ends 122 of a plurality of rods 104. In one embodiment, the gathering cord 160 may include a second end 164 that is utilized for gathering the curtain 170 when the gathering cord is operated. In one embodiment, the second end 164 is simply attached to the curtain material during the curtain fabrication process to enable this operation. This attachment is easily overcome to enable the removal of curtain 170 from the rods 104 as described.
FIG. 6 provides further illustration utilizing an alternative embodiment of rod 190 and rod lower end 192. In FIG. 6, pulling the end ring 162 of gathering cord 160 causes the curtain 170 to gather. Pulling further on the end ring 162, and thus gathering cord 160, causes the rod engaging members 150 to release the curtain 170 from the rods 190 as shown. The release from the curtain 170 happens as the gathering cord 160 is removed from engagement with the individual rod engaging members 150, causing the separation of loop 152 and slot 156 as shown in FIGS. 4A-4D and FIG. 5. The benefit of such a configuration is that the curtain 170 is gathered and all of the interfaces between curtain 170 and rods 190 are released relatively close to simultaneously, and the curtain 170 can fall onto the floor or into a container. In one contemplated embodiment, packaging for the replacement curtain 170 includes a container for the disposal of the curtain 170 that is being replaced. The person changing the curtain does not have to personally gather and hold the curtain 170 and therefore their exposure to germs and the like is thought to be reduced as they, at most, have to carefully remove the curtain 170 being replaced from the floor, rather then essentially hugging the entire curtain 170 as is currently done when removing a curtain 170.
In a practical application, the curtain 170 is provided in packaging that is operable to expose the rod engaging members 150 such that they can be engaged with the rods 190 prior to the exposure of a remainder of the curtain 170 from the packaging. In one embodiment, the curtain 170 is sterilized and the packaging maintains the sterilization until it is opened.
FIG. 7 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of a curtain 200 which incorporates integrally formed rod engaging members 202 in a one-piece configuration. In such a configuration, material is cut away from the curtain 200 in the fabrication process to form the rod engaging members 202. One example of such a fabrication process is a die cutting process. Rod engaging members 202 are elongated and each has a loop 204 formed in a first end 206, and a second end 208 that adjacent to the main portion 210 of the curtain 200. As curtains 200 and rod engaging members 202 are in a one-piece configuration, the rod engaging members 202 are fabricated from the same material as the remainder of the curtain 200. The first end 206, which includes loop 204, is sized so that when the rod engaging member 202 is bent into a substantially circular configuration, at least a portion of the first end 206 containing the loop 204 will pass through a slot 212, formed in the main portion 210 of the curtain, near an intersection with the second end 208. As illustrated, curtain 200 includes two end portions 220, which are folded over and attached to the main portion 210 of the curtain 200 to provide reinforcement for the sides 222 of the curtain 200.
Like the above described embodiment, curtain 200 may be utilized with a gathering cord (not shown) that can be passed through the loop 204, retaining a position of the loop 204 with respect to the slot 212. In a practical application, the curtain 200 is provided in packaging that is operable to expose the rod engaging members 202 such that they can be engaged with the rods 104 prior to the exposure of a remainder of said curtain.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate one embodiment of a rod 300 that may be utilized to hang the curtains 170 and 200 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively) from a ceiling mounted track system. Specifically, rod 300 includes a lower hooking member 302 for engaging the rod engaging members 150 and 202, and elongated central member 304, and an upper track engagement member 306 that is utilized to attach the rod 300 to a ceiling mounted tracking system of the type previously described herein. The elongated central member 304 extends between the upper track engagement member 306 and the lower hooking member 302.
Rod 300 is configured to address the problems present in known curtain attachment systems by incorporating mechanisms that retain multiple rods in a substantially adjacent orientation for the removal of old curtains and attachment of new curtains. Specifically, and in the illustrated embodiment, an upper nestable member 310 is included between the upper track engagement member 306 and the elongated central member 304 and a lower nestable member 312 is included between the lower hooking member 302 and the elongated central member 304.
In one embodiment, both the upper nestable member 310 and the lower nestable member 312 incorporate a series of magnets 320, 322, 324, and 326 encased therein. The upper nestable member 310 is formed to include both a side wall indentation 330 in a first side wall 332 and a side wall protrusion 334 in a second side wall 336 that is opposite the first side wall 332. Likewise, the lower nestable member 312 is formed to include both a side wall indentation 340 in a first side wall 342 and a side wall protrusion 344 in a second side wall 346 that is opposite the first side wall 342. The configurations of the upper nestable member 310 and the lower nestable member 312 may be different that the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, but all are common in that they each incorporate at least one magnet that is oriented such that it helps to maintain multiple rods 300 in a position substantially adjacent one another when changing a curtain.
In addition, multiple configurations are possible for side wall protrusions and indentations. The configurations are common in that they provide simple keyed surfaces and a non-binding shape to help maintain the substantial adjacent positioning, and make the encased magnets that much more effective for maintaining the described substantially adjacent positioning for the rods 300.
A specific embodiment for lower hooking member 302 is illustrated in FIG. 8. Specifically, a curtain engaging portion 350 of lower hooking member 302 is configured with a cross-section that is somewhat J-shaped. Extending from the side walls 342 and 346 is a semi-circular member 352 which terminates in a curtain retention member 354 that extends from the semi-circular member 352 at substantially a right angle. The result is a slot 360 formed between the curtain retention member 354 and the remainder of the lower hooking member 302. The rod engaging members associated with a curtain are passed through slot 360 for attachment of a curtain to the rods 300. In one embodiment, a barb 362 protrudes from the curtain engaging portion 350 towards the curtain retention member 354 further narrowing slot 360. Slot 360 opens to an enlarged opening 364 within which the rod engaging members are deployed upon passing through slot 360. The resulting configuration is such that a rod engaging member easily passes through slot 360 since the rod engaging member is fabricated from a flexible material. However, the barb 362 and the curtain retention member 354 are shaped such that slot 360 gradually narrows until such point as the slot 360 interfaces with the enlarged opening 364. This configuration operates to reduce a likelihood of a rod engaging member of a curtain from passing back through slot 360 from the enlarged opening 364.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of several rods 300 in the substantially adjacent position. Each of the rods 300 incorporates the features described with respect to FIGS. 8 and 9. In one aspect, curtain 200 operates to dictate a maximum distance between any two rods 300 when they are separated from one another. In other words, when a user provides a force that overcomes the force provided by the encased magnets, such as would be applied by a user to deploy a curtain, the curtain 200 operates to constrain how far apart the rods may be positioned.
More importantly, however, incorporation of the various magnet embodiments described with respect to FIG. 9 within the rods 300 provide a much needed help to a user when installing a new curtain. Specifically, and as shown in FIG. 10, by maintaining the plurality of rods 300 substantially adjacent to one another, it is much easier for the user to place the individual rod engaging members (rod engaging members 202 are shown in FIG. 10) onto the lower hooking members 302 of the rods 300. The ease is provided because the rods are not free to pivot with respect to one another and slide along a track with respect to one another as they are in certain known privacy curtain configurations.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
Patent Application
20090288786
