Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Reserved for a later date, if necessary.
The disclosed subject matter is in the field of partitioning mounting systems and devices for mounting or otherwise establishing a partition.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,658,219 (the '219 patent (incorporated by reference in its entirety)) discloses a partition mount with integral plunger assembly. According to that document, the disclosed device upholds a curtain or plastic sheet between a ceiling and a floor of a room. In one example depicted in FIGS. 11A through 11E of the '219 patent, the disclosed device essentially connects the top of a curtain or plastic sheet to the top or head of an extension pole so that the butt of the pole can be pressed into the floor while the top of the pole holds the sheet upright against the ceiling or other overhead structure. In construction zones, two or more partition devices can be used to establish a partition system or framework that is useful for protecting a clean area from a work area or construction zone i.e., via isolating the clean area of a building or room from dust, noise, light, odors and like nuisances generated in the work area or construction zone.
Unfortunately, the device disclosed by the '219 patent is suitable for establishing a partition framework or system in all rooms or buildings. In particular, some rooms have paneled ceilings where the force of the extension pole pushing upward on curtain or sheet against the ceiling is high enough to displace the ceiling's panel. When this happens, the pole can tip over and cause the partition to fail. Accordingly, a need exists for devices that are suitable for establishing a partition framework or system in rooms or buildings with paneled or otherwise unsupported ceilings.
In view of the foregoing, an object of this specification is to disclose a T-block attachment with a magnetized bolt for (first) securing a plastic sheet or curtain to the mount and (second) securing the mount to a metallic grid of a paneled sealing. In a first embodiment, the T-block features a stem and two arms wherein the stem includes a pole receptacle and each arm includes both a clip receptacle and a bolt receptacle. In operation: to Step 1-a standard broom pole or other extendable pole with a threaded tip may be coupled to the stem of the T-block partition mount; Step 2—a plastic sheet or curtain may be secured to the T-block partition mount via puncturing the sheet material with the bolt of a magnet bolt and then coupling the bolt to the bolt receptacle of the T-block partition mount such is that the sheet material is sandwiched between an arm of the T-block partition mount and the magnet of the magnetic bolt; and, Step 3—the T-block partition mount may be secured to a metallic structure of a ceiling such that the pole is extended downward from the sealing while the plastic sheet or curtain is secured to the ceiling via the magnets of the mount. In an alternative embodiment, Step 3 may involve securing the mount to a foot and then pressing the foot against the ceiling via a compression spring such that the pole is upright between the floor and the ceiling while the plastic sheet or curtain is secured to the ceiling beneath the foot. Suitably, the block may feature a wire clip for securing wires to the ceiling structure via the magnetic bolts.
Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which:
In the drawings, the following reference numerals are and indication of the corresponding component or part of the disclosed device:
It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative.
Disclosed is a T-block partition mount with a magnetized bolt for (first) securing a plastic sheet or curtain to the mount and (second) securing the mount to a metallic grid of a paneled sealing. Suitably, the block may feature a wire clip for securing wires to the ceiling structure via the magnetic bolts. Other details of the disclosed T-block partition mount are to described below with reference to the attached figures.
In operation: Step 1-a standard broom pole 4100 or other extendable pole with a threaded tip 4110 may be coupled to the stem 1100 of the T-block partition mount 1000; Step 2—a plastic sheet or curtain 5000 may be secured to the T-block partition mount 1000 via puncturing the sheet material 5000 with the bolt 2200 of a magnet bolt 2000 and then coupling the bolt 2200 to the bolt receptacle 1220 of the T-block partition mount 1000 such that the sheet material 5000 is sandwiched between an arm 1200 of the T-block partition mount 1000 and the magnet 2100 of the magnetic bolt 2000; and, Step 3—the T-block partition mount 1000 may be secured to a metallic structure 6000 of a ceiling such that the pole 4100 is extended downward from the sealing while the plastic sheet 5000 or curtain to is secured to the ceiling via the magnets 2100 of the mount.
In an alternative embodiment, Step 3 may involve securing the mount to a foot and then pressing the foot against the ceiling via a compression spring such that the pole is upright between the floor and the ceiling while the plastic sheet or curtain is secured to the ceiling beneath the foot.
Although the method and apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments.
Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like, the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof, the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more,” or the like, and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases might be absent. The use of the term “assembly” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, might be combined in a single package or separately maintained and might further be distributed across multiple locations.
Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives might is be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.
All original claims submitted with this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.
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Number | Date | Country |
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Entry |
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International Search Report, PCT/US2023/13108, Shane Thomas (authorized officer), mailed May 15, 2023. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20230258007 A1 | Aug 2023 | US |