Partition systems are often employed to isolate portions of a building or room, by serving as a barrier to dust, noise, light, odors, and the like. In construction zones, partitions are useful for protecting a clean area from a work area, for example, protecting an area where furniture and rugs are temporarily stored from an area where wood floors are being refinished.
Workers at construction sites often use rudimentary techniques for installing partitions. Some simply nail, screw, or staple the curtain or partition material to the floor, ceiling, and abutting walls, resulting in damage to their surfaces. Others tape, or otherwise adhere, a curtain or plastic sheet to the walls and ceilings. The tape usually fails to stick, but if it does stick, as the tape is removed, paint can pull off with the tape, or adhesive is left behind.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,469, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a partition mount system that addresses these limitations. This system offers the advantage of accommodating standard extension poles, for example, painters poles, with standard threads, and is compatible with a variety of commercially-available curtain or drape materials, for example plastic, cloth, and the like. The disclosed system is a “clean” system designed to be installed and removed without damaging or otherwise marking the ceiling, floor or walls in the construction zone. Assembly is easy and fast and can be accomplished by a single individual. In certain applications however, a sag, or gap, may be present in the curtain along a mounting pole next to a wall, ceiling, door frame, or other abutting surface, compromising the effectiveness of the installation.
The present invention is directed to a system that mitigates or eliminates sag, or gaps, between an installed curtain and an abutting surface such as a wall or ceiling. The system accomplishes this in a manner that avoids permanent damage to the wall or ceiling surface. A clamp is mounted between an erected pole and a nearby wall, window, or other surface. The clamp interfaces with a head that urges the curtain against the wall over the length of the head, using the pole and wall for leverage. In this manner, the effectiveness of the installation is increased, by reducing or eliminating gaps in the curtain along the wall.
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a partition mount for mounting between a pole and an abutting surface. The mount includes a pole interface coupled to a mount body, the pole interface adapted for interfacing with a side portion of a pole. A head interface is coupled to the mount body. A biasing unit outwardly biases the pole interface and head interface with respect to each other.
The pole interface is for example located at a first end of the mount body and wherein the head interface is at a second end of the mount body. The pole interface comprises, for example, a C-shaped body formed of non-skid material.
The head interface preferably comprises a clamp that is adapted for coupling the partition mount to a head. The head comprises an elongated pad, for example formed of non-skid compressible material, or optionally a small pad that provides a point of contact. In one example, the head interface comprises one of a ball and socket. The head interface may optionally be integral with the mount body.
The mount body, head interface, and pole interface may be configured along a common axis. In another embodiment, the mount body comprises first and second arms coupled by a hinge, and the pole interface is coupled to the first arm and the head interface is coupled to the second arm. The first arm is C-shaped and includes the pole interface at a first end and a first handle at a second end. The first arm further includes a wall interface of non-skid material between the first end and the second end. The second arm is L-shaped and includes the head interface at a first end and a second handle at a second end. The second arm may include a hinge for allowing the head interface and handle to be positioned at a range of angles.
The biasing unit comprises a spring, for example, either inwardly biased and outwardly biased, depending on the configuration. Alternatively, the biasing unit may comprise at least one of a ratcheting mechanism and a manually operated screw.
A wall interface may optionally be coupled to the mount body, for example comprising non-skid material.
The mount body for example comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, graphite, wood, and aluminum alloy.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a partition mount for mounting between a pole and an abutting surface. A mount body comprises first and second arms coupled by a hinge. A pole interface is coupled to the first arm, the pole interface adapted for interfacing with a side portion of a pole. A head interface is coupled to the second arm. A biasing unit outwardly biases the pole interface and head interface with respect to each other.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
The hinge 32 may be biased, for example by a outwardly-biased spring 44 that is external to the hinge 32 as shown, or optionally, by a inwardly-biased spring 44 that is internal to, or external to, the hinge 32. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in
The first arm 28 is generally in a “C”-shape and includes the pole interface 34 at a distal end 50, the wall interface 36 at a middle portion 52, and a first handle 39 at a proximal end 53. The pole interface 34 comprises, for example, a curved plate or body, having a concave inner surface so as to increase the surface area of the contact region between the first arm 28 and a pole to which the clamp 20 is to be mounted. Alternatively, the pole interface 34 may comprise a rubber or silicone pad that is mounted to, bonded to, or integrated directly with, the first arm 28. The pole interface 34 is urged toward the body of the second arm 30 by the bias of the spring 44 as applied to the hinge 32. The first arm further includes a first handle 39 at a proximal end 53 in order to provide leverage for opening and closing the clamp 52 by exerting pressure against the bias of the spring 44.
In an alternative embodiment, rather than the spring 44, a passively biased system may be used (for example, a system that does not include a spring 44 for actively and outwardly biasing the pole interface 34 and head clamp 40) including for example, as illustrated in
The wall interface 36 is, for example, in the shape of a block, pad, semi-cylinder, or point, and provides a surface on the clamp 20 at which the clamp interfaces with a wall, or other abutting surface (window, ceiling, floor, etc.). The wall interface 36 provides for rotational stability in the clamp, preventing the clamp from rotating about the pole when installed, and also provides for lateral stability, preventing the pole from moving from side to side, relative to the abutting surface. To reduce slippage between the wall interface 36 and the abutting surface, a non-skid coating may be applied to the outer surface of the wall interface 36. Alternatively, the wall interface 36 may comprise a rubber or silicone pad that is applied to, bonded to, or integrated directly with, the first arm 28.
The second arm 30 is generally in an “L”-shape and includes a head clamp 40 at a distal end 51 and a second handle 38 at a proximal end 53. The second arm 30 includes a bend 42 along its body such that the distal end 51 of the second arm 30 is able to make contact with the wall, or abutting surface, at head clamp 40, while, at the same time, the pole interface 34 of the first arm 28 is urged against the body of the pole. The second handle 38 is preferably in the form of a hollow or opening of a size suitable for receiving a hand, in order to provide for additional leverage and travel of the second arm 30 with respect to the first arm 28, when releasing and closing the clamp 20.
The head clamp 40 comprises, for example, a clamp that is adapted for receiving a mounting head. The mounting head may comprise, for example, a head having a longitudinally extended body, for example of the type described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/600,300, filed of even date herewith, entitled “Partition Mount with Extended-Length Head”, by Jeffery P. Whittemore, et al., the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. A head with an extended body is preferred for increasing the extent of interface between the clamp 20, curtain and abutting surface, to provide a more effective seal therebetween. Alternatively, the head clamp may comprise a ball or socket of a universal joint, for interfacing with the head and clamp of the above patent application, or alternatively, for interfacing with a head of the style illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,469, incorporated by reference above.
The mounting head 48 includes an elongated body 60 and a compressible pad 62. The body 60 may comprise, for example, an extruded member formed of plastic, aluminum, or alloy, and having a “U”-shaped profile as shown. The pad 62 is mounted in cavity 63 of the body 60, and may be press-fit, or otherwise bonded in place. The pad 62, is, for example, rectangular in shape and may be formed of low-density foam or rubber, having a certain degree of compressibility, while still exhibiting resiliency. The body 60 further includes a horizontal groove 64 on each outer side surface and a top surface 66, as shown. Alternative embodiments of the mounting head are equally applicable to the principles of the present invention, including, for example, those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/600,300, entitled “Partition Mount with Extended-Length Head”, incorporated herein by reference above.
Referring to
Referring to
In alternative embodiments, as shown in
In this manner, the present invention provides for mitigation or elimination of gaps between the curtain and abutting surface in a manner that avoids permanent damage to the adjoining wall, ceiling, or other abutting surface, while heightening the effectiveness of an installation.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
For example, with reference to
In another example, the pole interface 34 may comprise a clamping mechanism that securedly fixes the pole interface to the pole, irrespective of whether the outward bias of the spring is being applied.
Another example of an alternative embodiment 150 of the partition clamp of the present invention is shown in the top view of
In another example of an alternative embodiment, as shown in the top view of
In another example of an alternative embodiment, as shown in the top view of
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/403,683, filed Aug. 15, 2002.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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60403683 | Aug 2002 | US |