METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DEPLOYMENT OF PRIVACY CURTAINS
A privacy curtain system is described 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 has 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.
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 INVENTIONIn 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.
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
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
Referring to
Another issue with the system of
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,
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.
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.
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.
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
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
More importantly, however, incorporation of the various magnet embodiments described with respect to
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.
Claims
1. A privacy curtain system comprising:
- a curtain comprising a plurality of rod engaging members extending therefrom;
- a curtain gathering cord slidably engaged with said curtain; and
- a plurality of rods each comprising a lower hooking member configured to engage one of said rod engaging members, said curtain gathering cord operable to cause said rod engaging members to release from respective said lower hooking members.
2. A privacy curtain system according to claim 1 where said rod engaging members each comprise:
- a loop formed proximate to a first end of said rod engaging member;
- a second end attached to said curtain and comprising a slot formed proximate thereto and extending therethrough, said loop configured to extend through said slot as said rod engaging member is bent into a substantially circular configuration, said curtain gathering cord extending through said loop to retain a position of said loop with respect to said slot.
3. A privacy curtain system according to claim 2 wherein said curtain gathering cord is operable to be removed from said curtain such that when said cord is no longer within said loops, said loops are free to move back through the respective said slot and subsequently release said curtain from said lower hooking members.
4. (canceled)
5. A privacy curtain system according to claim 2 where said rod engaging members and said curtain are integrally formed from a single piece of material.
6. A privacy curtain system according to claim 1 wherein said curtain is provided in a package.
7. A privacy curtain system according to claim 1 wherein said curtain is provided in a package, said package operable to expose said rod engaging members such that they can be engaged with said lower hooking members prior to the exposure of a remainder of said curtain.
8. A privacy curtain comprising:
- a curtain main portion; and
- a plurality of rod engaging members comprising a first end and a second end, said second ends attached to said curtain main portion, said first ends releasably attached to said curtain main portion.
9. A privacy curtain according to claim 8 comprising a curtain gathering cord, said curtain gathering cord slidably engaged with said curtain and operable to cause said first ends to release from said curtain main portion.
10. A privacy curtain according to claim 9 wherein:
- said first end comprises a loop formed proximate thereto; and
- said second end comprises a slot formed proximate thereto and extending therethrough, said loop configured to extend through said slot to form a hoop, said curtain gathering cord extending through said loop to retain a position of said loop with respect to said slot.
11. A privacy curtain according to claim 10 wherein said curtain gathering cord is operable to be removed from said curtain main portion such that when said cord no longer extends through said loops, said loops are free to move back through the respective said slot.
12. A privacy curtain according to claim 8 where said rod engaging members and said curtain main portion are integrally formed from a single piece of material.
13. A cubicle curtain according to claim 8 wherein said curtain comprises packaging operable for disposal of another curtain.
14. A system for the deployment of privacy curtains comprising:
- a track system; and
- a plurality of rods each comprising: a lower hooking member configured to engage the privacy curtain; an upper track engagement member configured for attachment to said track system; an elongated central member extending from said upper track engagement member; and a lower nestable member between said lower hooking member and said elongated central member, said lower nestable member comprising at least one magnet encased therein, said magnets oriented such that when said plurality of rods are substantially adjacent one another for the changing of a privacy curtain, said magnets operate to maintain the substantially adjacent positioning.
15. A system according to claim 14 wherein each said rod comprises an upper nestable member between said upper track engagement member and said elongated central member, said upper nestable member comprising at least one magnet encased therein, said magnets oriented such that they help to maintain said plurality of rods substantially adjacent one another for the changing of a privacy curtain.
16. A system according to claim 15 wherein each said upper nestable member comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, said side walls each comprising a keyed surface, said keyed surface configured to help maintain substantial adjacent positioning of two said rods.
17. A system according to claim 16 wherein said keyed surface comprises an indentation in said first side wall and a protrusion extending from said second side wall.
18. A system according to claim 14 wherein each said lower nestable member comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, said side walls each comprising a keyed surface, said keyed surface configured to help maintain substantial adjacent positioning of two said rods.
19. A system according to claim 18 wherein said keyed surfaces comprise an indentation in said first side wall and a protrusion extending from said second side wall.
20. A privacy curtain system comprising:
- a curtain comprising a plurality of rod engaging members extending therefrom;
- a curtain gathering cord slidably engaged with said curtain; and
- a plurality of rods each comprising: a lower hooking member configured to engage one of said rod engaging members; an upper track engagement member configured for attachment to a ceiling mounted track system; and an elongated central member extending between said upper track engagement member and said lower hooking member, said curtain gathering cord operable to release said rod engaging members from respective said lower hooking members.
21. A privacy curtain system according to claim 20 where said rod engaging members each comprise:
- a first end comprising a loop formed thereabout;
- a second end attached to said curtain and comprising a slot formed thereabout and extending therethrough, said loop configured to extend through said slot as said rod engaging member is bent into a substantially circular configuration, said curtain gathering cord passed through said loop to retain a position of said loop with respect to said slot.
22. A privacy curtain system according to claim 21 wherein said curtain gathering cord is operable to be removed from said curtain such that when said cord is no longer within said loops, said loops are free to move back through the respective said slot and subsequently release said curtain from said lower hooking members.
23. (canceled)
24. A privacy curtain system according to claim 21 where said rod engaging members and said curtain are integrally formed from a single piece of material.
25. A privacy curtain system according to claim 20 comprising a package for said curtain, said package operable to expose said rod engaging members such that they can be engaged with said lower hooking members prior to the exposure of a remainder of said curtain.
26. A privacy curtain system according to claim 20 wherein each said rod comprises a lower nestable member between said lower hooking member and said elongated central member, said lower nestable member comprising at least one magnet encased therein, said magnets oriented such that they help to maintain said plurality of rods substantially adjacent one another during replacement of said curtain.
27. A privacy curtain system according to claim 26 wherein each said lower nestable member comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, said side walls each comprising a keyed surface, said keyed surfaces configured to help maintain substantial adjacent positioning of two said rods during replacement of said curtain.
28. A privacy curtain system according to claim 27 wherein said keyed surfaces comprise an indentation in said first side wall and a protrusion extending from said second side wall.
29. A privacy curtain system according to claim 20 wherein each said rod comprises an upper nestable member between said upper track engagement member and said elongated central member, said upper nestable member comprising at least one magnet encased therein, said magnets oriented such that they help to maintain said plurality of rods substantially adjacent one another during replacement of said curtain.
30. A privacy curtain system according to claim 29 wherein each said upper nestable member comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, said side walls each comprising a keyed surface, said keyed surfaces configured to help maintain substantial adjacent positioning of two said rods during replacement of said curtain.
31. A privacy curtain system according to claim 30 wherein said keyed surfaces comprise an indentation in said first side wall and a protrusion extending from said second side wall.
Type: Application
Filed: May 22, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 26, 2009
Inventors: Joseph A. Graneto, III (Wildwood, MO), Chad Paul Stuemke (St. Louis, MO), Corey Scott Feit (St. Louis, MO)
Application Number: 12/125,711
International Classification: A47H 5/032 (20060101); A47H 1/00 (20060101);