DISPOSABLE CURTAIN SYSTEM, A HOOK ATTACHMENT AND A QUICK-RELEASE SYSTEM THERFOR AND METHOD

Abstract

Disclosed is a disposable curtain system, a hook attachment and a quick-release system therefor and method. The disposable curtain system is for use in health care facilities to maintain a clean environment. The disposable curtain system includes: a hook attachment; an extension, operatively attached to the hook attachment; and a quick-release, operatively attached to the extension and adapted to be attached to a curtain. The quick-release includes; an extension attachment; and a curtain attachment, wherein at least one of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has a neck and a head and the other of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has at least one of a cradle or receiver for receiving the head.

Description

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/011,571 filed on Sep. 3, 2020 which is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/004,625 filed on Aug. 27, 2020 which is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/933,545 filed on Jul. 20, 2020 which all disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a disposable curtain system, components therefor and method. In particular, is a disposable curtain system for use in health care facilities to maintain a clean environment.

BACKGROUND

Health care facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, doctor's offices, urgent care facilities, and long-term care facilities are becoming more and more concerned with infectious diseases being present. The COVID-19 pandemic is one major infectious disease that has brought attention to the public by the media to the concerns of cleanliness of health care facilities and other public spaces. In addition to COVID-19 are other infections diseases such as bacterial infection diseases like Anthrax, bacterial botulism, brucellosis, cholera, diphtheria, Lyme's disease, tuberculosis; fungal infectious diseases like aspergillosis, blastomycosis, candidiasis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis; parasitic infectious diseases like ascariasis, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, malaria, scabies; prion infectious diseases like Alper's syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, kuru; and viral infectious diseases like COVID-19, AIDS, chickenpox, Common Cold, Ebola, herpes, Influenza, mumps, rabies, rubella, viral meningitis, yellow fever and many more.

One location in the hospital that has a concern with infectious disease are the privacy curtains. Medical personnel will take many precautions such as washing hands, wearing gloves and wearing personal protection equipment. However, while wearing gloves they will grab the curtains with their gloved hands which may leave infectious diseases on the curtains due to contact with bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, mucous, phlegm, etc. In addition, patients which are surrounded by the curtain systems will cough, sneeze or perform other bodily functions which expel airborne liquids into the air surrounding their bed or private space.

Curtain systems for hospitals are generally attached to the ceiling. The curtains systems have a track which is affixed to the ceiling. Within the track are rollers with hooks. The curtains attach to the hooks.

A difficulty with this system is that the tracks and hooks are attached to ceilings that can be from 7 to 12 feet above the ceiling. This requires maintenance personnel at the hospital to use ladders or other stools to replace the curtains.

A further difficulty is when replacing the curtain system, the roller hooks in the track many times need to be crimped causing repetitive problems with the installer having problems with muscles and tendons due to repetitive installation of the curtains on the hooks.

Another difficulty is that the most curtain systems are not easily and quickly disassembled and require personnel to remove the curtains one hook at a time.

In the past, curtain systems required keyways such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,585,508.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a disposable curtain system, attachment therefor and method.

An advantage is the ability to quickly attach a disposable curtain system to hooks on a pre-existing or installed curtain system.

Another advantage is once installed, there will be no need for health care personnel to climb on ladders or stools to reach the hooks for replacement of the curtains.

Another advantage is that health care personnel will not need to crimp the hooks.

Another advantage is removal and disposal and or recycling of the curtains on a regular basis.

Another advantage is that the quick release and lock system may be usable by an installer/disassembler at approximately a height of 6-7 feet for easy installation and removal, it will have disposable curtain attachments that quickly attach and detach with a single or small number or movements during installation and disassembly.

An advantage is that the disclosed embodiments do not require a keyway or turning mechanism for installation of disposable hospital curtains as in the relevant art.

An advantage is that the disposable curtain system may be held in a receiver or cradle by gravity and it does not require a latch or lock mechanism.

Another advantage is the use of flexible wire rope or cable the quick-release hanger assemblies still all can magnetically and with the 4 mating notches still perfectly align—they will all align according to the shortest length cable (all the other cables can easily flex to properly the 10 hanger assemblies).

Another advantage is by grabbing the curtain's 10 aligned clips with the round post ends one can easily lift them up into the slightly oversized oval slots (clearance to account for any small misalignment between the 10 rounded ends) on the perfectly aligned hanger assemblies.

An advantage is that the disposable curtain system has a quick-release with a housing with an opening therein into which a head may be inserted and dropped down. The two part motion makes accidental removal of the head from the opening more difficult.

Another advantage is that the head is inserted into the quick-release housing in a first direction which is perpendicular or angular to the direction that the curtains are pulled, thus alleviating accidental removal of the curtain from the curtain system.

Accordingly, various embodiments of the invention disclosed include: A disposable curtain system comprising: a hook attachment; an extension, operatively attached to the hook attachment; and a quick-release, operatively attached to the extension and adapted to be attached to a curtain, wherein the quick-release includes; an extension attachment; and a curtain attachment, wherein at least one of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has a neck and a head and the other of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has at least one of a cradle or receiver for receiving the head.

Accordingly, various components of the invention disclosed include: a hook attachment for use with a disposable curtain system comprising: a housing, said housing including: a first opening defined therein and shaped for attaching a hook therethrough; and a second opening defined therein and shaped for attaching an extension therethrough, wherein a lower portion of said first opening intersects with an upper portion of said second opening such that the weight of the extension may be supported by the hook within the housing.

Accordingly, various components of the invention disclosed include a quick-release system for use with a disposable curtain system comprising: an extension attachment; and a curtain attachment, wherein at least one of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has a neck and a head and the other of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has at least one of a cradle or receiver for receiving the head.

Accordingly, various components of the invention disclosed include a method for attaching a disposable curtain system comprising: providing a hook attachment; providing an extension, operatively attached to the hook attachment; providing a quick-release, having an extension attachment operatively attached to the extension; attaching a curtain attachment of the quick-release to the curtain, wherein at least one of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has a neck and a head and the other of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has at least one of a cradle or receiver for receiving the head; and inserting the head into an opening in the second portion of the quick-release and allowing the head to drop into the cradle or receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a curtain system according to an embodiment of the invention in an engaged position;

FIG. 2 shows a curtain system according to an embodiment of the invention in a disengaged position;

FIG. 3 shows a curtain system according to an embodiment of the invention in a disengaged position;

FIG. 4 shows a plurality of curtain holders;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a curtain attachment system;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective cutaway view of a curtain system of the embodiment of FIG. 5 from a first cut;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective cutaway view of a curtain system of the embodiment of FIG. 5 from a second cut;

FIG. 8 shows a side view cutaway of a curtain system of of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 shows a front view cutaway of a curtain system of of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective cutaway view of a curtain system on the opposite side of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 shows an exploded view of a portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of a portion of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of a portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 14 shows an end portion of a component of the embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows an end portion of a first component of the embodiment with a tool;

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of a first side of a second component;

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of a second side of a second component;

FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of the second component assembled;

FIG. 19 shows a cutaway of the second component assembled;

FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of a third component disassembled;

FIG. 21 shows a perspective view of an opposite side of the third component.

FIG. 22 shows another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 shows a front cutaway component of the embodiment of FIG. 25;

FIG. 24 shows a side cutaway component of the embodiment of FIG. 25;

FIG. 25 shows an embodiment of the embodiment of FIGS. 23 and 24; and

FIG. 26 shows a bottom cutaway of an alternate of FIG. 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed are various embodiments of the inventions. Referring to FIG. 1 is a disposable curtain system 100. The disposable curtain system 100 is attached to the ceiling by a track 110. The track may be attached directly to the ceiling or hang from the ceiling on extensions. Running through the track 110 are roller hooks 120. The roller hooks 120 have a hook 125 on the end thereof for attaching an extension or elongate member 140. So that the extension does not come off the hook 125, a cover 133 for the hook 130 is provided. A typical hospital curtain will have 10 hooks per curtain for attachment. However, it is conceivable that 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 or more hooks may be used. Multiple curtains may be ganged together with snaps on the sides of the curtains 180. For example, two curtains may use 20 hooks, wherein each curtain would use 10 hooks.

The extension 140 may be telescoping poles, poles that may be discreet sizes and interchanged depending on size needed, straps which may include a buckle that may be adjusted for size or the strap may be cut, a string, cable or wire that may be adjusted or cut. Since the extension will remain in place it is important that is easily cleanable for infectious diseases with an extension pole that has disinfectant. The material of the extension should not absorb liquids but should be made from a nonabsorbent plastic such as polyvinyl, PVC, polyethylene or the like.

The curtain 180 comes in discreet sections, such as 6-12 feet and most commonly 9 feet. The curtain sections may be snapped together with snaps. The curtains are made from disposable recyclable material such as polypropylene.

Referring to FIG. 2, a track 110 is shown. The track is bolted, screwed, glued or otherwise attached to the ceiling. The track may also be on a hanging system and hang from the ceiling. The track 110 has an end piece 9 (not shown) with snap connectors for the end piece. Running inside the track are roller hooks 120 having rollers. Additionally, other types of arrangements other than rollers 120 may be used so long as the slide easily along the track guides 118. Extending from the rollers are an eyelet 123 to which the eyelet of the hook 124 is attached. Other arrangements may be envisioned such as chains and other extenders for the roller hook. Over each hook, a covering 130 is affixed for quickly attaching the attachment 130 to the hook 125. FIG. 1 shows the curtain hanging system in an assembled position and FIGS. 2 and 3 shows the curtain hanging system in a disassembled position. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a quick-release, extension attachment 150 having openings 151 and slots 152.

Referring to FIG. 4 is the quick-release curtain attachments 160. The curtain attachments have a head 163, a neck 162, a body 166 an alignment member 161 and a lower portion 165. The curtain attachment advantageously has a ball shaped head 163 such that when inserted into the opening 151 and resting in the cradle it may easily swivel. An advantage of the curtain attachments 160 is that they can align and be held together using the alignment members 161 which insert in a receiving member 167 shown in FIG. 11. In this manner all the curtain holders 160 may be simultaneously inserted into the openings 151. The curtain holders, extension holder and hook attachment are all made using injection molded parts using materials such as thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers, elastomers or metals. Common polymers like epoxy and phenolic are examples of thermosetting plastics which nylon, polyethylene and polystyrene are thermoplastic

Referring to FIG. 5 is a side view of the curtain attachment system. The quick-release 149 includes the curtain attachment 160 with the extension attachment 149.

FIG. 6 shows a cutaway view of the curtain attachment system 100. The curtain attachment 160 includes a protruding alignment member 161 and a receiving alignment member 167 such that each individual curtain hanger may be grouped or corralled together for a quick attachment. The pegs 190, 191 go through corresponding holes in the curtain attachment. The pegs 190, 191 are securing through thermoplastic staking or heat staking. This process deforms the pegs by softening of the plastic to form a head which mechanically locks the two components together. It is quick economical and consistent and does not require extra hardware like screws or rivets for mechanical joining.

FIG. 7 shows opening 151 and cradle or receiver 153 for holding the head 163 of the curtain attachment. Note that the head is inserted in a two-step process. First, it is inserted into the opening 151. While inserting into the opening 151, the neck 162 slides through the slot 152. Next the head is dropped into the cradle or receiver 153 for secure attachment. The attachment only requires the two-step motion and falling into place by gravity. The base of the cradle 153 is large enough for the neck to slide through, but not the head 163. The spherical head 163 allows for ease of rotation about the base of the cradle.

FIG. 8 shows magnets 158 and 159 used in alignment. One of the magnets 158, 159 will have a south magnetization and the other will have a north magnetization. Since wire rope or cable 143 is flexible, this allows to compensate for slight variations in tolerance of the length of the wire rope or cable 140. The quick-release hanger assemblies 150 still all can magnetically align and with the 4 mating notches as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 still perfectly align—they will all align according to the shortest length cable (all the other cables can easily flex to properly the 10 hanger assemblies).

FIG. 6-9 show the cable 140 having a swaged ball 141 inserted on the end thereof. The swaged ball 141 may be other shapes, however the swaged ball 141 allows for the most degrees of freedom for movement of the quick-release assembly 150.

FIG. 9 shows the extension or elongate member 140 has an inner portion, which may be a wire of metal wire twisted into a helix forming a composite rope. The wires are generally steel made of a non-alloy carbon. The wire allows for support of large tensile forces and run over sheaves with relatively small diameters. The wire is coated with a plastic sheath 142 such as a thermoplastic sheath, typically of PVC or polyvinyl chloride. The PVC may be colored or clear for aesthetic appeal. In this particular case, the sheath may be color coded for different lengths of extension 140. For example, 15 inches may be red, 18 inches white, 21 inches black, etc. Alternatively, a mark may be placed upon the sheath to designate the length of the wire if the wire needs to be cut or otherwise adjusted.

FIG. 10 shows another exemplary view of the curtain hanging system with the rollers 120.

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged view of the quick-release curtain hanger 150. Note that the base of the cradle 225 includes a tolerance angle α to permit for ease of rotation. Angle α can be anywhere from 5-30 degrees, but advantageously about 15 degrees for allow ease of rotation.

FIG. 12 shows a hook 125 and attachment 130. The hook 125 is attached to the eyelet 123 for the roller hook. 120. The hook 125 has a shank 126, a bend 127 and a point 128. The area between the shank 126 and the point is the gap 129. The hook 125 can be snapped within the attachment 130 through a slot or opening 201 in the hook attachment covering 130.

Shown in FIG. 13 is a roller hook 120 having rollers 122. The eyelet 123 for the roller hook attaches to the eyelet 124 for the hook.

Referring to FIG. 14 is the end of the cable 140 that is to be inserted into the covering 130. The cable 140 is formed into a loop 131 and the sheath 142 is typically removed. The loop is formed by pulling the end of the cable 145 through a cable holder or clamp 132. The cable clamp has a plurality of allen wrench screws 133, 134 with allen wrench inserts 135.

FIG. 15 shows allen wrench 136 may be used to adjust the allen wrench screws 133, 134. The cable may be adjusted prior to installation or after installation by inserting the allen wrench through port holes 238, 239.

FIG. 16 shows an inner side of the hook attachment 130. The hook attachment includes a housing 200. The inner side of the housing 200 includes a top portion 202 which defines a first side of a through first opening 201 in the hook attachment 130. The opening has an angle β which accommodates different sizes of hooks. In this way during retrofit of a hospital curtains, typically, not one standard sized hook is used, but the angle β would accommodate any sized hook used in the industry permitting for a universal hook attachment 130. The base of top portion 202 includes a first opening or channel 201 is defined therein and shaped for attaching a hook therethrough. A second opening or channel 210 defined in housing 200 is shaped for attaching the extension 140 therethrough. Typically the sheath 142 is stripped therefrom as shown in FIG. 13. A lower portion of said first opening 201 intersects with an upper portion of said second opening 210 such that the weight of the extension 140 may be supported by the hook 125 within the housing 200. In this manner, the top portion 202 is not required to bear the weight of the curtain, thus preventing failure. The housing includes pegs 220, 221 which may fit into holes 222, 223 for ease of alignment. Each housing includes a hinged flap 227 which may be snapped into a catch 260 shown in FIG. 17. The hinge portion 229 is a flexible material with slots 261 therein to permit movement of the flaps 227. The flaps may be disengaged from the slots 261 by use of tang or elongate nob 228. The extension 140 is inserted into the opening 225 defined in the bottom 250 of the housing 200. Housing 200 also defines a compartment 232 defined for receiving the cable holder or clamp 132. Port holes 238, 239 may be used to access the cable holder or clamp 132 with an allen wrench.

The housing 200 is designed for ease of manufacture using injection molding to allow for even cooling of the housing so that not one portion has a thick wall for uneven cooling which could cause material weakening due to uneven contraction during cooling.

FIG. 17 shows an outer view of the housing 200. FIG. 18 shows the hook attachment 130 in the assembled position with mating housings 200 placed together.

FIG. 19 shows a cutaway view of the hook attachment 130. The loop 131 of the extension 140 is shown engaging with the bend 127 of the hook 125. The hook 125 has adequate degrees of freedom in the angle β so that the point 128 may not come out without the housings 200 of the hook attachment being removed from one another.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21 show the extension attachment portion of the quick-release 150 curtain attachment. Each curtain attachment 150 includes a first housing or first part 300 and a second housing or second part 301. The first portion 300 includes pegs 303, 304, 315, 316, 317 which mate with holes or openings 305, 306, 308, 307 and 309. Once the first housing 300 and second housing are assembled, the pegs 303, 304, 315, 316, 317 may be heat staked or thermoplastic staked together in the holes or openings 305, 306, 308, 307 and 309 as described above in FIG. 6. The first housing 300 has on its side protrusions or notches 320, 321, 322, 323 which mate with grooves or cavities 324, 325, 326 327 on a corresponding quick-release housing. The notches or protrusions 320, 321, 322, 323 and grooves or cavities or indentions 324, 325, 326 327 in combination with the magnets 158 and 159, which are inserted into the formed openings 319, 319a, are used to align the plurality of housings together. The opening or cavity 340 is where the swaged ball 141 is placed. The cavity 340 has a narrow neck 341 on top to permit a 360 degree freedom of rotation of the extension 140. The spherical cavity 340 allows the ball 141 freedom to rotate in the cavity. Similarly, the spherical head 163 of the curtain attachment 160 when inserted into the cradle 153 engages the bottom of the cavity at 310 and is stopped from falling therefrom by the narrow opening 311 defined in the bottom thereof. The narrow opening permits rotation of the head 163 and neck 162 for 360 degrees of rotation. This is important because the curtains when closed face in a different direction that when partially open and fully open. This assists in preventing binding of the curtains when opening and closing.

Another embodiment of the device is illustrated in FIGS. 22-26. FIG. 22 shows a plurality of curtain connectors 1460 attached to a curtain. The connectors have a head 1465 that may be inserted into an opposing connector 1456. The head 1465 fits into an opening 1475 and drops due to gravity into the slot of hole 1470. Nobs 1477 may be used to hold the device in place. To remove the device, the process merely needs to be reversed.

In this embodiment the heads 1465 are not spherical, but rectangular. Other embodiments include different shapes and sizes, such as hemispherical, frustoconical, pyramidal and other shapes. It should be noted that the opening 1456 although shown matching exactly in this embodiment should have a large enough tolerance to permit each attachment of the head to and from the slot. For example, in FIGS. 20-21, an enlarged opening 151 is shown which is oval in shape.

A method for attaching a disposable curtain system includes the step of providing a hook attachment 130; providing an extension 140, operatively attached to the hook attachment 130; providing a quick-release 150, having an extension attachment 200, 202 operatively attached to the extension 140. Next, attaching a curtain attachment 160 of the quick-release to the curtain 180, wherein at least one of the curtain attachment 160 and the extension attachment 200, 202 has a neck 162 and a head 163 and the other of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has at least one of a cradle 153 or receiver for receiving the head 163. In another step, inserting the head 163 into an opening 151 in the second portion of the quick-release 150 and allowing the head 163 to drop into the cradle or receiver 153.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a “unit” or a “module” does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.

Claims

1. A disposable curtain system comprising:

a hook attachment;

an extension, operatively attached to the hook attachment; and

a quick-release, operatively attached to the extension and adapted to be attached to a curtain, wherein the quick-release includes; an extension attachment; and a curtain attachment, wherein at least one of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has a neck and a head and the other of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has at least one of a cradle or receiver for receiving the head.

2. The disposable curtain system of claim 1 wherein, the at least one of the cradle or the receiver for receiving the head includes a slot having a width for allowing the neck to slide therein, but not allow the head to go therethrough.

3. The disposable curtain system of claim 1 wherein the hook attachment includes an opening having a width adapted for different hook sizes.

4. The disposable curtain system of claim 1 wherein the hook attachment includes an opening for the extension such that the extension may surround the hook so that the weight on the extension is supported by the hook.

5. The disposable curtain system of claim 1 wherein the hook attachment includes two parts that snap around the hook.

6. The disposable curtain system of claim 1 wherein the extension is a coated or sheathed cable.

7. The disposable curtain system of claim 1 wherein the extension includes a loop on a first end and a swaged ball on the opposite end.

8. The disposable curtain system of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the cradle or receiver is in a housing, said at least one of a cradle or receiver having a first portion of an opening for receiving the head and second portion of the opening for holding the head, wherein said first and second portions are at different angles; and wherein said openings have a slot through the openings for receiving the neck.

9. A hook attachment for use with a disposable curtain system comprising:

a housing, said housing including: a first opening defined therein and shaped for attaching a hook therethrough; and a second opening defined therein and shaped for attaching an extension therethrough, wherein a lower portion of said first opening intersects with an upper portion of said second opening such that the weight of the extension may be supported by the hook within the housing.

10. The hook attachment for use with a disposable curtain system of claim 9 wherein the housing includes a first part and a second part and a locking mechanism for attaching the first part to the second part.

11. The hook attachment for use with a disposable curtain system of claim 10 wherein when the first part is attached to the second part, the first opening is angled such that the hook may not be removed without detaching the first part from the second part.

12. A quick-release system for use with a disposable curtain system comprising:

an extension attachment; and

a curtain attachment, wherein at least one of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has a neck and a head and the other of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has at least one of a cradle or receiver for receiving the head.

13. The quick-release system for use with a disposable curtain system of claim 12, wherein the curtain attachment includes the neck and the head on a first side and a curtain engagement on the other side and wherein a lower portion of the head proximate the neck rests in the cradle or receiver when in use.

14. The quick-release system for use with a disposable curtain system of claim 13, wherein the curtain attachment includes a protruding alignment member on a first side and a receiving alignment member on a second side.

15. The quick-release system for use with a disposable curtain system of claim 14, wherein the protruding member has a geometric shape that matches the receiving alignment member.

16. The quick-release system for use with a disposable curtain system of claim 13, wherein the protruding member is triangular that matches the receiving alignment member which is a triangular opening.

17. The quick-release system for use with a disposable curtain system of claim 12, wherein the extension attachment includes a housing and the at least one of the cradle or the receiver for receiving the head in the housing is within the housing, said at least one of the cradle or said receiver having a first portion of an opening for receiving the head and second portion of the opening for holding the head, wherein said first and second portions are at different angles; and wherein said openings have a slot through the openings for receiving the neck.

18. The quick-release system for use with a disposable curtain system of claim 12, wherein the extension attachment includes a housing, said housing having a magnet; and a swaged ball holder.

19. The quick-release system for use with a disposable curtain system of claim 12, wherein the extension attachment includes a housing, said housing having at least one protrustion for alignment on a first side and at least one indention for alignment on an opposite side of the housing.

20. A method for attaching a disposable curtain system comprising:

providing a hook attachment;

providing an extension, operatively attached to the hook attachment;

providing a quick-release, having an extension attachment operatively attached to the extension;

attaching a curtain attachment of the quick-release to the curtain, wherein at least one of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has a neck and a head and the other of the curtain attachment and the extension attachment has at least one of a cradle or receiver for receiving the head; and

inserting the head into an opening in the second portion of the quick-release and allowing the head to drop into the cradle or receiver.