ES2322760T3 - CURTAIN SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

A curtain system comprising a curtain rail (50;150), a stopper (70;153) on the curtain rail (50;150), a pleated curtain (44) and curtain gliders (20;120). The stopper being movable between a first position, in which the stopper is arranged to allow curtain gliders on the curtain rail to move past the stopper, and a second position, in which the stopper is arranged to prevent curtain gliders on the curtain rail moving past the stopper. The curtain gliders are attached to the pleated curtain in an arrangement that allows the curtain gliders to be aligned prior to location of the curtain on the curtain rail. <??>To be accompanied, when published, by Figure 11A of the drawings. <IMAGE>

Description

Curtain system

This invention relates to a system of improved curtain, in particular to a system that allows rapid Removal and replacement of the curtain.

Typically, when using curtain systems conventional, it takes significant time and effort to  Remove and change the curtains. One purpose of this invention is provide a simple and fast system for extraction and replacement of curtains, with particular application to hospitals and medical settings

DE-A-2219281 and DE-C-922012 describe curtains pleated to slide along rails.

CH-A-661 424 describes that a curtain rail is desirable in a hospital according to the preamble of claim 1 or medical environment to maintain a clean and sterile environment; this includes curtains that can be contaminate, in particular the curtains that form cubicles around beds or exam areas. Currently replacing Such curtains is an intensive and expensive operation.

According to the present invention, a rail is provided for curtain that includes a stop, the stop can move between a first position, in which the stop is arranged to allow which curtain sliders on the curtain rail move beyond the top, and a second position, where the top is arranged to prevent curtain sliders on the rail to Curtain travel beyond the top.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, provides a curtain system as defined in the claim  2.

The curtain material can be disposable, or Alternatively it can be washable. The material can be cloth woven, paper, plastic or any other suitable material.

The curtain is preferably pleated or folded to panels of equal size.

The curtain slider can include a rail joint portion, adapted in practice to engage with and move along a curtain rail, and a portion of curtain joint adapted in practice to join the slider of Curtain to the curtain.

The curtain joint portion may be configured as a first element, located on one side of the material  of curtain, and a second element, located on the other side of the curtain material Preferably the elements first and second they are joined by a connecting element that penetrates the curtain material, thereby joining the curtain slider to the curtain.

Preferably the first and second elements of the curtain joint portion are configured as sheets fine The elements can be 1 mm thick and 10 mm thick. width.

Alternatively, the curtain joint portion It can be ultrasonically welded to the curtain material.

Preferably the curtain sliders are join the curtain before hooking the rail joint portion of the curtain slider with the curtain rail.

The connection of the curtain slider to the curtain It can be permanent. Alternatively it may be possible to release the Curtain slider curtain.

Preferably at least one slider of Curtain is attached to each fold of the pleated curtain. The curtain sliders can be located on alternate sides of the material, such position can give rise to a configuration folded more compact than if all curtain sliders were on the same side of the curtain.

Preferably all the sliders are located in the same relative position in their respective fold, That can be the center of the crease.

The curtain joint portion of the slider Curtain is preferably substantially narrower than folds, to be able to run the curtains.

Preferably the curtain joint portion it has an elongated groove configured to accommodate a pin retention.

The curtain slider can have means locators arranged above to align a slider of Curtain with another curtain slider. The locator means they can be configured as a projection in a slider of curtain that is willing to place itself in a depression in another curtain slider when the curtain sliders are aligned. This setting holds the curtain sliders in alignment.

The rail junction portion of the slider curtain can be attached to the curtain joining portion by a nylon joint.

In one embodiment, the curtain rail includes a stop, being able to move the stop between a first position, in that the stop is arranged to allow the sliders of curtain on the curtain rail travel beyond the top, and a second position, in which the stop is arranged to prevent the curtain sliders on the curtain rail move beyond the top.

Preferably the stop can be moved between the first and second position without tools additional, typically a person can move the stop by grabbing its exposed end between a finger and the thumb.

A curtain rail can incorporate one or more stops

At least one stop may be located in the end of a curtain rail. In its second position the stop prevents curtain sliders from leaving the end of the rail for curtain when the curtain is mounted on the rail and in use. In its first position the curtain sliders can be move beyond the stop to remove the rail curtains for curtain or hang on curtain rail.

In the first position the stop can be removed. In the second position the stop can be extended.

The curtain rail may include a strip of adaptation that is added to be able to hook the rail with the curtain sliders The adaptation strip can be remodeled to existing curtain rails.

It will be appreciated that all features Optional relative to the various aspects of the invention can be  combine within the limitations imposed by the annexed claims.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention, simply by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1A and 1B are an elevation view front and end of a curtain slider respectively.

Figures 2A and 2B are elevation views of end of curtain sliders alternative to that illustrated in the Figures 1A and 1B.

Figure 3A illustrates a front elevation view of an alternative curtain slider to that illustrated in the figures 1A and 2B.

Figure 3B illustrates a retaining pin. for use with a curtain slider of figure 3A.

Figures 4A and 4B illustrate the slider of curtain of figures 1A and 1B located in a curtain.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates the curtain of Figure 4A and 4B suspended from a curtain rail by a curtain slider

Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of a pleated curtain with attached curtain sliders.

Figure 7 schematically illustrates the curtain from figures 4A to 6 pleated with attached curtain sliders Ready to hang on a curtain rail.

Figures 8A and 8B are elevational views of end of a curtain rail for use with the curtain Figures 4A to 7 with a stop mounted.

Figures 9A to 9D illustrate components of the curtain rail stop of figures 8A and 8B, more specifically Figure 9A is an exploded view of the stop, the Figure 9B is the stop block in cross section, Figure 9C it is a plan view of the lower side of the stop block, and the Figure 9D is an elevation view of the stop block on a rail for curtain.

Figures 10A and 10B are sectional views. cross section of a curtain rail with a stop of figures 8A a 9D in the extended and withdrawn position respectively.

Figures 11A and 11B are elevational views of end of a curtain rail and curtain slider in which the stop is in the withdrawn and extended position respectively.

Figures 12A to 12D are sectional views. transverse and side elevation of curtain track with a strip of adaptation and stop, in figures 12A and 12B the stop is in the position removed, and in figures 12C and 12D the stop is in the extended position

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With reference to Figures 1A to 3A a curtain slider 20, 120 is configured as two portions, a rail or hook joint portion 21, 121 and a joint portion of curtain or grip 22, 121. The hook 21, 121 is adapted for attach curtain slider 20, 120 to a curtain rail 50, 150 (Figure 5) and the grip 22, 122 is adapted to join the curtain slider 20, 120 to a curtain 44 (figures 4A and 4B).

The hook 21, 121 is configured as a channel C-shaped with protrusions 24, 124 and 25, 125 configured to be placed around a curtain rail 50 (figure 5), hooking the curtain slider 20, 120 with the rail to 50 curtain while allowing slider movement of curtain 20, 120 along curtain rail 50.

With reference to figures 1B, 2A, 2B, 4A and 4B, the grip 22 includes two grip elements 31 and 32. The first grip element 31 hangs from the hook 21, and is located in the practice on one side of curtain 44. The second grip element 32 is practically located on the other side of curtain 44. The first 31 and second 32 grip elements are attached to each other through the curtain 44, thereby joining the slider of curtain 20 to curtain 44.

In practice, holes 27, 28 in the first grip element 31 are aligned with holes 33, 34 in the second grip element 32, and a connection element is located in the holes to attach the curtain slider 20 to a curtain 44 located in the interval 35 between the gripping elements first and second 31, 32.

The connection element can be configured Like a rivet

With reference to Figure 2A, in a second embodiment, the holes in the grip element 32 have been replaced by connection elements 37, 38. When the elements of grip 31, 32 are correctly aligned, the elements of connection 37, 38 can be placed in holes 27, 28 in the grip element 31. When a curtain is located in the interval 35 between the gripping elements 31, 32, the elements of grip 31, 32 can be pushed together in such a way that the connecting elements 37, 38 penetrate the curtain and the holes 27, 28, and join the curtain slider 20 to the curtain.

With reference to Figure 2B, in a third embodiment, the gripping elements 31 and 32 are connected 41 in its upper end, which is the end closest to the hook 21. In this configuration the curtain slider 20 can be placed over the top of a curtain as a unit piece, the curtain being accommodated in the interval 35 between the elements of grab 31 and 32.

With reference to Figure 3A, in a fourth embodiment, the curtain joint portion 122 is attached to the hook 121 by a nylon joint 131 that allows the slider of curtain 120 flex when moving around corners in the curtain rail, allowing the curtains to run more easily.

Curtain joint portion 122 is located in practice on one side of curtain 44, and is attached to the 44 curtain by ultrasonic welding.

Hook 121 is configured as has been previously described to engage the curtain slider 120 with curtain rail 50. In addition, hook 121 is also configured with two projections 128, 129 and two depressions 126, 127 on each face of the hook 121 (only one face is illustrated). The projections 128, 129 and depressions 126, 127 are arranged to cooperate with depressions and protrusions on the back side of another curtain slider (not shown). The cooperation of depressions and protrusions holds curtain sliders 120 in alignment and facilitates the placement of the channel in the form of "C" on hook 121 on curtain track 50.

An elongate groove 133 in the hook portion 121 is configured to accommodate a retaining pin 140 (figure 3B). In practice, retaining pin 140 is located in elongated slot 133 from about ten to fifteen curtain sliders aligned 120 and serves to keep the Curtain sliders together in a stack. The pin of retention 140 is placed in the elongated groove by pushing the end expanded 142 through the aligned slots 133 and place the curtain sliders 120 on the clamping portion 143 of the retaining pin 140. The extended end 142 prevents the curtain sliders 120, located in the holding portion 143, exit the retention pin 140 at one end. An element release 145 attached to the other end of the clamping portion 143 prevents curtain sliders 120 from leaving the portion clamping 143 at the other end. When the sliders of lined curtain 120 have been placed on curtain track 50, or just before placing them on the curtain track, the sliders of curtain 120 are released from retaining pin 140 by breaking the releasable element 145, which can be easily grasped on the gripping portion 147, of clamping portion 143. The element release 147 separates from the holding portion 143 at the joint weakened 148. Retaining pin 140 then falls from the curtain sliders 120 letting them move freely in the 50 curtain track.

With reference to figure 5, once the curtain slider 20 is attached to curtain 44, curtain 44 it can be hung from curtain rail 50. The protrusions 24 and 25 of the hook 21 in curtain slider 20 are located in channels 52 and 53 respectively of the curtain rail 50. The slider of curtain 20 can be moved along channels 52, 53 in the 50 curtain rail to open and close the mounted curtain 44.

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With reference to Figure 6, multiple are joined Curtain sliders 20 to each curtain 44 before hanging. Plus specifically, a curtain slider 20 is attached to each panel 12 of a pleated curtain 44, each curtain slider 20 is alternately located on opposite sides of curtain 44. Each curtain slider 20 is located in the same relative position in a curtain panel 12, more specifically, above and in the center of panel 12.

With reference to figure 7 when curtain sliders 20 have joined alternate sides of the curtain 44 as depicted in figure 6, curtain 44 is folds in such a way that all curtain sliders 20 are aligned, and the hooks 21 are stacked. (Figure 7 represents the curtain 60 slightly separated for clarity; without However, in practice the curtain would be completely folded). To hang the curtain 44, the curtain sliders aligned 20 are introduced in channels 52 and 53 in curtain rail 50 While curtain 44 is still in the folded state, all curtain sliders 20 are placed on curtain rail 50 in a single action, or a few repeated actions, placing each action several curtain sliders 20.

The grip elements 31, 32 (Figure 5) are much narrower than the folds or panels 12 to run the curtain 44 and open the folds 12 while the sliders of curtain 20 remain perpendicular to the curtain rail fifty.

With reference to figures 8A and 8B, the rail for curtain 50 has a stop 70 mounted on it, which can be moved between a retired position (figure 8A), in which sliders of curtain 20 can move beyond stop 70, and a position extended (figure 8B), in which curtain sliders 20 are not they can move beyond stop 70.

With reference to Figure 9A, a stop 70 includes: a pin 82 with two slots 85 and 87 spaced towards its upper end and threads 83 at its lower end (the pin is it represents in cross section 88 and in plan 89); a cuff of support 98 (shown in cross section 102 and in plan 103) which is threaded on its outer surface 108 and has a hexagonal head; and a button 105, which is threaded on its surface interior 109 and has a circular head (represented in section transversal 106 and 107).

With reference to Figures 9A to 10B, the pin 82 is a slide mount to support sleeve 98, and the button 105 is screwed onto the threaded end of pin 82 by coupling threads 83 and 109. A washer 101 is placed on the support sleeve 98 and the support sleeve 98 are placed at through a hole in the bottom of the curtain rail 50 and screw into hole 91 in a stop block 90. The block of stop 90 is located on curtain rail 50. Washer 101 protects the curtain rail 50 against damage caused by burrs in support sleeve 98.

Once the support sleeve 98 is located in the stop block 90 and the pin 82 is located in the hole 91, slots 85 and 87 in pin 82 can interact with a ball pushed by spring 86 in hole 92 in the block butt 90.

With reference to Figure 10A, the hitch of the spring-loaded ball 86 in the groove 85 in the pin 82 lock the stop 70 in an extended position.

With reference to Figure 10B, the hitch of the spring-loaded ball 86 in slot 87 on pin 82 lock the stop 70 in a withdrawn position.

In practice, pushing and pulling the button 105 pin 82 moves in such a way that the ball pushed by spring 86 interact with slot 85 or slot 87 and stop 70 is move between the withdrawn and extended position.

With reference to figures 11A and 11B, when the stop 70 is in the withdrawn position, so that the button 105 be level with curtain rail 50, a curtain slider 20 can move beyond the stop. However, when cap 70 is in the extended position, slider movement is avoided of curtain 20 beyond the top.

The stops 70 can be arranged in any extension end of a curtain track 50.

To hang or lower a curtain 44, the stop 70 moves to the retired position (figure 11A) that allows the curtain sliders 20 move beyond stop 70. A Once the curtain 44 is hung from the curtain rail 50, the stop 70 can be moved to the extended position (figure 11B) to prevent curtain 44 and associated curtain sliders 20 get off the end of the curtain rail 50 when the curtains 44 open and close.

Two tightly spaced stops 70 can be located at one end of a curtain rail 50 and use to catch the first curtain slider 20 in a curtain 44 in between, thus fixing the end of the curtain 44 in a position fixed on curtain rail 50.

With reference to figures 12A to 12D a clue of existing curtain 150 can be adapted to use the system of curtain previously described by placing an adaptation strip 152 on the existing curtain track 150. The adaptation strip is sized to hook the curtain sliders previously described 20, 120 and is perforated to support the mechanism of stop 153. Typically the existing curtain track 150 also it will have to be perforated to accommodate the stop mechanism 153.

The stop mechanism 153, once mounted on the existing curtain track 150 with adaptation strip 152, it can move between the retired position, figures 12A and 12B, and the extended position, figures 12C and 12D.

The stop mechanism in this embodiment is formed by a plastic sleeve 155 and a plastic plunger 157. Plastic sleeve 155 is located on the strip of adaptation 152 and curtain track 150, and plastic plunger 157 is located inside, and extends from either end, of the plastic sleeve 155. Plastic plunger 157 can be moved in the plastic sleeve 155 between a withdrawn position and a extended position The plastic plunger 157 includes an end 158 which in practice is grabbed by a user and is pushed and pulled it to move the piston 157 between the removed positions and extended.

Claims (9)

1. A curtain rail (50; 150) that includes a stop (70; 153), characterized in that the stop can be moved between a first position, in which the stop is arranged to allow curtain sliders (20; 120) in the curtain rail they move beyond the stop, and a second position, in which the stop is arranged to prevent curtain sliders in the curtain rail from moving beyond the stop. 2. A curtain system including a rail for curtain (50; 150) according to claim 1; a pleated curtain (44); and a plurality of curtain sliders attached to the pleated curtain in an arrangement that allows sliders curtain line up before placing the curtain on the rail to curtain. 3. A curtain system according to claim 2, where the curtain slider (20; 120) includes a portion of rail junction (21; 121), adapted in practice to engage with and move along a curtain rail (50; 150), and a curtain joint portion (22; 122) adapted in practice to join the curtain slider (20; 120) to the curtain (44). 4. A curtain system according to claim 3 where the curtain joint portion (22) is configured as a first element (31), located on one side of the curtain material (44), and a second element (32) located on the other side of the curtain material 5. A curtain system according to claim 3, where the curtain joint portion (121) is welded ultrasonically to the curtain (44). 6. A curtain system according to any of the claims 2 to 5, wherein the curtain sliders are located on alternate sides of the curtain material. 7. A curtain system according to any of the claims 2 to 6, wherein locator means (126, 127, 128, 129) are arranged in the curtain sliders to align them one with another. 8. A curtain system according to any of the claims 2 to 7 or a curtain rail according to the claim 1, wherein the stop is located at one end of the rail for curtain 9. A curtain system according to any of the claims 1 to 7 or a curtain rail according to the claim 1 or 8, wherein the curtain rail includes a strip of adaptation (152).