Curtain system

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.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an improved curtain system, in particular to a system which allows rapid curtain removal and replacement.

[0002] Typically, using conventional curtain systems, significant time and effort is required to remove and replace curtains. It is an aim of this invention to provide a simple and rapid system for the removal and replacement of curtains, with particular application to hospitals and medical environments.

[0003] It is desirable in a hospital or medical environment to maintain clean and sterile surroundings, this includes the curtains which can become contaminated, in particular those curtains which form cubicles around beds or examination areas. Currently the replacement of such curtains is labour intensive and costly.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a curtain system comprising: a curtain track; a stopper on the curtain track, 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; a pleated curtain; and a plurality of curtain gliders 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.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the present invention a curtain comprises pleated material with a plurality of curtain gliders attached thereto, the curtain gliders being positioned on the pleated curtain such that prior to location on a curtain rail all the curtain gliders are aligned.

[0006] The curtain material may be disposable, or alternatively it may be washable. The material may be woven fabric, paper, plastic or any other suitable material.

[0007] The curtain is preferably pleated or folded into panels of equal size.

[0008] The curtain glider may comprise a rail attachment portion, adapted in use to engage with and move along a curtain rail, and a curtain attachment portion adapted in use to attach the curtain glider to the curtain.

[0009] The curtain attachment portion may be configured as a first member, located on one side of the curtain material, and a second member, located on the other side of the curtain material. Preferably the first and second members are joined by a connecting element which penetrates the curtain material, thereby attaching the curtain glider to the curtain.

[0010] Preferably the first and second members of the curtain attachment portion are configured as thin plates. The members may be 1mm thick and 10mm wide.

[0011] Alternatively, the curtain attachment portion may be ultrasonically welded to the curtain material.

[0012] Preferably the curtain gliders are attached to the curtain prior to engagement of the rail attachment portion of the curtain glider with the curtain rail.

[0013] Attachment of the curtain glider to the curtain may be permanent. Alternatively it may be possible to release the curtain from the curtain glider.

[0014] Preferably at least one curtain glider is attached to each pleat of the pleated curtain. Curtain gliders may be located on alternate sides of the material, such location may result in a more compact folded configuration than if all the curtain gliders were on the same side of the curtain.

[0015] Preferably all gliders are located in the same relative position on their respective pleat, this may be in the centre of the pleat.

[0016] The curtain attachment portion of the curtain glider is preferably substantially narrower then the pleats, to allow the curtains to be drawn.

[0017] Preferably the curtain attachment portion has an elongate slot configured to accommodate a retaining pin.

[0018] The curtain glider may have locating means provided thereon to align one curtain glider with another curtain glider. The locating means may be configured as a projection on one curtain glider which is arranged to locate in a depression on another curtain glider when the curtain gliders are aligned. This configuration holds the curtain gliders in alignment.

[0019] The rail attachment portion of the curtain glider may be attached to the curtain attachment portion by a nylon joint.

[0020] A third aspect of the invention provides a curtain rail which includes a stopper, 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.

[0021] Preferably the stopper can be moved between the first and second position without the need for additional tools, typically a person can move the stopper by grasping the exposed end thereof between their finger and thumb.

[0022] A curtain rail may incorporate one or more stoppers.

[0023] At least one stopper may be located at the end of a curtain rail. In its second position the stopper prevents curtain gliders from coming off the end of the curtain rail when the curtain is mounted on the rail and in use. In its first position curtain gliders can move past the stopper allowing curtains to removed from the curtain rail or to be hung from the curtain rail.

[0024] In the first position the stopper may be retracted. In the second position the stopper may be extended.

[0025] The curtain rail may include an adapter strip which is added to allow the rail to engage with the curtain gliders. The adapter strip may be retrofitted to existing curtain rails.

[0026] It will be appreciated that all optional features relating to the second and third aspects of the invention are also optional for the first aspect of the invention.

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, merely be way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1A and 1B are a front and end elevation of a curtain glider respectively;

Figures 2A and 2B are end elevations of alternative curtain gliders to that depicted in Figures 1A and 1B;

Figure 3A depicts a front elevation of an alternative curtain glider to those depicted in Figures 1A and 2B.

Figure 3B depicts a retaining pin for use with a curtain glider of Figure 3A.

Figures 4A and 4B depict the curtain glider of Figures 1A and 1B located on a curtain;

Figure 5 depicts schematically the curtain of Figure 4A and 4B suspended from a curtain rail by a curtain glider;

Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of a pleated curtain with curtain gliders attached thereto;

Figure 7 depicts schematically the curtain of Figures 4A to 6 pleated with curtain gliders attached ready for hanging on a curtain rail;

Figures 8A and 8B are end elevations of a curtain rail for use with the curtain of figures 4A to 7 with a stopper fitted thereto.

Figures 9A to 9D depict components of the curtain rail stopper of Figures 8A and 8B, more specifically Figure 9A is an exploded view of the stopper, Figure 9B is the stopper block in cross section, Figure 9C is a plan view of the underside of the stopper block, and Figure 9D is an elevation of the stopper block in a curtain rail;

Figures 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of a curtain rail with a stopper of Figures 8A to 9D in the extended and retracted position respectively;

Figures 11A and 11B are end elevations of a curtain rail and curtain glider in which the stopper is in the retracted and extended position respectively.

Figures 12A to 12D are cross sectional and side elevations of curtain track with an adapter strip and stopper, in Figures 12A and 12B the stopper is in the retracted position, and in Figures 12C and 12D the stopper is in the extended position.

[0028] Referring to Figures 1A to 3A a curtain glider 20, 120 is configured as two portions, a rail attachment portion or hook 21, 121 and a curtain attachment portion or grip 22, 121. The hook 21, 121 is adapted to attach the curtain glider 20, 120 to a curtain rail 50, 150 (Figure 5) and the grip 22, 122 is adapted to attach the curtain glider 20, 120 to a curtain 44 (Figures 4A and 4B).

[0029] The hook 21, 121 is configured as a 'C' shaped channel with projections 24, 124 and 25, 125 configured to locate around a curtain rail 50 (Figure 5), engaging the curtain glider 20, 120 with the curtain rail 50 whilst allowing movement of the curtain glider 20, 120 along the curtain rail 50.

[0030] Referring to Figures 1B, 2A, 2B, 4A and 4B, the grip 22 comprises two grip members 31 and 32. The first grip member 31 depends from hook 21, and is located in use on one side of the curtain 44. The second grip member 32 is located in use on the other side of the curtain 44. The first 31 and second 32 grip members are attached to one another through the curtain 44, thereby attaching the curtain glider 20 to the curtain 44.

[0031] In use, holes 27, 28 in the first grip member 31 are aligned with holes 33, 34 in the second grip member 32, and a connecting element is located in the holes to attach the curtain glider 20 to a curtain 44 located in the gap 35 between the first and second grip members 31, 32.

[0032] The connecting element may be configured as a rivet.

[0033] Referring to Figure 2A, in a second embodiment, the holes in grip member 32 have been replaced with connecting elements 37, 38. When the grip members 31, 32 are correctly aligned the connecting elements 37, 38 are locatable in holes 27, 28 in grip member 31. When a curtain is located in the gap 35 between the grip members 31, 32, the grip members 31, 32 can be pushed together such that the connecting elements 37, 38 penetrate the curtain and holes 27, 28, and attach the curtain glider 20 to the curtain.

[0034] Referring to Figure 2B, in a third embodiment, grip members 31 and 32 are connected 41 at their upper end, that is the end closest to the hook 21. In this configuration the curtain glider 20 can be placed over the top of a curtain as a unitary piece, the curtain being accommodated in the gap 35 between the grip members 31 and 32.

[0035] Referring to Figure 3A, in a fourth embodiment, the curtain attachment portion 122 is attached to the hook 121 by a nylon joint 131 which allows the curtain glider 120 to flex as it moves around corners in the curtain rail, allowing the curtains to be drawn more easily.

[0036] The curtain attachment portion 122 is located in use on one side of the curtain 44, and is attached to the curtain 44 by ultrasonic welding.

[0037] The hook 121 is configured as described previously to engage the curtain glider 120 with the curtain rail 50. In addition the 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 co-operate with depressions and projections on the rear face of another curtain glider (not shown). The co-operation of the depressions and the projections holds the curtain gliders 120 in alignment and eases the location of the 'C' shaped channel in the hook 121 onto the curtain track 50.

[0038] An elongate slot 133 in the hook portion 121 is configured to accommodate a retaining pin 140 (Figure 3B). In use the retaining pin 140 is located in the elongate slot 133 of some ten to fifteen aligned curtain gliders 120 and serves to hold the curtain gliders together in a stack. The retaining pin 140 is located in the elongate slot by pushing the enlarged end 142 through the aligned slots 133 and locating the curtain gliders 120 onto the holding portion 143 of the retaining pin 140. The enlarged end 142 prevents the curtain gliders 120, located on the holding portion 143, from falling off the retaining pin 140 at one end. A detachable member 145 joined to the other end of the holding portion 143 prevents the curtain gliders 120 falling off the holding portion 143 at the other end. When the aligned curtain gliders 120 have been located on the curtain track 50, or just before location on the curtain track, the curtain gliders 120 are released from the retaining pin 140 by breaking off the detachable member 145, which can be easily gripped at the gripping portion 147, from the holding portion 143. The detachable member 147 separates from the holding portion 143 at weakened joint 148. The retaining pin 140 then falls out from the curtain gliders 120 allowing them to move freely on the curtain track 50.

[0039] Referring to Figure 5, once the curtain glider 20 is attached to the curtain 44, the curtain 44 can be suspended from the curtain rail 50. Projections 24 and 25 of hook 21 on the curtain glider 20 are located in channels 52 and 53 respectively of the curtain rail 50. The curtain glider 20 can move along the channels 52, 53 in the curtain rail 50 to allow the attached curtain 44 to be opened and closed.

[0040] Referring to Figure 6, a plurality of curtain gliders 20 are attached to each curtain 44 before it is hung. More specifically, one curtain glider 20 is attached to each panel 12 of a pleated curtain 44, each curtain glider 20 is located alternately on opposite sides of the curtain 44. Each curtain glider 20 is located in the same relative position on a curtain panel 12, more specifically, at the top and in the centre of the panel 12.

[0041] Referring to Figure 7 when the curtain gliders 20 have been attached to alternate sides of the curtain 44 as shown in Figure 6, the curtain 44 is folded such that the curtain gliders 20 are all aligned, and the hooks 21 are stacked. (Figure 7 shows the curtain 60 slightly pulled apart for clarity, however in use the curtain would be fully folded.) To hang the curtain 44 the aligned curtain gliders 20 are fed into channels 52 and 53 on the curtain rail 50 while the curtain 44 is still in the folded condition, all the curtain gliders 20 are located on the curtain rail 50 in one single action, or a few repeated actions, each action locating a number of curtain gliders 20.

[0042] The grip members 31, 32 (Figure 5) are much narrower than the pleats or panels 12 to allow the curtain 44 to be drawn and the pleats 12 to open, while the curtain gliders 20 remain perpendicular to the curtain rail 50.

[0043] Referring to Figures 8A and 8B the curtain rail 50 has a stopper 70 fitted thereto, which is moveable between a retracted position (Figure 8A), in which curtain gliders 20 can move past the stopper 70, and an extended position (Figure 8B), in which curtain gliders 20 cannot move past the stopper 70.

[0044] Referring to Figure 9A, a stopper 70 comprises: a pin 82 with two grooves 85 and 87 spaced apart towards its upper end and threads 83 at its lower end (the pin is shown in cross section 88 and in plan 89); a support sleeve 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 knob 105, which is threaded on its inside surface 109 and has a circular head (shown in cross section 106 and in plan 107).

[0045] Referring to Figures 9A to 10B, pin 82 is a sliding fit into the support sleeve 98, and the knob 105 is screwed onto the threaded end of the pin 82 by mating threads 83 and 109. Washer 101 is placed over the support sleeve 98 and the support sleeve 98 is located through a hole in the bottom of the curtain rail 50 and screwed into bore 91 in a stopper block 90. The stopper block 90 is located in the curtain rail 50. The washer 101 protects the curtain rail 50 against damage by any burrs on the support sleeve 98.

[0046] Once the support sleeve 98 is located in the stopper block 90 and the pin 82 is located in bore 91, grooves 85 and 87 on pin 82 can interact with a spring-biased ball 86 in bore 92 in the stopper block 90.

[0047] Referring to Figure 10A, the engagement of the spring-biased ball 86 in groove 85 on pin 82 locks the stopper 70 in an extended position.

[0048] Referring to Figure 10B, the engagement of the spring-biased ball 86 in groove 87 on pin 82 locks the stopper 70 in a retracted position.

[0049] In use, pushing and pulling of the knob 105 moves the pin 82 such that the spring-biased ball 86 interacts either with groove 85 or groove 87 and the stopper 70 moves between the retracted and extended position.

[0050] Referring to Figures 11A and 11B, when the stopper 70 is in the retracted position, such that the knob 105 is flush with the curtain rail 50, a curtain glider 20 can move past the stopper. However, when the stopper 70 is in the extended position movement of the curtain glider 20 past the stopper is prevented.

[0051] Stoppers 70 may be provided at either end of a run of curtain track 50.

[0052] To hang, or take down, a curtain 44 the stopper 70 is moved to the retracted position (Figure 11A) which allows the curtain gliders 20 to move past the stopper 70. Once the curtain 44 is suspended from the curtain rail 50 the stopper 70 may be moved to the extended position (Figure 11B) to prevent the curtain 44 and associated curtain gliders 20 being pulled off the end of the curtain rail 50 when the curtains 44 are opened and closed.

[0053] Two closely spaced stoppers 70 may be located at an end of a curtain rail 50 and used to trap the first curtain glider 20 on a curtain 44 therebetween, thus securing the end of the curtain 44 at a fixed location on the curtain rail 50.

[0054] Referring to Figures 12A to 12D an existing curtain track 150 may be adapted to use the previously described curtain system by locating an adapter strip 152 into the existing curtain track 150. The adapter strip is dimensioned to engage the previously described curtain gliders 20, 120 and is drilled to carry the stopper mechanism 153. Typically the existing curtain track 150 will also have to be drilled to accommodate the stopper mechanism 153.

[0055] The stopper mechanism 153 once retro-fitted to the existing curtain track 150 with adapter strip 152 can be moved between the retracted position, Figures 12A and 12B, and the extended position. Figures 12C and 12D.

[0056] The stopper mechanism in this embodiment is formed from a plastics sleeve 155 and a plastics plunger 157. The plastics sleeve 155 is located in the adapter strip 152 and curtain track 150, and the plastics plunger 157 is located inside, and extends from either end of, the plastics sleeve 155. The plastics plunger 157 is movable in the plastics sleeve 155 between a retracted position and an extended position. The plastics plunger 157 includes an end 158 which in use is gripped by a user and pushed and pulled to move the plunger 157 between the retracted and extended positions.

Claims

1. A curtain system comprising a curtain rail (50;150); a stopper (70;153) on the curtain rail (50;150), the stopper being movable between a first position, in which the stopper is arranged to allow curtain gliders (20;120) 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; a pleated curtain (44); and a plurality of curtain gliders 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.

2. A curtain (44) comprising pleated material with a plurality of curtain gliders (20;120) attached thereto, the curtain gliders being positioned on the pleated curtain such that prior to location on a curtain rail (50;150) all the curtain gliders can be aligned.

3. A curtain system according to Claim 1 or a curtain according to Claim 2 wherein the curtain glider (20;120) comprises a rail attachment portion (21;121), adapted in use to engage with and move along a curtain rail (50;150), and a curtain attachment portion (22;122) adapted in use to attach the curtain glider (20;120) to the curtain (44).

4. A curtain system or a curtain according to Claim 3 wherein the curtain attachment portion (22) is configured as a first member (31), located on one side of the curtain material (44), and a second member (32), located on the other side of the curtain material (44).

5. A curtain system or a curtain according to Claim 3 wherein the curtain attachment portion (121) is ultrasonically welded to the curtain (44).

6. A curtain system according to any of Claims 1 and 3 to 5 or a curtain according to any of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the curtain gliders are located on alternate side of the curtain material.

7. A curtain system according to any of Claims 1 and 3 to 6 or a curtain according to any of Claims 2 to 6 wherein locating means (126,127,128,129) are provided on the curtain gliders to align them with each other.

8. A curtain rail (50;150) which includes a stopper (70;153), the stopper being movable between a first position, in which the stopper is arranged to allow curtain gliders (20;120) 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.

9. A curtain system according to any of Claims 1 or 3 to 7 or a curtain rail according to Claim 8 wherein the stopper is located at an end of the curtain rail.

10. A curtain system according to any of Claims 1 or 3 to 7 or a curtain rail according to Claim 8 or 9 wherein the curtain rail includes an adapter strip (152).

Drawing