Partition unit and method for assembling the same

Abstract

To provide a partition unit in which its installation or transfer can be performed by a medical worker himself / herself without the aid of a workman, a rapid medical system can be organized in response to spread of infectious diseases, and the number of beds can be adjusted according to increase / decrease of inpatients, and to provide an assembly method of the partition unit.SOLUTION: In a partition unit 1 installed in a medical facility, in order to prevent spread of infectious diseases by separating patients with infectious diseases from patients in a general ward and medical staff, a partition unit body 2 comprises an entrance door 5 where entry and exist are controlled, and a height adjustment zone 10 where a height to a ceiling plane 6 is adjusted by a height adjustment frame. A finishing material is stuck on the height adjustment zone 10 after height adjustment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a partition unit and an assembly method of the partition unit, and in particular to a partition unit and an assembly method of the partition unit for changing floor partitions or forming new floor partitions in order to secure beds for infectious disease patients while protecting general hospitalized patients in a medical facility from the risk of infection with infectious diseases. Note that the present invention assumes an infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus as an example of an infectious disease, but is not limited thereto and also targets other infectious diseases such as influenza. The present invention also targets hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc. that accommodate infectious disease patients, but is not limited thereto. These facilities are collectively referred to as "medical facilities". Note that this partition unit is considered to be furniture, and is therefore not subject to the Building Standards Act, the Fire Service Act, and the Medical Care Act. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as the COVID-19 virus, hospitalized patients with an infectious disease must be separated from general hospitalized patients in medical facilities. Currently, in order to isolate hospitalized patients in medical facilities, it is necessary to either create new isolation sections on ward floors or change the division of ward floors. In either case, it is desirable to divide ward floors using this partition unit. Note that "forming new isolation sections on ward floors" includes both "forming a coronavirus ward division on part of a ward floor" and "designating the entire ward floor as a coronavirus ward."

[0003] To install partition units in wards of a medical facility, specialized craftsmen must enter the medical facility. These external craftsmen are highly likely to catch the infectious disease from infectious disease patients hospitalized at the medical facility. In addition, there is also a possibility that the external craftsmen themselves are infected. Therefore, a PCR test (polymerase chain reaction test) must be conducted before installing the partition unit. In addition, craftsmen with infectious diseases must be isolated within the hospital for a certain period of time to prevent them from infecting the hospitalized patients at the medical facility. In this way, if external craftsmen install the partition units, the medical facility may become a secondary source of infection of the infectious disease, and there is a risk of an infection explosion.

[0004] In addition, zoning according to the increase or decrease in the number of hospitalized patients requires the relocation of partition units installed by specialized craftsmen. In this case, it is necessary to arrange for craftsmen and isolate them after the work, so the medical facility may become a secondary source of infection and cause an infection explosion. Furthermore, many of the materials related to the partition units are used in emergencies, which places a financial burden on the medical facility. There is also the problem of where to store materials that are contaminated with infectious diseases. Here, zoning in a medical facility refers to dividing an area in an infectious disease patient ward into an area contaminated by pathogens (contaminated area) and an area that is not contaminated (clean area).

[0005] On the other hand, when installing a new partition unit in a ward or relocating an installed partition unit according to an increase or decrease in the number of hospitalized patients, it is possible for the hospital staff themselves to install the partition unit, rather than a specialized craftsman. This makes it possible to quickly respond to an increase or decrease in the number of hospitalized patients, and eliminates the risk of an infection explosion. However, it takes time and costs money because the hospital staff is unfamiliar with the work. For example, when installing using vinyl sheets, which they have little experience with, it takes time and effort to do the work. In addition, there is a problem that the hospital staff cannot concentrate on their primary job of medical work. Furthermore, if it is necessary to isolate these hospital staff within the hospital, not only will medical work stagnate, but the medical facility may become a source of infection within the hospital. In addition, there is a problem of material management and storage, such as purchasing materials and disposing of contaminated materials, every time an infection is contained or spreads.

[0006] On the other hand, there is a demand for partition units that can be converted for use as individual conference rooms within the hospital, in addition to infection control measures. For example, by taking advantage of its partition unit nature, it can be used for a wide range of medical purposes, such as consultations between patients and their relatives, vaccinations as a measure against infectious diseases, interview rooms for post-discharge meetings with care managers, and nursing rooms.

[0007] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses partition furniture to be installed between beds in a large hospital room or a multi-bed room in a nursing or care facility, which is easy to move and easy to use even if it is equipped with connection terminals for supplying electricity, communication radio waves, etc. This partition furniture is installed between beds arranged in a room, and is equipped with a partition wall erected in the partitioning direction, a tabletop, a storage device, and a secondary female connection terminal for supplying electricity, communication radio waves, etc., and is equipped with casters to make it movable, and is described as having an opening adjacent to a main female connection terminal for supplying electricity, communication radio waves, etc., which is arranged separately from the partition furniture, on the side of the partition furniture, and an operation port for detachably connecting a male connection terminal at the tip of a wiring cord connected to the secondary female connection terminal and drawn out to the main female connection terminal through the opening.

[0008] For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a medical container as a mobile clinic facility that is more practical than a medical tent. It is described that the medical container includes a consultation room provided inside the medical container where medical staff examine patients, an antechamber provided inside the medical container and separated from the consultation room by a door, a consultation room door through which patients enter the consultation room from outside the medical container, and an antechamber door through which medical staff enter the antechamber from outside the medical container and that is provided so that one traffic line entering through the consultation room door is different from the other traffic line entering the antechamber.

[0009] For example, Patent Document 3 discloses a portable infection control room device that can be used as an outpatient treatment for infectious diseases such as influenza, and that can reliably prevent secondary infection of infectious diseases to medical staff, other patients, and hospitalized patients in hospitals, etc. This describes a portable infection control room device in which the internal space of a portable room box is divided by a partition wall, with a medical staff room at one end and a patient waiting room at the other end, a treatment room is formed in the middle, the medical staff room and the patient waiting room each have a door-equipped entrance to the outside of the box, door-equipped entrances are provided between the medical staff room and the treatment room, and between the treatment room and the patient waiting room, an indoor air exhaust unit equipped with a filter is provided in the patient waiting room, an outside air supply unit is provided in the medical staff room, and a return path is provided that branches off from the exhaust path of the exhaust unit and leads to the treatment room.

[0010] In addition, in order to provide medical care safely and prevent the spread of infection, medical facilities clearly zone their interiors into areas contaminated by pathogens (contaminated areas), areas that are not contaminated (clean areas), and intermediate areas between the contaminated and clean areas. To make it easier for medical staff to understand, these areas are clearly distinguished by calling the contaminated areas red zones, the clean areas green zones, and the intermediate areas yellow zones. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-100855 A [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6787618 [Patent Document 3] JP 2011-41765 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] As described above, in order for the hospital staff to install the partition unit themselves, rather than by an outside professional craftsman, various problems related to the partition unit must be solved. First, the problem of the installation accuracy of the partition unit when installing a new partition unit in an existing medical facility must be solved. In existing medical facilities, the ceiling height and the width of the corridor may be set differently depending on the medical institution. In addition, the height of the ceiling surface and the width of the wall surface are often not as per the design drawing, and there are many cases where deviations occur due to construction accuracy and product accuracy. Originally, construction by a professional craftsman is desirable, but there is a problem that it is not possible to respond quickly due to the arrangement of a professional craftsman, or from the viewpoint of preventing the spread of coronavirus infection, it is desirable to install the partition unit without allowing outside people into the medical institution as much as possible. The partition unit according to the present invention is capable of being assembled and installed with high accuracy even by an amateur without relying on a professional craftsman.

[0013] Secondly, there is an issue of being able to quickly install the partition unit by hospital staff who are inexperienced in installing partition units. This is because hospital staff install the partition unit while performing medical procedures in existing medical facilities, so there is an issue of being able to install it easily in a short time without causing inconvenience to hospitalized patients. In particular, when installing the partition unit at night, the installation must be completed without generating noise or vibration. Thus, there is an issue of being able to quickly build a medical system.

[0014] Thirdly, when installing the partition units in medical facilities, there is a challenge in that the partition units assembled in a factory can be easily carried in by hospital staff and can also be easily relocated. This is because even hospital staff who are inexperienced in installing partition units can easily carry them in, allowing for quick establishment of a system for accepting infected patients and increasing the utilization rate of unused beds.

[0015] Furthermore, there is demand for partition units that can be repurposed for purposes other than infection control, such as for use as individual conference rooms, and this partition unit faces the challenge of being able to accommodate a wide range of uses both inside and outside the hospital.

[0016] The object of the present application is to provide a partition unit and an assembly method for a partition unit that can solve such problems, can be installed and moved by medical professionals themselves without the need for craftsmen, can establish a rapid medical system in response to the spread of infectious diseases, and can adjust the number of beds in accordance with an increase or decrease in the number of hospitalized patients. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the partition unit of the present invention is a partition unit that is installed in a medical facility and isolates patients infected with infectious diseases from patients and medical staff in general wards to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and is characterized in that the partition unit main body comprises an entrance / exit door that controls entry and exit, and a height adjustment zone whose height relative to the ceiling surface is adjusted by a height adjustment frame, and a finishing material is affixed to the height adjustment zone after the height adjustment.

[0018] With the above configuration, the partition unit according to the present invention is installed on a floor of a medical facility with an entrance / exit that controls entry and exit. In this way, inpatients infected with infectious diseases are prevented from escaping to the outside of the partition unit, and inpatients in general wards are prevented from entering the partition unit. This makes it easy to isolate infectious disease patients from general inpatients and to prevent hospital infections. In addition, medical staff such as doctors and nurses working in the medical facility can be easily protected from secondary infections.

[0019] In addition, in order to prevent the spread of infection, the height adjustment means and width adjustment means described below can be used in the height adjustment zone and width adjustment zone of the partition unit body to minimize the gap between the height adjustment zone and the ceiling surface and the gap between the width adjustment zone and the wall surface, making them as sturdy as walls. This makes it possible to manage the entrance and exit of hospitalized patients and prevent droplet and contact infection from infection sources.

[0020] In addition, it is preferable that the height adjustment frame stored in the corner support of the partition unit body is extended toward the ceiling surface, and when the tip of the height adjustment frame reaches the ceiling surface, it is fixed to the corner support with a screw. This makes it easy for medical staff to install or relocate the partition unit body without the help of a craftsman. It also makes it possible to quickly establish a medical system in response to the spread of infectious diseases, and to easily adjust the number of hospital beds according to the increase or decrease in the number of hospitalized patients.

[0021] It is also preferable that the height-adjustable frame is provided with a height-adjusting mechanism consisting of a rod and a decorative screw, and the tip of the height-adjustable frame is brought to the ceiling position by the rod, and the position of the height-adjustable frame is fixed at the ceiling position by the decorative screw. This allows the partition unit to be assembled with high precision without the assistance of a craftsman.

[0022] The width adjustment frame, housed within the beam of the partition unit body, is fixed to the beam with a hook-and-loop fastener. This allows the finishing material, such as a panel, to be easily attached to the partition unit body with the hook-and-loop fastener without using the width adjustment frame, in case of a finishing material with rigidity.

[0023] The width-adjustable frames housed within the beams of the partition unit body are extended toward both sides and fixed to the beams when their tips reach the wall surface. For example, in the case of a material with low rigidity such as a polyvinyl chloride sheet, the finishing material cannot be attached unless the width-adjustable frames are extended.

[0024] In addition, it is preferable that the width-adjustable frames housed within the beams of the partition unit body are extended toward both sides and fixed to the beams at positions where their tips reach the wall surface. This makes it easy to attach or remove finishing materials in the width-adjustable zones on both sides of the partition unit body.

[0025] It is also preferable that the width adjustment zone is divided into an upper width adjustment panel and a lower width adjustment panel, and the upper width adjustment panel and the lower width adjustment panel are connected across a handrail penetration part through which a handrail installed in a corridor passes. This makes it possible to install the partition unit without removing the handrail installed in the corridor of the medical facility.

[0026] It is also preferable that casters are provided at the bottom of the corner posts of the partition unit body, and the partition unit body is raised by the casters to move to a predetermined installation position, and when the partition unit body reaches the predetermined installation position, the casters are lowered to land the partition unit body. This makes it possible to easily relocate the partition unit body and install the bottom of the partition unit body flat on the floor. In this way, by using the casters attached to the partition unit body, the partition unit body can be transported to the installation position and the installation position can be changed, and even medical personnel can easily handle it instead of professional craftsmen.

[0027] In addition, it is preferable that the gap between the height adjustment zone and the ceiling surface, and the gap between the width adjustment zone and both wall surfaces are sealed with a gap sealant, thereby sealing the gaps between the height adjustment zone and the ceiling surface, and the gaps between the width adjustment zone and both wall surfaces, and preventing the intrusion of viruses and the like.

[0028] In addition, it is preferable that the partition unit body is fitted with any one of a panel, a curtain, and a polyvinyl chloride sheet as a finishing material. This allows the finishing material to be attached to the partition unit body to be selected from options such as a curtain or a polyvinyl chloride sheet in addition to a panel.

[0029] It is also preferable to include the steps of assembling the partition unit body by combining the beams and the corner supports, extending the height adjustment frame from the corner supports and lifting it up until it reaches the ceiling surface, fixing the height adjustment frame with the screws of the corner supports, extending the width adjustment frames on both sides from the partition unit body until it reaches the gap with the wall surface, and attaching and fixing the width adjustment frame with hook-and-loop fasteners. This makes it easy to form compartments, and it is easy to isolate hospitalized patients infected with infectious diseases from hospitalized patients in general wards to prevent hospital infections. It is also easy to protect staff such as doctors and nurses working in medical facilities from infectious diseases. Furthermore, in order to prevent hospital infections, the gap between the height adjustment zone and the ceiling surface and the gap between the width adjustment section and the wall surface are sealed with a gap sealant. Also, by installing the partition unit, it is possible to prevent hospitalized patients from entering and exiting or passing through.

[0030] It is also preferable to include a step of connecting the partition unit main bodies consisting of the beams and the corner supports. This makes it possible to expand the partition unit by connecting a plurality of partition unit main bodies, and to set areas for infection control and safety zones, etc.

[0031] It is also preferable to include a step of attaching and fixing the finishing material to the partition unit with a hook-and-loop fastener. This invention can be applied to the first embodiment of the partition unit when a rigid finishing material is used. This allows the finishing material to be easily attached and detached with the hook-and-loop fastener without providing a width adjustment frame.

[0032] It is also preferable to include a step of extending the width-adjustable frames on both sides from the partition unit body until they reach the gap between the wall surface. This invention can be applied to the second embodiment of the partition unit when a soft finishing material is used. For example, even when a soft finishing material such as a curtain is used, the width-adjustable frames can be used to accurately attach and remove the curtain. Effect of the Invention

[0033] As described above, the partition unit and partition unit assembly method of the present invention can provide a partition unit and partition unit assembly method that can be installed and moved by medical professionals themselves without the need for craftsmen, enabling a medical system to be established quickly in response to the spread of infectious diseases, and allowing the number of hospital beds to be adjusted in accordance with the increase or decrease in the number of hospitalized patients. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an oblique view showing one embodiment of a partition unit according to the present invention, where FIG. 1(a) is an overall oblique view of the partition unit, and FIG. 1(b) is a partial oblique view of a handrail and handrail support material installed in the corridor of a medical institution. [Diagram 2] The plan view shows one embodiment of the partition unit on each floor of a medical facility. Fig. 2(a) shows an embodiment of each floor in a normal medical facility, in which the partition unit is not used. Fig. 2(b) shows an embodiment in which a protection zone is provided on part of the floor by the partition unit in comparison with Fig. 2(a). [Diagram 3] A front view showing one embodiment of the area around the entrance door of the partition unit. [Figure 4] A side view showing an example of a rod and decorative screw of a height adjustment frame of a partition unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the partition unit body is expanded in the partition unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing examples of variations in finishing materials for partition units, where FIG. 6(a) is for panels, FIG. 6(b) is for curtains, and FIG. 6(c) is for polyvinyl chloride sheets. [Figure 7] 11A to 11C are perspective views showing an embodiment of an assembly procedure for the partition unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] (Embodiment of Partition Unit) An embodiment of the partition unit 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of one embodiment of the partition unit 1. FIG. 1(a) is an overall oblique view of the partition unit 1, and FIG. 1(b) is a partial oblique view of a handrail 8 and a handrail support material 42 installed in a corridor of a medical institution. In the present invention, the novel coronavirus infection is assumed as an example of an infectious disease, but the present invention is not limited to this, and also covers infectious diseases caused by other coronaviruses and influenza. In addition, the medical facilities that the present invention targets include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc., but are not limited to these, and are all medical facilities that treat infectious disease patients. These facilities are collectively referred to as "medical facilities." In addition, partitions and partitions for preventing droplet infection and contact infection of viruses due to infectious diseases are collectively referred to as "partition unit 1." In addition, in this specification, a unit in which a finishing material such as a panel, curtain, or polyvinyl chloride sheet is attached to a "partition unit main body 2" is referred to as a "partition unit 1."

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, a partition unit 1 is installed in a corridor 26 on a floor of a medical facility (see FIG. 2(a)), and infected hospitalized patients and medical staff are isolated, and the spread of infectious diseases is prevented by restricting people from entering and exiting through an entrance door 5. The partition unit 1 also isolates a specific area (see FIG. 2(b) and (c)), preventing the spread of viruses and the like and suppressing the spread of infectious diseases. It is said that infectious diseases spread mainly through droplet infection, contact infection, and airborne infection. By restricting the entry and exit of hospitalized patients and medical staff using the partition unit 1, droplet infection and contact infection of infectious diseases can be prevented. This partition unit 1 does not prevent airborne infection of infectious diseases. This is because the partition unit 1 can prevent the passage of infected people and suppress the spread of viruses and the like into the partition unit 1, but it is difficult to prevent airborne infection itself by viruses floating in the air. This partition unit 1 can prevent general patients in general internal medicine, surgery, dermatology, pediatrics, etc., who are not infected with infectious diseases from being exposed to droplets from or coming into contact with infected patients, from becoming infected in the hospital. For this reason, for example, the partition unit 1 is used to set protection zones 20a, 20b at the ends of floors in a medical facility to prevent infection in the hospital. Then, entry and exit to the protection zones 20a, 20b is restricted so that hospital personnel can enter and exit only through a designated entrance and exit door 5. In other words, general patients are prevented from entering and exiting the protection zones 20a, 20b, and infected patients are prohibited from leaving the protection zone 20. FIG. 1(b) shows a handrail 8 and a handrail support 42 installed in a corridor 26 of a medical institution. This partition unit 1 can be installed without removing the handrail 8 and the handrail support 42. The specifications such as the shape and configuration of the handrail 8 and the handrail support 42 shown here are one example, and are not limited to this.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of one embodiment of the partition unit 1 on each floor of a medical facility. FIG. 2(a) shows an embodiment of each floor in a normal medical facility, in which the partition unit 1 is not used on each floor of the medical facility. FIG. 2(b) shows an embodiment in which a protection zone 20a is provided in a part of the floor by the partition unit 1 in comparison with FIG. 2(a). FIG. 2(c) shows an embodiment in which a protection zone 20b is set in an area of ​​the floor. As shown by the arrows in FIG. 2(a), FIG. 2(b) and FIG. 2(c), the zoning can be changed in response to an increase or decrease in the number of infected people, and the protection zones 20a and 20b can be expanded or reduced. Generally, on each floor of a medical facility, a corridor 26, an elevator 21a for infected patients, an elevator 21b for general patients and medical staff, a nurse's station 22, a dining room and lounge 23, a storeroom 27, a machine room 29, a toilet 28, etc. are arranged. The path of infection between infected patients and general patients and medical staff is clearly distinguished, and secondary infection prevention is thorough. In addition, the path of infection between infected patients and general patients and medical staff is clearly distinguished with respect to the entrances and exits used when infected patients, general patients, and medical staff move to other floors, and secondary infection prevention is thorough. For this reason, elevators are distinguished into elevators for infected patients 21a and elevators for general patients and medical staff 21b. In addition, the elevator for infected patients 21a is large enough to accommodate the partition unit 1. Infected patients and general patients are placed in large rooms (4-person rooms) 24 and private rooms 25, etc., respectively, but care is taken to ensure that infected patients, general patients, and medical staff are not placed in the same hospital room, and infection prevention within the hospital is thorough. Figure 2(b) shows an example of zoning in which a protection zone 20a (shown by a dashed line in Figure 2(b)) is provided by the partition unit 1 for the general arrangement of Figure 2(a). Figure 2(c) is an example of zoning in which protection zone 20b (shown by a dashed line in Figure 2(c)) is set by partition unit 1 in the general arrangement of Figure 2(a). In this way, in response to an increase or decrease in the number of infected people, corresponding protection zones 20a, 20b can be set in predetermined areas of the medical facility simply by installing partition unit 1 in corridor 26 of the medical facility, and even if the positions of protection zones 20a, 20b change, protection zones 20a, 20b can be easily moved.

[0038] (Partition unit configuration) FIG. 3 is a front view of one embodiment of the partition unit 1 around the entrance door 5. FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of the rod 46 and the decorative screw 47 of the height adjustment frame 17a of the partition unit 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the partition unit 1 is composed of the partition unit main body 2, a height adjustment zone 10 (see FIG. 5) whose height interval to the ceiling surface 6 is adjustable, and an upper width adjustment panel 4a and a lower width adjustment panel 4b (see FIG. 3) whose width interval to the wall surface 7 is adjustable. However, the upper width adjustment panel 4a and the lower width adjustment panel 4b are not included in the first embodiment of the partition unit 1 that uses a soft finishing material, but are included in the second embodiment that uses a rigid finishing material. In this height adjustment zone 10, a height adjustment panel 3 is provided in the area up to the ceiling surface 6. The width adjustment zone 9 is composed of an upper width adjustment panel 4a, a lower width adjustment panel 4b, and a handrail penetration part 15 through which a handrail 8 installed in a corridor 26 (see FIG. 2) penetrates. The width adjustment zone 9 is divided into the upper width adjustment panel 4a and the lower width adjustment panel 4b by the handrail penetration part 15 through which a handrail 8 for a patient to walk through installed in the corridor 26 of the medical facility penetrates. An entrance door 5 is provided in the partition unit 1 installed in the corridor 26. The passage width 13 includes the door opening width 12 and the left and right width adjustment areas 9. The ceiling height 14 includes the height adjustment zone 10 and the door opening height 11.

[0039] (Entrance door) As shown in FIG. 3, one embodiment of the entrance door 5 of the partition unit 1 is a "swing door", but the door is not limited to this and may be a "sliding door" or a "double door".

[0040] (Gap sealing material) As shown in FIG. 3, the height adjustment zone 10 (the gap between the top of the partition unit 1 and the ceiling surface 6) is sealed with a gap sealant (not shown). The gap between the width adjustment zone 9 and the wall surface 7 is also sealed with a gap sealant (not shown). This gap sealant is, for example, a gap sealing tape, but is not limited to this as long as it blocks air flow. These gap sealants prevent infection into the protection zones 20a, 20b (see reference numeral 20 in FIG. 2) created by the partition of the partition unit 1.

[0041] (Height adjustment frame) FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the rod 46 and the decorative screw 47 of the height adjustment frame 17a of the partition unit main body 2. The partition unit main body 2 is formed into a column-beam frame by connecting the corner support 31 and the beam 30. The rod 46 fixed to the upper end of the vertical frame of the height adjustment frame 17a stored in the corner support 31 is extended upward by rotating and loosening the decorative screw 47. Then, the height adjustment frame 17a is lifted until the upper end reaches the ceiling surface 6. For example, the height adjustment frame 17a is lifted by two workers simultaneously from the left and right sides of the partition unit main body 2. When the height adjustment frame 17a thus lifted comes into contact with the ceiling surface 6, the loosened screws are tightened to fix the height adjustment frame 17a.

[0042] (Caster) Casters 33 for raising and lowering the partition unit body 2 are provided at the bottom of the partition unit body 2, and the partition unit body 2 is transported to each floor by elevator 21 or the like with the casters 33 raised, and moved to a predetermined location. When the partition unit body 2 reaches a predetermined location, the casters 33 are lowered and fixed in place. By raising and lowering the attached casters 33, medical personnel themselves can quickly install or relocate the partition unit body 2 without the help of a craftsman. This allows a rapid medical system to be established in response to the spread of infectious diseases, and the number of hospital beds can be easily adjusted according to the increase or decrease in the number of hospitalized patients.

[0043] (Protection Zone) In hospital wards for infectious disease patients in medical facilities, areas contaminated by pathogens are called contaminated areas, and areas not contaminated by pathogens are called clean areas, for clear distinction. In addition, each area is indicated by a color, such as contaminated areas being called red zones and clean areas being called green zones. This allows medical care to be provided safely, and the spread of infection is prevented by clearly distinguishing between contaminated and clean areas. This partition unit 1 distinguishes between contaminated and clean areas in the hospital by protection zones 20a and 20b, and entry and exit of patients and medical staff to the protection zones 20a and 20b is restricted and controlled through the entrance and exit door 5.

[0044] (Partition unit expansion) FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a case where the partition unit body 2 in the partition unit 1 is expanded. "Expanding the partition unit 1" means connecting the back (or front) of one partition unit body A with the front (or back) of another partition unit body B to make it a "two-unit" as shown in FIG. 5. A single partition unit body 2 that is not expanded is called a "single-unit". The partition unit body 2 in the case of a "two-unit" can accommodate two workers to change into work clothes. Furthermore, by expanding the partition unit body 2, an antechamber for entering an infection control zone or a safety zone can be installed, which can be used as part of infection control measures. The partition unit 1 is sized to fit into a normal elevator whether it is a "single-unit" or a "two-unit". By making the partition unit 1 "two-unit", not only can there be more space, but also the interior of the partition unit 1 can be clearly divided into zones, with the interior of the partition unit 1 being a yellow zone (middle area), either the left or right side being a red zone (contaminated area), and the other being a green zone (clean area). In other words, a one-unit partition unit 1 clearly divides the red zone (contaminated area) and the green zone (clean area). On the other hand, a one-unit partition unit 1 can be said to provide a boundary between the red zone (contaminated area) and the green zone (clean area) in the form of a yellow zone (middle area). In the case of a "two-unit", the entrances 5 and pillars on the overlapping sides of the partition unit bodies A and B are not necessary.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 5, the partition unit body 2 has a column-beam frame formed by beams 30 made of aluminum sashes with a material such as an acrylic plate embedded therein and corner supports 31. The partition unit body 2 has entrance doors 5 provided in two places as shown in Fig. 5, and the space between the entrance doors 5 forms an infection control zone for isolating infected persons. A person who enters the partition unit 1 from one of the entrance doors 5 can take off soiled protective equipment while passing through the infection control zone (anteroom) and exit to the green zone in a clean state.

[0046] (Variations of finishing materials) FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing variations in the finishing materials of the partition unit 1. In the partition unit 1, finishing materials such as a panel 43, a curtain 44, or a polyvinyl chloride sheet 45 are attached to the partition unit body 2. FIG. 6(a) shows the case of a panel 43, FIG. 6(b) shows the case of a curtain 44, and FIG. 6(c) shows the case of a polyvinyl chloride sheet 45. However, the finishing materials are not limited to these, and other finishing materials may be used. Among these finishing materials, the curtain 44 and the polyvinyl chloride sheet 45 are made of soft materials and require a hard base material. Therefore, the width adjustment frame 17b is required. On the other hand, in the case of a hard material such as the panel 43, the width adjustment frame 17b is not required, and the finishing material is attached by a hook-and-loop fastener or the like.

[0047] Among these materials, the panel 43 is an acrylic board, a styrene board, a polycarbonate, an aluminum composite board, etc., and it is preferable that the panel 43 is transparent or translucent so that the inside of the panel 43 can be easily confirmed. Alternatively, a lightly colored board may be used. The curtain 44 has the characteristics that it is inferior in sound insulation but allows ventilation, is familiar to patients because it is made of the same material as the partitions in the hospital room, and is easy for nurses to care for. The polyvinyl chloride sheet 45 has the characteristics of durability, such as maintaining strength for a long period of time and being resistant to deterioration. In addition, while other plastics are flammable, polyvinyl chloride 45 is exceptionally flame-retardant. The material is selected taking these characteristics into consideration.

[0048] (Height and width adjustment zones) The height adjustment zone 10 and width adjustment zone 9 shown in Fig. 1 are adjustment parts for easily installing the partition unit main body 2 inside the ceiling surface 6 and wall surface 7 of a medical facility. That is, in the height adjustment zone 10, a selected finishing material is attached to a height adjustment frame 17a that extends upward from the partition unit main body 2 toward the ceiling surface 6. In the width adjustment zone 9, the width adjustment frame 17a is used only in the case of a soft finishing material. In the case of a hard finishing material, the finishing material is attached by a hook-and-loop fastener or the like.

[0049] (Gap sealing material) The gap between the height adjustment zone 10 and the ceiling surface 6, and the gap between the width adjustment zone 9 and the wall surface 7 are sealed by a gap sealant. That is, the partition unit 1 installed in the corridor 26 of the medical facility isolates hospitalized patients infected with infectious diseases from hospitalized patients and medical personnel in the general ward, and prevents the virus of the infectious disease from circulating from the partition unit body 2 to the general ward outside. For this reason, the gap between the height adjustment zone 10 and the ceiling surface 6, which is the gap around the entrance door 5, and the gap between the width adjustment zone 9 and the wall surface 7 must be sealed by a gap sealant. However, as long as it seals these gaps, other materials or means may be used instead of the gap sealant. The gap sealant is, for example, a gap prevention tape.

[0050] (How to assemble the partition unit) FIG. 7 shows the steps of assembling the partition unit 1 from step 1 (S1) to step 4 (S4) in a perspective view. First, the beam 30 and the corner support 31 are combined (S1) to assemble the partition unit body 2. The casters are raised to move the partition unit 1 to the installation location, and the casters are lowered to land the partition unit 1 (S2). The partition unit body 2 is a frame composed of the beam 30 and the corner support 31. Then, the rod 46 fixed to the upper end of the vertical frame of the height adjustment frame stored in the corner support 31 is extended upward by rotating and loosening the decorative screw 47 (S3). Then, the rod 46 is raised until the upper end of the height adjustment frame 17a touches the ceiling surface 6. When the raised height adjustment frame 17a touches the ceiling, the loosened screw is tightened to fix the height adjustment frame 17a, and the height adjustment frame 17a is attached and fixed to the wall surface 7 by a hook-and-loop fastener (not shown) (S4). Here, the hook-and-loop fastener is a connecting member that can be attached and detached on a surface, and is attached in a detachable state by specially processing the fabric. It is also called Magic Tape (trademark). Then, the panels 43, which are finishing materials, are attached to the width adjustment zones 9 on both sides. In this way, the partition unit body 2 is completed by attaching finishing materials to the height adjustment zone 10 and the width adjustment zone 9. The partition unit body 2 is assembled in advance at a factory and integrated with the beams, corner supports, wall finishing materials, doors, casters, height adjustment frames, and height adjustment members, and then delivered to the facility.

[0051] (Width adjustment frame) When using a soft material such as a curtain as a finishing material, a width-adjusting frame 17b shown by a dashed line in Fig. 7 (S3) is required as the second embodiment. This width-adjusting frame 17b extends from the height-adjusting frame 17a toward the left and right wall surfaces 7, and when the width-adjusting frame 17b reaches the left and right wall surfaces 7, it is fixed to the height-adjusting frame 17a with screws. Then, a runner for a curtain rail or the like is attached to this width-adjusting frame 17b, and a curtain is hung from the runner.

[0052] The method of assembling the partition unit also includes a step of attaching and fixing the finishing material to the partition unit 1 with a hook-and-loop fastener. This is used in the first embodiment in which a rigid finishing material is attached.

[0053] Also included is a step of extending the width-adjusting frames 17b on both sides from the partition unit body 2 until they reach the gap between the partition unit body 2 and the wall surface 7. This is also used in the second embodiment in which a soft finishing material is attached.

[0054] The configuration, shape, size, and positional relationship of the partition unit 1 and the assembly method of the partition unit 1 described in the above embodiment are merely shown in a schematic manner to enable the present invention to be understood and implemented. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and can be modified in various forms without departing from the scope of the technical idea set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1 Partition unit, 2 Partition unit body, 3 Height adjustment panel, 4a Upper width adjustment panel, 4b Lower width adjustment panel, 5 Entrance door, 6 Ceiling surface, 7 Wall surface, 8 Handrail, 9 Width adjustment zone, 10 Height adjustment zone, 11 Door opening height, 12 Door opening width, 13 Passage width, 14 Ceiling height, 15 Handrail penetration part, 17a Height adjustment frame, 17b Width adjustment frame, 20a, 20b Protection zone, 21 Elevator, 21a Elevator for infected patients, 21b Elevator for general patients and medical staff, 22 Nurse station, 23 Dining room / lounge, 24 Large room (4-person room), 25 Private room, 26 Corridor, 27 Storeroom, 28 Toilet, 29 Machine room, 30 Beam material, 31 Corner support, 33 Caster, 42 Handrail support material, 43 panel, 44 curtain, 45 polyvinyl chloride sheet, 46 rod, 47 decorative screw, A one partition unit body, B other partition unit body

Claims

1. A partition unit body having a beam member extending in the left-right direction and a corner post extending in the up-down direction, and having an entrance door; a height adjustment zone provided above the partition unit body and whose height is adjusted by a height adjustment frame; A width adjustment zone provided on a side of the partition unit body; and a finishing material attached to the height adjustment zone and the width adjustment zone. A partition unit characterized by the above.

2. The partition unit according to claim 1, The height adjustment frame is A rod housed in the corner support of the partition unit body so as to be extendable in the vertical direction; and a screw for fixing the rod to the corner post. A partition unit characterized by the above.

3. The partition unit according to claim 1, Further comprising a hook-and-loop fastener for attaching the finish to the width adjustment zone. A partition unit characterized by the above.

4. The partition unit according to claim 1, The width adjustment zone is a width-adjustable frame that can be extended in a left-right direction from the height-adjustable frame; and a screw for fixing the width adjustment frame to the height adjustment frame. A partition unit characterized by the above.

5. A partition unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The width adjustment zone is an upper width adjustment panel and a lower width adjustment panel; A handrail penetration portion is provided at a connection portion between the upper width adjustment panel and the lower width adjustment panel, for passing a handrail installed in a corridor through the handrail penetration portion. A partition unit characterized by the above.

6. A partition unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The partition unit further includes a caster provided at a lower portion of the corner support of the partition unit body so as to be capable of rising and falling. A partition unit characterized by the above.

7. A partition unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, Further comprising a gap sealant for sealing the gap between the height adjustment zone and the ceiling surface and the gap between the width adjustment zone and both wall surfaces. A partition unit characterized by the above.

8. A partition unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The finishing material attached to the height adjustment zone and the width adjustment zone is any one of a panel, a curtain, and a polyvinyl chloride sheet. A partition unit characterized by the above.

9. A partition unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The partition unit body includes: A rectangular parallelepiped column-beam frame having eight of the beams and four of the corner supports; and two entrance doors provided on two opposing sides of the column-beam frame. A partition unit characterized by the above.

10. A method for assembling a partition unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of: a step of assembling the partition unit body by combining the beam material and the corner support; Lifting the height-adjustable frame until it reaches a ceiling surface; Fixing the height adjustment frame to the corner support with screws; Including, A method for assembling a partition unit comprising the steps of:

11. A method for assembling the partition unit according to claim 10, comprising the steps of: further comprising attaching the finish to the height adjustment zone and the width adjustment zone. A method for assembling a partition unit comprising the steps of:

12. A method for assembling the partition unit according to claim 10, comprising the steps of: the width adjustment zone has a width adjustment frame that can be extended in a left-right direction from the height adjustment frame, The width-adjustable frame is extended from the height-adjustable frame toward both sides until it reaches a wall surface. A method for assembling a partition unit comprising the steps of:

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