Curtain Hang and Change Device

Abstract

A modular, adjustable device to allow quick hospital curtain installation and changes. It has a hanger track glide assembly rotatably hooked to an upper tube connector which is removably attached to a top end of a cylindrical extension tube. At the bottom end of the extension tube, is a lower tube connector to which a curtain hanger is removably affixed. At the bottom end of the curtain hanger, a hospital curtain is attached. The device allows for quick installation to an existing ceiling curtain track as well as quick, no-ladder removal and replacement of soiled or contaminated hospital curtains. Each hanging assembly is held in an equally spaced configuration from adjacent hanger rod connectors when the curtain is being pulled in tension around the track by a spacer cord.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSPriority Claim to a Provisional Application

[0001] THIS APPLICATION CLAIMS THE BENEFIT OF U.S. PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION No. 63 / 423,565 FILED Nov. 6, 2022, WHICH IS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN IN ITS ENTIRETY.Priority Claim to a Nonprovisional Application

[0002] THIS APPLICATION IS A CONTINUATION OF U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18 / 502,681 FILED Nov. 6, 2023, WHICH IS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN IN ITS ENTIRETY AND CLAIMS THE BENEFIT OF U.S. PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION No. 63 / 423,565 FILED Nov. 6, 2022, WHICH IS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN IN ITS ENTIRETY.COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

[0003] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.FIELD

[0004] The present disclosure relates, in general, to a system for reducing the amount of infectious disease transmitted by contact with hospital curtains, and more particularly to quick changing healthcare facility curtain.BACKGROUND

[0005] After the 2020-2022 pandemic, healthcare facilities often lost money and experienced severe staffing challenges as well as supply chain challenges. As such, healthcare facilities are usually focused on cutting costs, while maintaining best practices to ensure patient safety.

[0006] The curtain is one of the top high-risk touchpoints in the patient zone. However, due to the higher ceilings in healthcare facilities, cubicle track curtain systems are typically mounted in high locations, necessitating curtain changing / cleaning / maintenance be performed from a ladder. This is both time consuming (e.g., requiring 60+ minutes to exchange) and dangerous. This hampers room turnover and patient bed availability.

[0007] Healthcare facilities seek a “no-ladder” curtain exchange that will allow staff to quickly exchange curtains. An isolation room exchange involves those rooms where a patient has been diagnosed highly contagious diseases such as MRSA, COVID-19, etc. After a patient is discharged from an iso, the healthcare facility typically triggers a “terminal clean” protocol which requires staff to disinfect and scrub down the room, including the removal of any existing curtains. In fact, studies show that if a room is not thoroughly decontaminated following the release of an infectious patient, chances are 95% that the next patient occupying the room will contract that same infection, namely healthcare associated infections / HAIS.

[0008] No ladder and recyclable curtain solutions typically provide labor and product cost savings. A “no ladder” solution involves bringing down the curtain from the ceiling so that staff will typically not require a ladder to exchange a curtain anymore. Bringing the curtain down from the ceiling often minimizes labor for facilitating patient room turnover to just a few minutes compared to the previous 60+ minutes.

[0009] The current US “no ladder” solutions are typically available in 3 options, wherein each option provides certain benefits. The solution may include suspended drops / rods which fully eliminate the need for ladders. Another solution may include a suspended track which also fully eliminates the need for ladders. A further solution may include a snap mesh. The US code requirements include the top of the curtain starting 18 inches from the ceiling. As such, some healthcare facilities include a snap mesh above the top of the curtain. The snap mesh includes varying heights of mesh that come down from the ceiling with the curtain panel snapping to the bottom of the mesh, such that the curtain panel falls below the mesh. However, the snap mesh solution still requires the use of ladders about every 6-12 months to remove and clean the snap mesh.

[0010] Different types of curtains may provide different cost savings. For example, recyclable curtains may provide a 90% savings over fabric curtains. Recyclable curtains eliminate laundering costs and offer “just in time” purchasing to minimize inventory on-hand requirements. Moreover, recyclable curtains may offer a superior, and more hygienic, solution as the curtains are non-porous and made from non-woven polypropylene (the same medical grade material as face masks, medical gowns, surgical drapes, etc.).

[0011] The current US “no ladder” solutions have some disadvantages. In particular, the curtains are typically provided in standardized sizes, which are often narrow curtain widths requiring multiple panels to get snapped together. While each curtain panel may be relatively inexpensive, the need for multiple panels to cover an area causes the system to be very expensive. For example, a snap mesh curtain panel may sell for $12 each, but the snap mesh panel may be just 66 inches wide, so 4 panels may be required to fill a typical US 14 feet track resulting in a $48 expense for that track. Additionally, the snap mesh portion to bring the curtain down may cost $150 per track. Moreover, the staff having to install 4 separate panels and then snap the panels together (both vertically and horizontally) may be a very inefficient process. Additionally, different size mesh sections may be needed (including different heights or widths), depending on the ceiling height.

[0012] The current US rod solution may also have certain disadvantages. A current rod solution may be very expensive (e.g., $90 per curtain panel) and require 10 rods per panel (e.g., $9 per rod). 75% of all US. tracks are typically in the range of 11 feet-18 feet and require 3 panels, which translates into 30 rods per track at $270, along with 3 curtain panels at $30 each ($90 total) for an overall total cost of $360 per track. Based on a quarterly periodic curtain exchange and 10% iso exchanges, a hospital will typically exchange 20 curtains per year. In fact, during the pandemic, the daily iso exchanges in the US were at 30%+. As a result, a hospital per bed may incur a cost of $580 to maintain these exchanges. Moreover, the rods are often overengineered and frequently require replacement at $90 per curtain panel. Furthermore, these rods can range anywhere from 2 feet-3 feet in height and end up “splaying” at the ceiling, making it almost impossible for hospital staff to operate as they need to be pulled around large, curved tracks.

[0013] A final drawback of the current curtain hangers is that they frictionally slide along the ceiling track on a fixed glide member. This causes premature wear, failure and an unnecessarily high amount of frictional force to open and close the curtain. Reducing the friction in the act of opening and closing the curtain would extend the life of all the curtain components.

[0014] Henceforth, a modular curtain and its hanging system that was easier, quicker, safer and cheaper than the existing systems would fulfill a long-felt need in the medical / healthcare industry. This invention utilizes and combines known and new technologies in a unique and novel configuration to overcome the aforementioned problems and accomplish this.SUMMARY

[0015] In accordance with various embodiments, a device to quickly hang and or change hospital curtains is provided.

[0016] In one aspect, a modular curtain hang device based around a cylindrical extension tube adapted at its top end for the attachment of an upper tube connector which clips to a rotatable ceiling curtain track glide which has a spool body that rotates and frictionally glides along the curtain track, and is adapted at its bottom end for the attachment of a rotatable curtain hanger trap that releasably and rotatably houses the curtain hanger.

[0017] In another aspect, a variable length hospital curtain assembly to accommodate curtain tracks at various vertical distances from the floor and to allow the curtain to be opened and closed with reduced friction.

[0018] In yet another aspect, a curtain hang and change device that uses optimal spacing between adjacent hanging assemblies to optimally minimize the friction of opening and closing the curtain and eliminate curtain snags when navigating around curtain track bends and corners.

[0019] Various modifications and additions can be made to the embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combination of features and embodiments that do not include all the above-described features.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of embodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to refer to similar components.

[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the hanger assembly;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a partial view of the top end of two hanger assemblies held in a spaced configuration;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a side view of the track glide;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a side view of the track glide rotated 90 degrees from FIG. 3;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a top view of the track glide;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a top view of the extension tube;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of the track glide showing the ball chain crimp;

[0028] FIG. 8 is a side view of the upper tube connector;

[0029] FIG. 9 is a side view of the upper tube connector rotated 90 degrees from FIG. 8;

[0030] FIG. 10 is a top view of the spacer cord lock and spacer cord;

[0031] FIG. 11 is a representative drawing of the force vector A required to move the curtain when weighted spacer cords are utilized;

[0032] FIG. 12 is a representative drawing illustrating the force vector B required to move the curtain without weighted spacer cords;

[0033] FIG. 13 is a side view of the lower tube connector;

[0034] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of the lower tube connector;

[0035] FIG. 15 is a front view of a curtain hanger; and

[0036] FIG. 16 is a side view of a curtain hanger.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0037] While various aspects and features of certain embodiments have been summarized above, the following detailed description illustrates a few exemplary embodiments in further detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice such embodiments. The described examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to enable a thorough understanding of the inventive concept. It should be understood, however, that persons having ordinary skill in the art may practice the inventive concept without these specific details.

[0039] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first attachment could be termed a second attachment, and, similarly, a second attachment could be termed a first attachment, without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

[0040] It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,”“coupled to,” or “connected to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, directly coupled to or directly connected to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,”“directly coupled to,” or “directly connected to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0041] The terminology used in the description of the inventive concept herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the inventive concept. As used in the description of the inventive concept and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and encompasses all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and / or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0042] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers herein used to express quantities, dimensions, and so forth, should be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise, and use of the terms “and” and “or” means “and / or” unless otherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the term “including,” as well as other forms, such as “includes” and “included,” should be considered non-exclusive. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompass both elements and components comprising one unit and elements and components that comprise more than one unit, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0043] As used herein, the terms “upper and lower” and “vertical / ly and horizontal / ly” and “top and bottom” refer to the location of various components and component features herein, when the curtain hang and change device is suspended in its intended vertical orientation from a ceiling curtain track.

[0044] The present invention relates to a novel design for a hospital curtain hang and change device (also referred to as a “hanging assembly”) that installs and changes curtains quickly and requires no ladder for curtain changes. A ceiling curtain track for a healthcare facility is a rectangular channel with a linear slot along its entire bottom face that runs parallel to the centerline of the channel. It is affixed mechanically to the ceiling and commonly has a serpentine or curved path to surround individual beds. The hanging apparatus has three antifriction devices that in combination, allow the curtain to be opened and closed with the minimal of friction, the rotatable spool body, the spacer cord assembly and the curtain hanger trap.

[0045] Looking at FIG. 1, an exploded perspective view of the curtain hang and change device 2, the five components can best be seen. In order from the top to the bottom of the hanging assembly 2 the components are: the track glide 4, the upper tube connector 6, the extension tube 8, the lower tube connector 10 and the curtain hanger 12. FIG. 2 shows the top half of the hanging assembly 2 with the sixth component, the optional spacer cord 14 and spacer cord lock 16, removably affixed to the upper tube connector 6.

[0046] Looking at FIGS. 1 and 3-5 and 7, the track glide 4 is a spool body having identical upper and lower discs 18 and 20 held in a parallel configuration by a central smaller diameter, cylindrical spool tube 22. A suspension body, herein a constrained ball chain 14 of mechanically spaced balls 28, passes through the central channel 26 of the spool tube 22, suspended in the top end of the spool tube 22 by a ball crimp 30 affixed around the top ball 32 of the ball chain 14. The internal diameter of the central channel 26 is stepped down in diameter from the top to the bottom such that a circular shoulder 36 exists that the ball crimp 30 abuts and rests upon, unable to pass any further downward in the spool body, although leaving enough space between the ball crimp 30 and the inner side wall of the central channel 26 to allow the spool tube 22 of the track glide 4 and rotate freely simultaneously, as the curtain is pulled along the ceiling track. This allows for reduced friction when opening and closing the curtain attached to the hanging assembly 2. Since the spool tube 22 has an external diameter that is smaller than the width of the slot in a ceiling track, whenever the exterior side wall of the spool tube 22 contacts the ceiling track, the spool will rotate as it glides along the track. This will help reduce the friction on the upper and lower disks 18 and 20 as the spool tilts and is pulled along the track.

[0047] The ball crimp 30 is a partial hollow sphere, larger in diameter than the diameter of the balls 28 and having a slit 44 cut down one side. It is mechanically crimped about the top ball 32, increasing their diameter greater than the inner diameter of the spool tube 22 below the shoulder 36. In alternate embodiments the suspension assembly of the ball chain 14 and ball crimp 30, may be replaced by a plethora of mechanical substitutions such as a chain, rope, wire, filament assembly having a top end larger in diameter than the inner diameter of the spool tube 22 below the shoulder 36. The ball chain 38 has a ring 40 affixed at its bottom end 38 that has an open hook 42 suspended therefrom. The length of this section of ball chain is adjustable and can accommodate short vertical distance changes if necessary. The open hook 42 may freely spin, rotating about is linear axis.

[0048] Looking at FIGS. 1 and 8-10, the upper tube connector 6 is a linear member segmented into three portions, an upper loop 48 adapted for connection to the open hook 42, a spacer cord lock collar 50 and an upper tube lock 52. The optional spacer cord lock 54 is a C shaped body that secures a weighted spacer cord 56 thereon (a balled cord in the preferred embodiment) that extends perpendicularly therefrom the upper tube connectors 6 when the spacer cord locks 54 are expanded radially and frictionally fit about the spacer cord lock collars 50 of adjacent hanging assemblies 2. The spacer cord lock collar 50 is bounded on either end by flanges 58. These prevent the spacer cord lock 54 from inadvertently being dislodged off the upper tube lock 6.

[0049] The upper tube lock 52 has at least one compression side spring 60 extending from the side wall 64 that expands and compresses perpendicularly to the linear axis of the upper tube connector and the extension tube. There is a locking protrusion 62 extending from the outer face of the side spring 60. The locking protrusion 62 is configured for entrapment within lock orifices 68 in the extension tube 8. In the preferred embodiment there are two pair of side springs 60 along the upper tube lock 52, that are located 180 radial degrees apart. The three portions are defined by the two, parallel circular flanges 58 extending from the upper tube connector 6. The lower of the two flanges 58 also serves as a stop that contacts the top edge 70 of the extension tube 8 when the upper tube connector 6 is inserted therein. There is a linear positioning ridge 72 that extends axially along the side wall 64 of the upper tube lock 52 that is matingly conformed for a sliding engagement within a linear slot 80 in top end of the extension tube 8. (See FIG. 6)

[0050] The weighted spacer cord 14 is a continuous cord secured at equal distances between adjacent curtain hang and change devices 2. In the preferred embodiment it is a polymer cord with a series of equally spaced polymer balls 82 located there along, although alternated embodiments could use a weighted chain or rope. This weighted spacer cord 14 provides three features. It prevents cord entanglement on the upper components by causing the unstretched cord to hang downward where there is nothing to snag on, it limits the horizontal distance between adjacent hanging assemblies, and it adds an aesthetic appeal to the entire hanging assembly.

[0051] In the preferred embodiment, this equal distance between hanging assemblies 2 is 10 inches, as this distance has been tested and found that it equates to several hanging assemblies 2 in any curtain that provides the least pulling friction for moving the curtain under tension. This represents the optimal balance between the friction of the track glides 4 caused by the number of track glides 4 used in the curtain track, and the friction encountered by pulling and negotiating the turn radiuses of the curtain track. (Which generally involves two 90 degree turns.) The further the hanging assemblies 2 are apart on the curtain, the greater the angular displacement of the movement of the curtain, which increases the pulling resistance of the curtain. When adjacent hanging assemblies 2 are equidistant on either side from the midpoint of a corner 90, the pulling friction is a maximum and this maximum increases with the increasing distance the hanging assemblies 2 are apart. This increasing friction with distance between hanging assemblies 2 had to be balanced against the friction increase created by adding more track glides 4. The advantage of maintaining the adjacent hanging assemblies 2 at 10 inches is best explained with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. In FIG. 12 there is no spacer cord 14 and as the first track glide 4 rounds the corner, the angle and magnitude of the force vector B increases compared to the angle and magnitude of the force vector A in the example of FIG. 11 where the track glides 4 remain at a maximum of 10 inches apart. When the curtain is pushed to move rather than pulled under tension, the spacing between hanging assemblies is not maintained.

[0052] In FIG. 6 it is shown that the extension tube 8 is a polymer tube with a linear slot 80 formed in its interior wall extending between its top and bottom ends 70 and 92 that resides parallel to the linear axis of the tube 8. This slot 80 may be continuous or may be segmented into co linear separate slots partially extending from the top end 70 and bottom end 92 of the tube 8. This slot 80 is matingly conformed to slidingly engage and house the positioning ridge on the upper tube connector 72 and the positioning ridge on the lower tube connector 94. Adjacent to the top and bottom ends 92 and 92 of the tube 8 there are lock orifices 68 formed through the tube's side wall that matingly conform to the locking protrusions 62 extending from the side springs 60 on the upper tube connector 6 and the lower tube connector 10. The number of lock orifices 68 depend on the number of locking protrusions 62 on the upper and lower tube connectors 6 and 10. The length of the extension tube 8 may be varied for the specific height from the floor to the ceiling track.

[0053] Looking at FIGS. 13 and 14, the lower tube connector 10 is also a linear member but segregated into two distinct sections. Its upper section 96 is the lower tube lock (like the lower portion 52 of the upper tube connector 6 is the upper tube lock) has at least one compression side spring 60 extending from the side wall 98. There is a locking protrusion 62 extending from the outer face of the side spring 60. The locking protrusion 62 is configured for entrapment within the lock orifices 68 of the extension tube 8. In the preferred embodiment there are two pair of side springs 60 along the lower tube connector 10, that are located 180 radial degrees apart. There is a linear positioning ridge 94 that extends axially along the side wall 98 of the lower tube connector 10 that is matingly conformed for a sliding engagement within the linear slot 60 in the bottom end of the extension tube 8.

[0054] The lower tube connector's bottom, second section 100 is a curtain hanger trap 102. The trap is a horizontal trap lock cavity 106 with a 45 degree upward vertical open throat 104, and a solid back wall 108. The throat 104 has a slot 110 along its bottom face 112 (see FIG. 1) that intersects the horizontal trap lock cavity 106 and continues along the bottom face 116 of the cavity 106, to be contiguous with the throat 104. The side walls 112 of the lock cavity 106 have side slots 114 parallel to the slot 110 in its bottom face 116 and perpendicular to the back wall 108. These side slots 114 are taller vertically than the height of the disc H and wider than the width of the disc W. (See FIG. 15) There are a pair of trap bars 150 located along the top edge of its side slots 114. The lock cavity 106 serves as a suspension point for the curtain hanger 120, allowing it rotational movement about its vertical axis. It also serves a vertical lock for the disc 124 via its trap bars 150 and serves as an angular lock to keep the disc 124 from reentering the angled throat 104 and escaping because of the frictional tolerance between the disc 124 and the walls of the throat. It frictionally traps (locks) the curtain hanger disc 124 and allows it to hang in suspension with its neck 122 extending through a horizontal slot 110 in the bottom face of the trap. (FIG. 1)

[0055] Lastly, the disc 124 at the top of the curtain hanger 120 is slid angularly into the curtain hanger trap 102 and frictionally forced into a horizontal position past its side walls and trap bars 150 at the intersection of the angled throat 104 and horizontal trap 106. When the disc 124 passes or clears this position, it enters the horizontal trap 106 such that its sides extend from the trap 106 through the side slots 114, and it has its vertical movement constrained by the trap bars 150 and its angled vertical movement constrained by the frictional tolerance between the disc 124 and the internal walls of the throat 104.

[0056] The top of the trap 102 has a larger outer diameter than that of the extension tube 8 to serve as a stop that contacts the bottom edge of the extension tube 8 when the lower tube connector 10 is inserted therein. However, the distance between the walls of the trap 102 in the angled throat 104 are slightly less than the diameter of the disc 124. The disc 124 can however be frictionally forced between these walls as the open slot 110 down the bottom face of the throat and the horizontal trap 112 allows the trap 102 to elastically deform and widen to accommodate the sliding passage of the disc 124. It is to be noted that the perimeter side (horizontal) face 125 of the disc 124 is convex to allow minimal friction or drag between the disc 124 and the side walls of the throat 104. The disc 124 is free to rotate when in the horizontal trap, which also helps reduce the forces on the curtain hanger components when the curtain is pulled on an angle.

[0057] Looking at FIGS. 15 and 16, the curtain hanger 120 is the element that connects a curtain to the hanging assembly 2. It has a slender linear rod 122 that has a perpendicular, wider cylindrical hanger disc 124 at its top end and a planar, polymer grommet body 126 with a central orifice 132, disposed at its bottom end. The major plane of the grommet body 126 is vertical and resides perpendicular to the horizontal major plane of the hanger disc 124. The grommet is a two-part assembly consisting of the grommet body 126 and the grommet disc 128 which is a planar disc having a central orifice 130 with a circular flange 132 extending from the perimeter of the orifice 130 onto one of the planar faces of the disc 128, This circular flange 132 is sized for frictional engagement about the interior perimeter 140 of the central orifice 132. As can be seen in FIG. 16, when the grommet is assembled, curtain rings may be trapped and constrained between the grommet body 126 and the grommet disc 128 around the section of the circular flange that remains exposed after frictionally coupling the disc 128 to the grommet body 126. The curtain hanger 120 thus suspends a curtain from the hanging assembly 2.

[0058] In an alternate embodiment, the bottom end of the curtain hanger 120 has a plate or ring that is embedded in a recyclable (non-reusable) curtain between its layers or in a further embodiment affixed to the surface of a curtain. In the last embodiments the curtain hanger 120 is also disposable and remains affixed to the recyclable curtain.

[0059] In operation, the length of the curtain is determined, and this length is divided by the spacing between adjacent upper tube connectors 6 as dictated by the 10-inch length of the weighted cord segments 14. That number of track glides 4 are slid into an open end of the ceiling curtain track to hang suspended in the bottom of the linear slot in the track's bottom face, by their top flange 18. The open end of the ceiling curtain track is sealed. The height of the curtain hang is determined, and the appropriate length of extension tube 8 is selected. The upper tube connector 6 and lower tube connectors 10 are slide into the upper or lower ends of the extension tube 8, aligned by their positioning ridges 72 and 94 within the linear slots 44 in the extension tube 8. As the connectors slide into the extension tube 8, the compression side spring 60 flexes or compresses slightly inward as the lock protrusions 62 contact the ends and then the side walls of the extension tube 8. Each connector 6 and 10 will come to a stop when their larger diameter elements contact the top and bottom edge of the extension tube 8. At this time the lock protrusions 62 will align with the lock orifices 68 in the side walls of the extension tube 8 to lock most of the hanging assembly 2 together. This grouping of elements are clipped into the open hook 42 of the track glide 4 by the upper hook of the upper tube connector 6. The curtain hanger grommet is frictionally coupled about a curtain ring of the curtain to be hung. Lastly, the disc at the top of the curtain hanger 124 is slid angularly into the curtain hanger trap 106 and frictionally forced into a horizontal position past its side walls and trap bars 150 at the intersection of the angled throat 104 and horizontal trap 106. When the disc 124 passes or clears this position, it enters the horizontal trap 106 such that its sides extend from the trap 106 through the side slots 114, and it has its vertical movement constrained by the trap bars 150 and its angled vertical movement constrained by the frictional tolerance between the disc 124 and the internal walls of the throat 104. The curtain can now be slid around the track with minimal effort and the curtain can be changed without a ladder by simply reversing the procedure used to trap the disc. Since the disc at the top of the hanger resides in the trap lock cavity 106 with the two walls 112 of the lock cavity 106 with the side slots 114, the disc is free to rotate inside the trap.

[0060] In a final alternate embodiment, there is a configuration of the lower tube connector where the upper section is not adapted for locking connection to the bottom end of the extension tube but rather is adapted with an upper closed loop for direct connection to the hook of the track glide. (not illustrated)

[0061] The curtain hang and change device 2 may include one or more different sized components to allow the total length of the hanging assembly 2 to adjust depending on the features of the room, the size of the curtain. For example, by adjusting the size of the extension tube, the same size curtain can be installed under ceilings of different heights, while maintaining a consistent distance from the bottom of the curtain to the floor. The speed at which the curtain hangers can be connected to the lower connector allows the curtain hanger staff to quickly load the system with replacement curtains.

[0062] It is to be noted that by using a lighter weight disposable but recyclable curtain, the overall weight is reduced so that the curtain panels may longer. The increased panel size allows for less rods, which results in a greater cost savings. In various embodiments, the system may include any number of curtain panels. For example, the system may include a curtain that comprises a single panel to fit existing tracks. A medium curtain fits a 13 feet-15 feet track. The use of a single panel solution provides significant cost reduction to a healthcare facility over current rod solutions (e.g., 75% cost reduction). The single panel solution may also reduce fabric waste. For example, in the current solution on an 11 feet track, 5 feet of additional fabric is wasted due to the standardized size 108-inch panel. Moreover, the one panel solution provides for significant labor cost reduction because the installer only needs to install one panel, instead of three panels as in the past. Furthermore, the single panel solution eliminates the need for snapping to connect the multiple panels.

[0063] For example, using the prior curtain systems, a healthcare facility may replace 20 panels at $580 per bed / per year. With this new system, a healthcare facility may only need to replace 7 panels at $189 per bed / per year. As such, a 1,000-bed hospital may save about $391,000 in annual curtain purchases with the new system. Moreover, the new system using a 14 feet track may only require 20 rods versus 30 rods as with prior systems. The extra rods may be re-used in other locations in the healthcare facility, for additional cost savings. The reduction in rods results in a hospital saving $130 per bed. As such, a 1,000-bed hospital may save $130,000 with the reduction in rods by using this new device and system.

[0064] Having described and illustrated the principles of the inventive concept with reference to illustrated embodiments, it will be recognized that the illustrated embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles and can be combined in any desired manner. And although the foregoing discussion has focused on particular embodiments, other configurations are contemplated.

[0065] Consequently, in view of the wide variety of permutations to the embodiments described herein, this detailed description, and accompanying material is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the inventive concept. What is claimed as the invention, therefore, is all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.

Claims

1. A curtain hang and change device, comprising:a track glide having a rotatable spool body for rotational gliding, having a suspension assembly with an end hook extending vertically below said spool body;an upper tube connector having an upper loop connected to said end hook, and an upper tube lock at its bottom end;an extension tube with an internal linear slot formed there along, said extension tube having a top end and a bottom end and at least one orifice formed therethrough;a lower tube connector having a lower tube lock at its top end and a curtain hanger trap at its bottom end;a curtain hanger formed as a hanger disc with a rod extending perpendicularly therefrom having a grommet body attached at its bottom end;wherein said upper tube lock is engaged into said top end of said extension tube; andwherein said lower tube lock is engaged into said bottom end of said extension tube; andwherein said hanger disc is rotatably constrained within said curtain hanger trap.

2. The curtain hang and change device of claim 1 wherein said rotatable spool body has a central spool tube from which a top end of said suspension assembly hangs, said suspension assembly comprised of a ball chain with said end hook, and a ball chain crimp attached about a top ball of said ball chain.

3. The curtain hang and change device of claim 1 wherein said upper tube lock comprises at least one compressive side spring with a protrusion thereon that locks into said at least one orifice in said extension tube.

4. The curtain hang and change device of claim 1 wherein said upper tube connector and said lower tube connector each have a positioning ridge formed there along that is conformed for engagement with said liner slot of said extension tube.

5. The curtain hang and change device of claim 1 wherein said lower tube lock comprises at least one compressive side spring with a protrusion thereon that locks into said at least one orifice in said extension tube.

6. The curtain hang and change device of claim 1 wherein said curtain hanger trap is a horizontal trap lock cavity with an upward vertical open throat sized to accommodate said hanger disc, a solid back wall, two slotted side walls each with a horizontal trap bar located above said slot, and a bottom slot formed along said throat and said lock cavity, said bottom slot sized to accommodate said rod of said curtain hanger.

7. A curtain hang and change device comprising:a track glide having a rotatable spool body for rotational gliding, having a suspension assembly with end hook attached therein and extending vertically below said spool body;an upper tube connector having an upper loop connected to said end hook, a central spacer cord lock collar and an upper tube lock at its bottom end;a spacer cord with multiple spacer cord locks equidistantly spaced and affixed there along;an extension tube with an internal linear slot formed there along, said extension tube having a top end and a bottom end;a lower tube connector having a lower tube lock at its top end and a curtain hanger trap at its bottom end;a curtain hanger formed as a hanger disc with a rod extending perpendicularly therefrom having a grommet body attached at its bottom end;wherein said upper tube lock is engaged into said top end of said extension tube; andwherein said lower tube lock is engaged into said bottom end of said extension tube; andwherein said hanger disc is rotatably constrained within said curtain hanger trap; andwherein one of said multiple spacer cord locks is affixed about said spacer cord lock collar.

8. The curtain hang and change device of claim 7 wherein said equidistant spacing is optimized balancing the friction with increasing the distance between hanging assemblies against the friction increase created by adding additional track glides.

9. The curtain hang and change device of claim 8 wherein said rotatable spool body has a central spool tube from which a top end of said suspension assembly hangs, said suspension assembly comprised of a ball chain with said end hook, and a ball chain crimp attached about a top ball of said ball chain.

10. The curtain hang and change device of claim 9 wherein said upper tube lock comprises at least one compressive side spring with a protrusion thereon that locks into said at least one orifice in said extension tube.

11. The curtain hang and change device of claim 10 wherein said upper tube connector and said lower tube connector each have a positioning ridge formed there along that is conformed for engagement with said liner slot of said extension tube.

12. The curtain hang and change device of claim 11 wherein said lower tube lock comprises at least one compressive side spring with a protrusion thereon that locks into said at least one orifice in said extension tube.

13. The curtain hang and change device of claim 12 wherein said curtain hanger trap is a horizontal trap lock cavity with an upward vertical open throat sized to accommodate said hanger disc, a solid back wall, two slotted side walls each with a horizontal trap bar located above said slot, and a bottom slot formed along said throat and said lock cavity, said bottom slot sized to accommodate said rod of said curtain hanger.

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