Containment curtains as well as systems and apparatuses including same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing room disinfection methods face challenges in effectively containing germicides like UVC light, especially in multiple occupancy rooms where complete evacuation is difficult, leading to exposure risks for occupants and limitations in using certain disinfection processes due to transparent or partially barricaded areas.

Innovation Solution

The development of curtains with fasteners and struts that can be attached to objects, extending to elevate the screen above and below the fasteners, providing a barrier that attenuates visible and UVC light spectra, and can be easily set up, handled, and stored, along with systems that integrate these curtains with room dividers and disinfection apparatuses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If room dividers are used to section off areas for disinfection, then the ability to perform area/room disinfection is improved, but occupants outside the sectioned off region are undesirably exposed to germicide and distractions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to perform area/room disinfectionVSAvoidexposure to germicide

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The containment curtain is divided into multiple panels that can be independently arranged and configured to create effective barriers while maintaining flexibility in deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The containment curtain acts as an intermediary barrier between the disinfection area and occupied areas, blocking germicide transmission while allowing the disinfection process to proceed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If transparent or partially barricaded room dividers are used, then ease of operation and visibility are improved, but the ability to block UVC light and germicide is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidability to block UVC light

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The containment curtain uses opaque materials with specific optical properties in the regions that need to block light, while maintaining overall transparency or visibility where not required for the barrier function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If complete evacuation of rooms is required for disinfection, then effectiveness of germicide application is improved, but difficulty in evacuating multiple occupancy rooms increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of germicide applicationVSAvoiddifficulty in evacuating rooms

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The room is segmented into disinfection and occupied zones using containment curtains, allowing disinfection to proceed in the isolated area without requiring complete evacuation of the entire room

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The occupied areas are extracted or separated from the disinfection area using movable containment curtains, allowing the disinfection process to occur in the isolated zone while occupants remain in the separated zone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If containment curtains are made opaque to block light, then ability to block UVC and visible light is improved, but ease of handling and storage is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to block lightVSAvoidease of handling and storage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The containment curtain is divided into multiple smaller panels that are easier to handle, store, and deploy while collectively providing the required light blocking capability when assembled

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The containment curtain uses flexible opaque panels that can be easily folded and stored when not in use, while providing effective light blocking when deployed in the containment configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

These curtains effectively block UVC light and visible light, reducing exposure risks for occupants and enabling the use of UVC disinfection processes in previously restricted areas, while being easy to deploy and manage, thus enhancing the safety and efficacy of room disinfection.

Implementation Method 1

configured to block a majority amount of the visible light spectrum and/or a majority amount of the ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation subtype C light spectrum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAttenuation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3262992B1Containment curtains as well as systems and apparatuses including same

Publication Date: 2020.03.25 XENEX DISINFECTION SERVICES

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Figure 2a~2e
Figure 2f~2i

AI summary

The present invention relates to a curtain, comprising: a screen; one or more fasteners arranged along the screen; and multiple struts arranged along the screen, wherein each of the multiple struts extends along less than an entire length of the screen but at least between a point approximately level with at least one of the one or more fasteners to an elevation at least 24 inches below the one or more fasteners.