Modular Wheel Carriage for Quick-Release Curtain Track Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Healthcare facilities face challenges in maintaining cleanliness and safety of privacy curtains due to infectious diseases transmission, cumbersome installation and replacement of curtain systems, and difficulty in aligning and attaching wheels to tracks, which require ladder access and repetitive muscle strain.

Innovation Solution

A disposable curtain system with preassembled wheels and a quick-release mechanism that allows easy attachment to existing tracks, enabling installation and removal at waist height, and interchangeable wheel systems that fit multiple track sizes without needing to align with specific directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional curtain systems with hooks are used, then curtains can be attached to ceiling tracks, but installation requires ladder access and causes repetitive muscle strain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidinstaller strain and safety hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curtain system is divided into modular components: ceiling track, wheel assembly with carriage, and curtain panel. The wheel assembly can be pre-assembled on the ground and then installed as a complete unit, eliminating the need for ladder work during hook installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Wheel assemblies are pre-assembled on the ground at waist height, including attaching wheels to carriages and connecting curtain panels. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for installers to work at ceiling height, reducing muscle strain and safety hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If hooks are crimped during installation, then curtains can be securely attached, but repetitive crimping causes muscle and tendon problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidinstaller health and comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The manual crimping operation is replaced with a mechanical wheel-and-carriage system that clips onto the track. The wheel assembly uses gravity and friction to maintain secure attachment without requiring repetitive manual crimping actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If curtains are removed one hook at a time, then complete curtain replacement is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurtain replacement speedVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The curtain system uses modular wheel assemblies that can be independently attached and detached from the track. Each wheel assembly with its curtain panel can be quickly removed as a complete unit, eliminating the time-consuming process of removing individual hooks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wheel assemblies are designed with dynamic attachment mechanisms that allow quick clipping onto and off of the track. The system transitions from static hook-and-crimp attachment to dynamic quick-connect/disconnect operation, significantly reducing installation and removal time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple track sizes are used, then system versatility is improved, but wheel selection becomes complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrack size compatibilityVSAvoidwheel size selection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel and carriage assembly is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple track sizes and configurations. The carriage includes adjustable elements that allow the same wheel assembly to fit different track widths and heights, eliminating the need for multiple specialized wheel sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

5Device complexity

If hooks and metal loops are used for attachment, then simple connection is achieved, but alignment is difficult and binding occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment mechanism simplicityVSAvoidalignment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hook-and-loop attachment system is replaced with a wheel-and-carriage mechanism that rolls along the track. This mechanical system provides inherent alignment through the wheel's contact with the track surface, eliminating the alignment difficulties and binding problems associated with hooks and metal loops.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12495923B2Wheel system, kit and method

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 BANNACK MEDICAL LLC

AI summary

Disclosed is a wheel system and a kit and method, for use with a track, said wheel system comprising: a wheel carriage; a set of wheels, attached to the wheel carriage; —a link, having a first end, releasably attached to the wheel carriage and a second end releasably attached to an extension. Also, disclosed is a wheel system, for use with a track, the wheel system having a wheel carriage; a set of wheels, attached to the wheel carriage; —a link, having a first end, operatively attached to the wheel carriage; wherein angles of the wheels and the width of the wheel carriage are sized to fit into multiple sizes of tracks.