Patent Publication Number: US-10758072-B2

Title: Curtain support/swivel assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/307,473 entitled “Quick Release Hook and Swivel System” and filed Mar. 12, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Currently, there are numerous commercial solutions for hanging curtains, drapes, or other materials (referred to as “hanging material”) for use as a room divider, to create an enclosed space, or otherwise provide privacy in various applications. The hanging material may comprise any type of textiles, fabrics, cloths, or other flexible materials. Depending on the particular application, the hanging material may be referred to as a cubicle curtain, a hospital curtain, a privacy curtain, a shower curtain, or more generally as a curtain or drape (collectively referred to as “privacy curtains”). For example, hanging movable curtain systems are commonly used in nursing homes, extended care facilities, doctor offices, and other medical treatment facilities to provide patient privacy. The privacy curtains are typically hung using a track system. A track comprising an extruded aluminum or other channel may be attached to a conventional or dropped ceiling, which forms a path around the desired privacy area. 
     A typical ceiling-mounted track and curtain system employs a series of rollers or gliders that move within the track. A hook may be attached to each roller with, for example, a chain. To drape the privacy curtain around the area defined by the track, each hook is attached to a series of grommets disposed on an upper portion of the privacy curtain. After the hooks have been attached to the grommets, the privacy curtain hangs from the ceiling-mounted track. An individual may pull the privacy curtain to slide it along the track and thereby open and close the privacy area. 
     Despite their widespread use and commercial success, ceiling-mounted track and curtain systems have many disadvantages. The ceiling-mounted track must generally follow a path that does not block ceiling obstacles (e.g., lights, vents, fire sprinklers, etc.), which may limit the location for optimal use of the rooms and increase custom installation costs. Furthermore, these types of systems may be difficult to install, use, and maintain. Due to the height of the ceiling-mounted track, it may be difficult to repair and clean the track system. Furthermore, a ladder may be required to take down the privacy curtain for maintenance, replacement, and/or cleaning. Because privacy curtains tend to be large in height and length and, therefore, relatively heavy, they can be very cumbersome to hang and take down. 
     Existing track designs typically use entry and exit points at one or both ends of the track for insertion and removal of the rollers and the curtain. For example, if one roller breaks in the sequence of rollers, all the rollers and the entire curtain up to that point need to be removed from the track in order to replace the broken roller. As known in the art, the rollers may have a relatively short life span due to buildup of materials within the track system. When one or more rollers begin to malfunction, the privacy curtain may no longer smoothly traverse the track, which may cause the privacy curtain to catch or bind and lead to tearing of the hanging material. 
     Another problem with existing curtain hanging systems is that the hook-to-grommet method tends to fail when hooks are not correctly installed through the grommets. Improperly installed hooks may cause sagging of the hanging material, which can lead to an installer inadvertently failing to connect a hook to the corresponding grommet. In such cases, the privacy curtain may get caught in the track and lock. 
     Yet another disadvantage of ceiling-mounted track and curtain systems is that they may be required to comply with fire safety standards or regulations. For example, in certain types of health care facilities, there may be material and/or clearance regulations that require the hanging material to be installed some distance below fire sprinklers. To achieve compliance with these and other standards or regulations, many hospital privacy curtains used with ceiling-mounted tracks include a predefined length (e.g., 18 inches) of mesh header as a first upper portion before any solid cloth hanging material. This allows fire sprinklers to work properly in the event of a fire. However, because the mesh is not solid, it tends to get caught in the hooks, which often causes tearing of the mesh. In addition, when the mesh is caught on the hooks, the rollers or gliders may stick in the track, preventing the privacy curtain from working properly. 
     Accordingly, despite the widespread availability and commercial success of privacy curtains, there remains a need in the art for improved systems, methods, and devices for attaching and/or supporting privacy curtains. 
     SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE 
     Various embodiments of curtain support and swivel assembly designs are provided. One embodiment is a curtain support assembly comprising a support attachment member and a curtain attachment member. A rod extends from the support attachment member. A stop member is disposed on an end of the rod. The curtain attachment member has a longitudinal opening with a lip. The stop member is configured to be received within the longitudinal opening and positioned such that the stop member engages with the lip and rotates within the longitudinal opening. 
     Another embodiment of a curtain support assembly comprises a rigid support rod and a curtain attachment member. The rigid support rod has a first end configured to removable attachment to a horizontal support structure and a second end comprising a stop member. The curtain attachment member has a longitudinal opening with a lip. The stop member is configured to be received within the longitudinal opening and positioned such that the stop member engages with the lip and enables the rigid support rod to rotate within the longitudinal opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       In the Figures, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise indicated. For reference numerals with letter character designations such as “ 102 A” or “ 102 B”, the letter character designations may differentiate two like parts or elements present in the same Figure. Letter character designations for reference numerals may be omitted when it is intended that a reference numeral to encompass all parts having the same reference numeral in all Figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a curtain support and swivel assembly hanging from a horizontal support tube and attached to an exemplary hanging material. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the components of the curtain support and swivel assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a curtain attachment member comprising a front header plate and a back header plate. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the support rod being inserted into and sliding within the longitudinal opening in the curtain attachment member. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the stop member disposed on the end of the support rod engaging with the lip disposed in the longitudinal opening. 
         FIG. 5 a    is a cross-sectional view of the stop member and the curtain attachment member along the reference plane  5 A in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the rotation of the stop member relative to the curtain attachment member. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary use case of the curtain support and swivel assembly design with a foldable hanging material. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a wall and/or ceiling mounted support structure in combination with the curtain support and swivel assembly design. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary embodiment for connecting the drop-tube assembly with the horizontal support tube. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary method for attaching the drop-tube assembly to the horizontal support tube. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operational cooperation of an embodiment of the support attachment member of the curtain support and swivel assembly with the horizontal support tube. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a support attachment member for use with the curtain support and swivel assembly. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates the support attachment member of  FIG. 12  installed in an exemplary track-type support system. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a further embodiment of a support attachment member for use with the curtain support swivel/assembly and a track-type support system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of curtain support and swivel systems, methods, and assemblies (and related support structures) are described below in connection with  FIGS. 1-14 . As an introductory matter, however, an exemplary curtain support and swivel assembly will be briefly described. In an embodiment, the curtain support and swivel design is a two-part assembly comprising a specially configured support rod and a cooperating curtain attachment member. The curtain attachment member is configured to directly attach to a hanging material or, in other embodiments, a header that may be attached to the hanging material. It should be appreciated that the hanging material may comprise any type of textiles, fabrics, cloths, or other flexible materials. Furthermore, depending on the particular application, the hanging material (or the combination of the header and hanging material) may be referred to as a cubicle curtain, a hospital curtain, a privacy curtain, a shower curtain, or more generally as a curtain or drape (collectively referred to as “hanging material” or “a privacy curtain”). 
     The support rod has a support attachment member extending from one end. The support attachment member is configured for quick, easy, and safe attachment to a horizontal support structure. The horizontal support structure may comprise a conventional ceiling-mounted track system or any combination of ceiling and/or wall-mounted tubes or other support(s). In this regard, the support attachment member may comprise, for example, a C-type hook, roller(s), glider(s), or other means for attaching the support rod to the horizontal support structure. Another end of the support rod comprises a stop member configured to be easily attached to and cooperate with the curtain attachment member. The stop member and the curtain attachment member cooperate in use to enable the support rod (which is connected to the horizontal support structure via the support attachment member) to swivel or rotate relative to the curtain attachment member (which is connected to the hanging material or header). In an embodiment, the curtain attachment member comprises a longitudinal opening with a lip. The support rod may be easily inserted into the longitudinal opening such that the stop member engages with the lip and enables the support rod to rotate (e.g., against a bearing surface) within the longitudinal opening. 
     It should be appreciated that, because the curtain support assembly is allowed to swivel or rotate, the privacy curtain may be installed and removed more quickly, easily, and safely. During use, the swivel or rotation of the curtain support assembly may enable the privacy curtain to be more easily traversed across the horizontal support structure. Furthermore, the swivel or rotation of the curtain support assembly may reduce the forces applied to the support attachment member, the horizontal support structure, the curtain attachment member, and/or the hanging material, which may extend the lifecycle of the system and reduce maintenance costs. 
     An exemplary embodiment of a curtain support and swivel assembly  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 . The curtain support and swivel assembly  10  comprises a support rod  16  and a curtain attachment member  20 , which cooperate in use to provide the swivel or rotation feature. A support attachment member  18  extends from one end of the support rod  16 . The support attachment member  18  may be integrally formed with the support rod  16 . In other embodiments, the support attachment member  18  may be removably attached to the support rod  16  to support various attachments for integration with different types of horizontal support structures. As illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the support attachment member  18  may comprise a C-type hook for quick, easy, and safe attachment to a horizontal tube  14 . As known in the art, the horizontal tube  14  may comprise a series of straight and/or curved sections to define the area to be enclosed by a privacy curtain. 
     The C-type hook comprises a straight portion  28  with respective curved portions  30  and  32  extending therefrom to define an opening  34 . The dimensions of the curved portions  30  and  32 , the straight portion  28 , and the opening  34  are designed to cooperate with the structure of the horizontal tubing  14 . For example, the opening  34  enables the C-type hooks to be easily hung from the installed horizontal tubing  14 . The upper curved portion  30  may abut with a top surface of the horizontal tube  14 . The length of the curved portions  30  and  32  and the straight portion  28  may be modified to accommodate the height and width of the horizontal tube  14  and provide a stable coupling. It should be further appreciated that the C-type hook may be formed from various desirable materials to provide appropriate friction contact between the support attachment member  18  and the horizontal tube  14 . In an embodiment, the C-type hook is formed from a flexible material (e.g., polypropylene) for enabling the curved portions  30  and/or  32  to bend relative to the straight portion  28 . The bending or flexing of the curved portions  30  and  32  may increase the opening  34 , thereby enabling the C-type hook to be easily installed around the horizontal tube  14 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , another end of the support rod  16  comprises a stop member  22 . The stop member  22  is configured to be easily installed in a longitudinal opening  24  disposed in the curtain attachment member  20 . The stop member  22  and the curtain attachment member  20  cooperate in use to enable the support rod  16  (which is connected to the horizontal tube  14  via the support attachment member  18 ) to swivel or rotate relative to the curtain attachment member  20  (which is attached to the privacy curtain  12 , header, or other hanging material). In an embodiment, the longitudinal opening  24  in the curtain attachment member  20  comprises a lip  26 . As described below in more detail, the support rod  16  may be easily inserted into the longitudinal opening  24  and slid upward until the stop member  22  abuts the lip  26 . The engagement of the stop member  22  and the lip  26  enables the support rod  16  to rotate (e.g., against a bearing surface) within the longitudinal opening  24 . 
     It should be appreciated that the stop member  22  disposed on the support rod  16  and the longitudinal opening  24  disposed on the curtain attachment member  20  may be implemented in various ways to provide the swivel or rotation feature.  FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the curtain attachment member  20 . In this embodiment, the curtain attachment member  20  comprises a header plate assembly configured to attach to the privacy curtain  12  or a header portion that may be attached to the remaining portion of the privacy curtain  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the header plate assembly comprises a front header plate  36  and a back header plate  38 . The privacy curtain  12  may be attached between the front and back header plates  36  and  38 , respectively. In an embodiment, an inner surface  40  of the back header plate  38  may comprise one or more protruding members (e.g., pegs  42 ) adapted to be installed through one or more corresponding openings  48  disposed on an upper portion of the privacy curtain  12 . The pegs  42  may be further inserted through one or more openings  46  in the front header plate  36 . It should be appreciated that the header plate assembly may incorporate any number of protruding members and corresponding openings to accommodate the spacing of the openings  48  along the privacy curtain  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, four pegs, plate openings, and curtain openings  42 ,  46 , and  48 , respectively, are aligned to provide the attachment of the curtain attachment member  20  to the privacy curtain  12 . 
     With the pegs  42  inserted through the corresponding aligned openings  48  and openings  46 , the front header plate  36  and the back header plate  38  may be joined and secured together as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In an embodiment, the front and back header plates  36  and  38  may be fixed with fasteners installed on the outer surface  44  of the front header plate  36 . It should be appreciated that the securing or fastening of the front and back header plates  36  and  38  with the hanging material  12  may be permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary, which may provide for convenient repair and replacement of the curtain attachment members  20 . 
     In one embodiment, the front and back header plates  36  and  38  with the hanging material may be permanently joined together using a process called heat staking. In this embodiment, the pegs  42  may comprise a rigid material at room temperature (e.g., plastic, polymer, or other thermally-deformable material). After the pegs  42  are inserted through the corresponding aligned openings  48  and  46  and the front and back header plates  36  and  38  are joined together, heat above the glass transition temperature may be applied to the pegs  42 . As the pegs  42  melt and deform under the heat and an applied force, the melted material molds into the shape corresponding to the openings  46  such that upon cooling and reforming the rigid material, the assembly is fixed together. The reformed rigid material may be flush with the outer surface  44  on the front header plate  36  and in a tight, secure fit within the opening  46  (e.g., around a securing surface). 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the longitudinal opening  24  may be disposed on the outer surface  44  of the front header plate  36 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the longitudinal opening  24  comprises a slotted longitudinal bore formed by a U-shaped member defined by a pair of members  55  and  53  extending out from the outer surface  44 . The outer edges of the members  55  and  53  are separated by a lateral distance, which provides an access point for inserting the support rod  16  into the longitudinal opening  24 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 3  and the cross-sectional callout in  FIG. 5 a   , the slotted longitudinal bore may define a curved inner surface  52 , which is generally sized and shaped to cooperate with an outer surface  54  of the stop member  22 . In this regard, the inner surface  52  provides a bearing surface for engagement with the outer surface  54  of the stop member  22 . 
     In one embodiment, the stop member  22  comprises a cylinder disposed on the end of the support rod  16 . The stop member  22  may have a diameter or lateral dimension slightly greater than the end of the support rod  16  to define an abutment surface  56 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3  and the cross-sectional call-out of  FIG. 5 a   , the diameter or lateral dimension of the stop member  22  may be greater than the lateral distance of the slot in the longitudinal bore defined between the members  55  and  53 . This relative size and shape enables the support rod  16  to be inserted in the slotted longitudinal bore and slid upward within the longitudinal opening  24  until the abutment surface  56  engages with the lip  50  formed by the members  53  and  55 . When the surface  56  and the lip  50  abut each other, the curtain attachment member  20  may hang securely from the horizontal tube  14 . In this position, the stop member  22  is fixed within longitudinal opening  24  but with the ability to swivel or rotate relative to the bearing surface  52 . 
       FIGS. 4-6  illustrate an exemplary method for installing an instance of a curtain support and swivel assembly  10 . After the curtain attachment member  20  has been attached to the privacy curtain  12  in the manner described above, the curtain attachment member  20  may be lifted upward and the narrower stem of the support rod  16  inserted into the slotted longitudinal bore ( FIG. 4 ). As illustrated by reference numeral  58 , the support rod  16  may slide upward in the longitudinal bore relative to the curtain attachment member  20  until the surface  56  and the lip  50  abut each other and the stop member  22  is securely fixed within the longitudinal bore ( FIG. 5 ). The support attachment member  18  (e.g., the C-type hook) may then be attached to the horizontal tube  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when the stop member  22  is securely fixed within the longitudinal bore, the curtain attachment member  20  is free to swivel or rotate (reference numeral  60 ).  FIG. 6  illustrates in various shadowed positions that curtain attachment member  22  may swivel or rotate. The structure of the stop member  22  and the cooperating structure of the longitudinal opening  24  may provide a full 360 degrees of rotation around a vertical axis or, in other embodiments, may provide any desirable range of rotation to accommodate desirable use cases. 
     Regardless of the particular cooperating structures of the stop member  22  and the longitudinal opening  24  for providing the swivel or rotation feature, it should be appreciated that the stop member  22  may be “locked” within the longitudinal opening  24  such that it cannot separate or “pop out” from the curtain attachment member  20  in use. For example, as best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the stop member  22  may be secured or “locked” in a vertical position within the longitudinal opening  24 . Under the load of the privacy curtain  22 , further vertical displacement along the sliding arrangement (arrow  58 — FIG. 4 ) may be prevented due to, for example, the engagement of the abutment surface  56  against the lip  50 . It should be further appreciated that the slotted longitudinal bore in the opening  24  comprises a slotted structure that at least partially encloses the stop member  22  and prevents the stop member  22  from displacing laterally or horizontally and becoming separated from the curtain attachment member  20 . For example, the structure defining the curved inner surface  52  and providing engagement with the outer surface  54  of the stop member  22  prevents the stop member  22  from moving laterally or horizontally and becoming separated from the curtain attachment member  20  in use. 
     It should be further appreciated that alternative cooperating structures between the stop member  22  and the curtain attachment member  20  may be used to secure the structures in a stable or locked position while also enabling the curtain attachment member  20  and the stop member  22  to swivel or rotate relative to each other in use and/or under the load of the privacy curtain  12 . Furthermore, during installation, the support attachment member  18  may be initially attached to the horizontal tube  14  before inserting the support rod  16  into the slotted longitudinal bore. In either case, this process may be repeated for each curtain support and swivel assembly  10  to complete the installation of the privacy curtain  12 , as well as reversed to remove the privacy curtain  12 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary use case of the curtain support and swivel assembly design  10  with a foldable, accordion-type privacy curtain  12 .  FIG. 7  shows a portion of the implementation comprising a series of three curtain support and swivel assemblies  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c . Because the support rods  16   a ,  16   b , and  16   c  are free to swivel or rotate relative to their corresponding curtain attachment members  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   c , the privacy curtain  12  may be conveniently and aesthetically disposed in the accordion arrangement of  FIG. 7  when closed. In this accordion arrangement, adjacent curtain attachment members  20  are rotated approximately 180 degrees from each other while the C-type hooks  18   a ,  18   b , and  18   c  remain attached to the horizontal tube  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the header plate assemblies  36   a / 38   a ,  36   b / 38   b , and  36   c / 38   c  are rotated relative to their respective support rods  16   a ,  16   b , and  16   c  such that the adjacent front header plates  36   a  and  36   c  generally face each other and the adjacent back header plates  38   b  and  38   c  generally face each other. Each curtain attachment member  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   c  is permitted to rotate to a position generally perpendicular to the horizontal support tube  14  to provide a more compact closed position of the privacy curtain  12 . In this manner, the lateral members or wings of the front and back header plates  36  and  38  may cause the curtain segments to accordion for storage and keep them from sagging when being used. 
     As mentioned above, the curtain support and swivel assembly design  10  may be integrated with various types of wall and/or ceiling-mounted support structures that provide a horizontal support structure for attaching the support attachment member  18 .  FIGS. 8-11  illustrate an embodiment of a wall and/or ceiling mounted support structure  66  in combination with the curtain support and swivel assembly design  10 . The horizontal support tube  14  to which the curtain support and swivel assemblies  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  are attached may be supported by a ceiling mount assembly  68  and a wall mount assembly  70 . 
     The ceiling mount assembly  68  comprises a ceiling plate  72  that may be fixed to the ceiling via holes  73 . The ceiling plate  72  has a tube section  74  extending downward. The tube section  74  may be fixed to an end  82  of a specially-configured drop-tubing  80  that may be fixed to the horizontal tubing  14 . The drop-tubing  80  comprises a down tube section  84  and a generally C-shaped curved section  88 . The curved section  88  is configured to provide a clearance angle for enabling the C-type hooks to freely move along the horizontal tube  14  (see  FIG. 11 ). As best illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the curved section  88  comprises straight sections  96  and  100  and curved sections  98  and  96 . The curved section  96  extends away from the straight portion  84  at a first angle (e.g., approximately 45 degrees). The curved section  98  reroutes the curved section  88  to a horizontally disposed straight section  100 . The straight section  100  may include a threaded hole  102  for securing to the horizontal tubing  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the straight section  100  may be inserted through an opening  94  in the horizontal tubing  14  and secured via, for example, a screw  90 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 8 , the wall mount assembly  70  comprises a wall plate  71  that may be fixed to a wall or other structure via holes  75 . The wall plate  70  may include a horizontal member  78  comprising an adapter section  76  for form-fitting to the horizontal tubing  14 . It should be appreciated that the specially-configured drop-tubing  80  provides for unobstructed traversal of the C-type hooks  18  across the horizontal support tubing  14 . The length of the drop-tubing  80  may be customized based on the height of the ceiling for disposal at a convenient height off of the floor to allow easy installation, removal, and sliding of the privacy curtain  12 . 
     The drop-tubing  80  may provide various benefits including, for example, the ability to provide flexibility during custom installations that may reduce installation costs, maintenance costs, and/or improve operation. As mentioned above, conventional cubicle curtain tracks are typically mounted directly and flush to the ceiling. Therefore, the track must avoid areas that have lights, air conditioning vents, fire safety sprinklers, or any other obstacle. This may limit where the track may be located, leading to increased materials and installation costs. The drop-tubing  80  in combination with the curtain support and swivel assembly design  10  may provide various benefits and/or advantages over conventional track systems. For example, the ceiling mounted assembly  68  and the drop-tubing  80  may be advantageously located to accommodate any ceiling mounted obstacles. Furthermore, if the facility in which the system is being installed has different ceiling heights throughout, the lengths of the drop-tubing  80  may be adjusted to maintain the horizontal tubing  14  at a fixed distance from the floor. This would afford the additional benefit of enabling a standard length of privacy curtain  12  throughout the facility. Because the length of the privacy curtain  12  and the drop-tubing  80  may be customized, the horizontal tubing  14  may be advantageously disposed at a height from the floor that is more easily accessed without a ladder should maintenance be required, which may be safer, more efficient, and reduce maintenance costs. 
       FIGS. 12-14  illustrate additional embodiments of a support attachment member  18  disposed on the support rod  16  for use with a conventional ceiling-mounted track-type system.  FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment of a roller assembly  106 , which may be installed in a track  116  comprising, for example, an extruded aluminum or other channel(s)  120  and  122 . The roller assembly  106  may be fixed or removably attached to an end of the support rod  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the roller assembly  106  comprises a housing  104  for supporting one or more rollers  112  and  110 . The rollers  110  and  112  may rotate around a horizontal axis  114 . As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the rollers  110  and  112  may be installed within and freely traverse the two channels  120  and  122  in the track  116 . It should be appreciated that the housing  104  may support various types of roller(s) and or glider(s).  FIG. 14  illustrates another embodiment of a roller assembly  128  for use with the track  116 . In this embodiment, the roller assembly  128  rotates around the support rod axis. The roller assembly  128  may include an upper member that makes contact with channel members  124  and  126  for enabling the roller assembly to traverse channels  122  and  120 , respectively, within the track opening  118 . 
     It should be further appreciated that the support attachment member  18  may be retrofitted as either a glider or roller so that many of the benefits received from the curtain support and swivel assembly  10  may be used on existing ceiling-mounted channel tracks. In this regard, if an existing facility does not want to replace the existing ceiling-mount channel track system, the curtain support and swivel assembly  10  will still afford an improved systems that offers easy and quick removal and replacement of curtains without the problems associated with typical curtain hooks. 
     Alternative embodiments will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, although selected aspects have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that various substitutions and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.