Patent Publication Number: US-8113475-B2

Title: Accessory mounting systems

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/415,624, filed May 2, 2006, the contents of which being incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Partition systems are employed to isolate portions of a building or room, by serving as a barrier to dust, noise, light, odors, and the like. In construction zones, partitions are useful for protecting a clean area from a work area, for example, protecting an area where furniture and rugs are temporarily stored from an area where wood floors are being refinished. U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,469, U.S. Ser. No. 10/600,939, filed Jun. 20, 2003, published as United States Patent Application Publication Number 2004/0031892, U.S. Ser. No. 10/600,300, filed Jun. 20, 2003, published as United States Patent Application Publication Number 2004/0065799, and U.S. Ser. No. 11/125,583, filed May 10, 2005, published as United States Patent Application Publication Number 2005/0247414, the contents of each being incorporated herein by reference, disclose various partition mounting systems. These systems offer the advantages of modularity, visual attractiveness, and effectiveness in performing the partitioning function, and are compatible with a variety of commercially-available curtain or drape materials, for example plastic and cloth sheeting, and the like. The disclosed systems are “clean” systems designed to be installed and removed without damaging or otherwise marking the ceiling, floor or walls in the construction zone. Assembly is easy and fast and can be accomplished by a single individual. 
     Spooled caution tape is often used to designate a portion of a room, such as a construction zone, as being dangerous or inaccessible. The caution tape is usually simply tied in a knot to objects that are located in the room in order to section off the area. This solution is unsightly for certain installations, such as hotel and bank lobbies, where a visually attractive solution is desired. Installation and removal are difficult since knotting the tape to existing objects can be challenging and since removal can require a need for cutting with a knife without scratching the surface of the underlying object. In addition, the caution tape that is attached is difficult to pull taut upon installation. 
     Construction zones also characteristically include other dangers such as the presence of electrical wires extending across the floor and various tools and other objects scattered about. This presents a hazard both for construction workers, and owners and guests of the building. To date, organization systems for construction zones are either non-existent or ineffective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an accessory mounting system and mounting method thereof that provides an effective solution for sectioning a portion of a room and for organizing tools, objects and cables involved in the activity that gives rise to the need for sectioning the room. 
     In particular, the present invention provides an accessory mounting system and method whereby accessories can be mounted to poles that are designed for use in temporary partitioning systems, or to other poles such as painter&#39;s poles. Such accessories can include, for example, a caution tape dispenser that mounts to a side surface of a pole following installation of the pole, and various pole clips that locate the caution tape at other poles in a clean, visually attractive, and effective manner. Other accessories include tool mounts, cable mounts, shelves, drawers, hooks, camera or laser mounts, and the like, all attachable to a side surface of a pole following its installation. In one embodiment, the pole is adjustable in length. In another embodiment, the pole includes a portion that is compressible, for example by a spring, so that a top and a bottom portion of the pole can be compressed and held in place between two surfaces of a room, such as a floor and a ceiling. 
     In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a pole accessory mounting system, comprising: a hand-releasable clamp having a pole interface that is adjustable in width, the clamp constructed and arranged to mount to a body portion of a pole between a first end and a second end of the pole; a pole accessory being constructed and arranged to be coupled to the clamp; and an adapter that couples the pole accessory to the hand-releasable clamp. 
     In one embodiment, the system comprises multiple hand-releasable clamps, multiple pole accessories, and multiple adapters, the multiple hand-releasable clamps being similar in configuration, each pole accessory being constructed and arranged to be coupled to a corresponding one of the multiple hand-releasable clamps at a corresponding adapter. In another embodiment, at least two of the multiple pole accessories have a different configuration. In another embodiment, the pole accessories comprise at least two of a caution tape dispenser accessory, a shelf accessory, a wire clip accessory, a hook accessory, a lighting accessory, and a laser/camera mounting accessory. 
     In another embodiment, the pole accessory comprises at least one of a caution tape dispenser accessory, a shelf accessory, a wire clip accessory, a hook accessory, a lighting accessory, a laser/camera mounting accessory, and a tray accessory. 
     In another embodiment, the pole interface of the hand-releasable clamp includes multiple arcuate sections that surround portions of a pole. 
     In another embodiment, the pole interface includes a non-skid material at a point of contact between the pole interface and the pole to which the clamp is mounted. 
     In another embodiment, the system further comprises a pole having a length that is adjustable. In another embodiment, the pole comprises multiple telescoping segments of different outer widths. In another embodiment, the pole comprises a circular cross section. In another embodiment, the pole includes a compression mechanism between a first end and a second end of the pole that biases the first end in a direction away from the second end. In another embodiment, the pole includes a curtain mounting head at one of the first end and the second end. 
     In another embodiment, the clamp is constructed and arranged to mount to a body portion of a pole between the first end and the second end following installation of the pole between first and second surfaces of a room. 
     In another embodiment, the clamp comprises a first body portion and a second body portion, at least one of the first and the second body portions of the clamp pivoting relative to the adapter. 
     In another embodiment, one of the first and second body portions of the clamp includes a latching arm that extends from the body portion of the clamp, the latching arm including an engagement feature, and wherein the other of the first and second body portions of the clamp includes multiple engagement tabs, the width of the pole interface being adjustable according to the one of the multiple engagement tabs that is engaged with the engagement feature. 
     In another embodiment, the latching arm pivots relative to the body portion of the clamp from which it extends. 
     In another embodiment, at least one of the first and second body portions of the clamp includes at least one pivot hook that retains corresponding rod features on the adapter so that the at least one clamp body portion pivots relative to the adapter. 
     In another embodiment, the adapter is integral with the accessory. 
     In another embodiment, the adapter is removably attachable to the accessory. 
     In another embodiment, the accessory includes an adapter slot that receives a body portion of the adapter. In another embodiment, one of the adapter slot of the accessory and the adapter includes retention hooks, and the other one of the adapter slot of the accessory and the adapter includes retention slots, and wherein the retention hooks mate with the retention slots to retain the adapter in the adapter slot. 
     In another embodiment, the accessory comprises a dispenser that dispenses a ribbon of material, comprising: a dispenser body portion; and a spool that rotates relative to the body portion about a spool axis, the spool constructed and arranged to dispense a ribbon of material, wherein the spool extends from the pole so that the spool axis and an axis of elongation of the pole are spaced apart. 
     In another embodiment, the spool has one or more outer surface portions that correspond to an inner diameter of a standard roll of caution tape, for example of 3 inch inner diameter. 
     In another embodiment, the dispenser further includes a locking mechanism that prevents rotation of the spool relative to the dispenser body portion. 
     In another embodiment, the dispenser further includes a handle that extends from the spool for rapid manual rotation of the spool relative to the dispenser body portion. 
     In another embodiment, the dispenser further includes an adjustable tension mechanism that adjusts tension in the rotation of the spool relative to the dispenser body portion. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a dispenser mountable to a pole that dispenses a ribbon of material, comprising: a dispenser body portion; a spool that rotates relative to the dispenser body portion about a spool axis, the spool constructed and arranged to dispense a ribbon of material; and a pole mount that mounts the dispenser body portion and the spool to a pole so that the spool extends from the pole so that the spool axis and an axis of elongation of the pole are spaced apart. 
     In one embodiment, the spool has one or more outer surface portions that correspond to an inner diameter of a standard roll of caution tape, for example of 3 inch inner diameter. 
     In another embodiment, the dispenser further includes a locking mechanism that prevents rotation of the spool relative to the dispenser body portion. 
     In another embodiment, the dispenser further includes a handle that extends from the spool for rapid manual rotation of the spool relative to the dispenser body portion. 
     In another embodiment, the dispenser further includes an adjustable tension mechanism that adjusts tension in the rotation of the spool relative to the dispenser body portion. 
     In another embodiment, the pole mount comprises: a hand-releasable clamp having a pole interface that is adjustable in width, the clamp constructed and arranged to mount to a body portion of a pole between a first end and a second end of the pole; and an adapter that couples the dispenser body portion to the hand-releasable clamp. 
     In another embodiment, the pole interface of the hand-releasable clamp includes multiple arcuate sections that surround portions of a pole. 
     In another embodiment, the pole interface includes a non-skid material at a point of contact between the pole interface and the pole to which the clamp is mounted. 
     In another embodiment, the dispenser further comprises a pole having a length that is adjustable. In another embodiment, the pole comprises multiple telescoping segments of different outer widths. In another embodiment, the pole comprises a circular cross section. In another embodiment, the pole includes a compression mechanism between a first end and a second end of the pole that biases the first end in a direction away from the second end. In another embodiment, the pole includes a curtain mounting head at one of the first end and the second end. 
     In another embodiment, the clamp is constructed and arranged to mount to a body portion of a pole between the first end and the second end following installation of the pole between first and second surfaces of a room. In another embodiment, the clamp comprises a first body portion and a second body portion, at least one of the first and the second body portions of the clamp pivoting relative to the adapter. In another embodiment, one of the first and second body portions of the clamp includes a latching arm that extends from the body portion of the clamp, the latching arm including an engagement feature, and wherein the other of the first and second body portions of the clamp includes multiple engagement tabs, the width of the pole interface being adjustable according to the one of the multiple engagement tabs that is engaged with the engagement feature. In another embodiment, the latching arm pivots relative to the body portion of the clamp from which it extends. In another embodiment, at least one of the first and second body portions of the clamp includes at least one pivot hook that retains corresponding rod features on the adapter so that the at least one clamp body portion pivots relative to the adapter. 
     In another embodiment, the adapter is integral with the dispenser body portion. In another embodiment, the adapter is removably attachable to the dispenser body portion. In another embodiment, the dispenser body portion includes an adapter slot that receives a body portion of the adapter. In another embodiment, one of the adapter slot of the dispenser body portion and the adapter includes retention hooks, and the other one of the adapter slot of the dispenser body portion and the adapter includes retention slots, and wherein the retention hooks mate with the retention slots to retain the adapter in the adapter slot. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a ribbon guide comprising: an elongated body portion; multiple offset pole interface fingers extending from the body portion having a curved cross-section constructed and arranged to be press-fit onto an outer body surface of a pole between a first end and a second end of the pole; and an elongated slot having an opening in which an edge portion of a ribbon of material can be inserted and removed. 
     In one embodiment, the elongated slot is of a length that is at least a width of a caution tape. 
     In another embodiment, the elongated slot includes a trap that permits insertion of an edge portion of a ribbon of material and resists removal of the edge portion of the ribbon of material. 
     In another embodiment, the ribbon guide further comprises a thumb release feature at which manual leverage can be applied to remove the ribbon guide from a pole to which the ribbon guide is mounted. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of mounting a pole accessory to a pole comprising: coupling a pole accessory to a hand-releasable clamp at an adapter; and applying a hand-releasable clamp having a pole interface that is adjustable in width to a body portion of a pole between a first end and a second end of the pole to secure the clamp and the pole accessory to the pole. 
     In one embodiment, the pole accessory comprises at least one of a caution tape dispenser accessory, a shelf accessory, a wire clip accessory, a hook accessory, a lighting accessory, a laser/camera mounting accessory, and a tray accessory. 
     In another embodiment, the method further comprises installing the pole having a length that is adjustable between first and second surfaces of a room. 
     In another embodiment, applying the hand-releasable clamp comprises applying the hand-releasable clamp after installing the pole. 
     In another embodiment, the pole comprises multiple telescoping segments of different outer widths. 
     In another embodiment, the pole comprises a circular cross section. 
     In another embodiment, the pole includes a compression mechanism between a first end and a second end of the pole that biases the first end in a direction away from the second end, and further comprising compressing the compression mechanism during installation of the pole. 
     In another embodiment, the adapter is integral with the accessory. 
     In another embodiment, the adapter is removably attachable to the accessory, and further comprising mounting the adapter to the accessory. 
     In another embodiment, the accessory comprises a dispenser that dispenses a ribbon of material, comprising: a dispenser body portion; and a spool that rotates relative to the body portion about a spool axis, the spool constructed and arranged to dispense a ribbon of material, wherein the spool extends from the pole so that the spool axis and an axis of elongation of the pole are spaced apart, and wherein the method further comprises mounting a roll of ribbon material to the spool and dispensing the ribbon of material. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of sectioning an area of a room, comprising: installing multiple poles between first and second surfaces of a room in the area to be sectioned; mounting a ribbon dispenser including a ribbon of material to a body portion of a first pole of the multiple poles between first and second ends of the first pole; pulling the ribbon of material toward a second pole of the multiple poles; mounting a ribbon guide including a ribbon slot to the second pole; and placing the ribbon through the ribbon slot of the ribbon guide. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises: pulling the ribbon of material to a third pole of the multiple poles; and clamping the ribbon of material to a body portion of the third pole. 
     In another embodiment, the ribbon dispenser comprises: a dispenser body portion; and a spool that rotates relative to the body portion about a spool axis, the spool constructed and arranged to dispense the ribbon of material, wherein the spool extends from the pole so that the spool axis and an axis of elongation of the pole are spaced apart, and further comprising mounting a roll of ribbon material to the spool and dispensing the ribbon of material. 
     In another embodiment, the ribbon of material comprises a roll of caution tape. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an accessory mounting system, including a caution tape dispenser for partitioning or designating a section of a room, in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view of an installed pole having mounted thereto a caution tape dispenser as shown in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the caution tape dispenser of  FIG. 2A  being installed on the pole, in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a clamp for mounting the caution tape dispenser, or other accessory, to a pole, in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a modular accessory connector for attaching accessories to the clamp of  FIG. 3  in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the clamp of  FIG. 3  and the modular accessory connector of  FIG. 4  mounted to a pole in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the caution tape dispenser accessory of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B with a modular mounting attachment feature in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the caution tape dispenser accessory of  FIG. 6 , with the modular mounting attachment feature being coupled to the modular accessory connector of  FIG. 4  in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a pole having a shelf accessory mounted thereto, in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a pole having a wire clip accessory mounted thereto, in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a pole having a multiple shelf accessories mounted thereto, in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a exploded perspective illustration of a variety of modular accessories that are attachable to a same type of clamp and corresponding modular accessory connector, in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tape guide clip of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a caution tape dispenser assembly including an integrated modular mounting attachment feature, in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIGS. 14A-14E  are sequential illustrations of the installation of an accessory system, including installation of a caution tape dispenser accessory, lighting accessory, shelf accessory and hook accessory, in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an accessory mounting system and mounting method thereof that provides an effective solution for sectioning a portion of a room or for organizing tools and objects, such as lighting and lasers, and cables involved in the activity that gives rise to the need for sectioning the room. Various embodiments of the present invention include accessories that are configured to mount to a side portion of an adjustable length pole, that is installed between two surfaces of a room, such as a floor and ceiling of a room. An advantage of the present invention lies in that the accessories each include a clamp that attaches to a side portion of a pole and therefore can be mounted, and adjusted in vertical position and angular orientation, following installation of the pole. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the clamp is hand-adjusted, hand-secured and hand-released, for ease of use. Accessories can be provided for a number of different functions, including a caution tape dispenser and related tape guides, tool mounts, cable mounts, shelves, drawers, lighting mounts, laser mounts, camera mounts, hooks, and other related supports and organization aids that lead to a more visually attractive, and safer, work area. 
     In certain embodiments of the accessory mounting systems and mounting methods of the present invention, the different types of accessories are attachable to the side portion of a pole at a clamp and accessory connector that have the same modular form, and are therefore compatible with each different type of accessory. This is accomplished by providing each accessory to include a similar clamp attachment at the interface between the accessory body and the clamp. In this manner, each of the different types of accessories is modular with the clamp in the sense that each accessory can share the same type of pole clamp. This feature reduces tooling and manufacturing costs. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of an embodiment of an accessory mounting system including a caution tape dispenser used for partitioning a section of a room, in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, first, second and third telescoping poles  12 ,  18 ,  20  are adjusted in height and installed between a floor  24  and a ceiling  22  of a room. Each pole  12 ,  18 ,  20 , includes a foot  12   e ,  18   e ,  20   e  that interfaces with the floor  24  and a head  12   d ,  18   d ,  20   d , that interfaces with the ceiling  22 . The foot  12   e ,  18   e ,  20   e  and the head  12   d ,  18   d ,  20   d  preferably include lower and upper engaging surfaces that are formed of a non-skid material to prevent lateral slip of the poles  12 ,  18 ,  20  once installed. The poles  12 ,  18 ,  20  as shown are telescoping poles, so as to be adjustable in length, and include twist-locking mechanisms, or tab mechanisms, to fix their length, once adjusted. Each portion of a telescoping pole  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  has a different width. The poles  12 ,  18 ,  20  can optionally include a compression mechanism, for example a spring, between the foot  12   e ,  18   e ,  20   e  and the head  12   d ,  18   d ,  20   d  in order to provide a tensioned interface between the poles  12 ,  18 ,  20  and the room surfaces  22 ,  24 . The head  12   d ,  18   d ,  20   d  or foot  12   e ,  18   e ,  20   e , may optionally include a pivot joint so that the poles  12 ,  18 ,  20  can be securely mounted between room surfaces  22 ,  24  that are not parallel to each other, or so that the pole can be mounted at an angle relative to the room surfaces  22 ,  24 . 
     In the example embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a caution tape dispenser accessory  10  is mounted to a side portion of the installed first pole  12 . The caution tape dispenser  10  is clamped to a second portion  12   b  of the first pole  12 , and secured in place so as to extend laterally from the pole  12 . A roll of caution tape  14  is provided on the dispenser  10 . A detailed description of an embodiment of the caution tape dispenser and the clamp for securing the caution tape dispenser to the pole is provided in further detail below. 
     The second and third poles  18 ,  20  are each provided with a tape guide clip  17 . The tape guide clips  17  include opposed fingers that flexibly snap about a side portion of a lower portion of the pole. The tape guide clips  17  include a tape slot  19  through which the caution tape can be positioned and a handle  23 . The caution tape  14  in this example is pulled from the dispenser  10  and passes through the slot  19  of the tape guide clip  17  mounted to the second pole  18 . From there, the caution tape  14  is extended to the third pole  20 , where an end of the tape is secured to the body of the third pole  20  by the tape guide clip  17 . At the third pole  20 , the end of the caution tape is clamped directly to the body of the third pole by the opposed clamping fingers. In this manner, the tape guide clips  17  serve the dual purpose of positioning the caution tape relative to the pole, as shown in  FIG. 1  for the second pole  18 , and for clamping the end of the caution tape to the pole, as shown in  FIG. 1  for the third pole  20 . 
     The caution tape dispenser accessory  10  can be provided with an optional tensioning mechanism that provides tension in the caution tape to prevent sagging, and further can be provided with a locking mechanism to fix the length of the tape, once dispensed and adjusted. An optional handle can be provided on the dispenser  10  for reeling in the tape when the project is complete. In addition, the caution tape dispenser accessory can be provided with a self-retracting spool for automatically retracting the dispensed tape. The caution tape is readily attachable to the poles  12 ,  18 ,  20  and is held taut and at a desired height. In this manner, a room can be sectioned in a relatively simple and tidy fashion. 
       FIG. 2A  is a side view of a caution tape dispenser  10  mounted to an installed pole  12  and  FIG. 2B  is a side view of the caution tape dispenser  10  of  FIG. 2A  being mounted to the installed pole  12 , in accordance with the present invention. The pole  12  includes first, second and third telescoping sections  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  of different respective widths w 1 , w 2 , w 3 . A spool of caution tape is installed on a caution tape dispenser accessory  10  mounted to the second section  12   b  of the first pole  12 . The caution tape dispenser accessory includes a clamp  26  and an accessory body  28 . The clamp  26  is adjustable so that the caution tape dispenser  10 , or other accessory attached to the clamp  26 , can be readily mounted and secured to any of the pole sections  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  of different widths. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a clamp  26  for mounting the caution tape dispenser, or other accessory, to a pole, in accordance with the present invention. The clamp  26  includes a first clamp body  70   a  and a second clamp body  70   b . Each of the first and second clamp bodies  70   a ,  70   b  includes a pole interface  30  on an inner surface thereof. The pole interface  30  includes, in one embodiment, a pad of compressible high-friction foam or other non-skid material  31  for preventing the clamp  26  and accessory from slipping relative to the pole. The first clamp body  70   a  includes a latch  32  and latch handle  35  on an outer surface thereof, and the second clamp body  70   b  includes multiple tabs  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c ,  33   d  on an outer surface thereof. The latch  32  engages any one of the multiple tabs  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c ,  33   d  at engagement feature  71  for locking the clamp  26  into position on the pole. The latch handle  35  pivots relative to the latch  32 , and rests against a feature of the first clamp body  70   a , so that when the engagement feature  71  of the latch is placed in engagement with one of the multiple tabs  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c ,  33   d , the latch  32  is locked in place by rotating the latch handle  35 , which induces leverage against the first clamp body  70   a  to pull the latch  32  into a locked position. Similarly, by rotating the latch handle  35  in an opposite direction, the latch  32  can be removed from the locked position. By including multiple tabs  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c ,  33   d  on the second clamp body  70   b  of varying distance relative to the first clamp body  70   a , the clamp  26  is made to be adjustable for attaching the clamp to poles, or pole sections, having different widths w 1 , w 2 , w 3 , as shown in  FIG. 2A  above. Each of the first and second clamp bodies  70   a ,  70   b  further includes pivot hooks  34   a ,  34   b  for rotatably attaching the clamp to a connector  36 , or adapter, as described below. The latch  32  is hand-releasable, such that the clamp  26  can be attached to the pole or removed from a side portion of the pole following positioning and mounting of the pole  12  between the first and second room surfaces. Alternatively, the clamp can optionally be attached to or removed from the pole prior to mounting the pole or following removal of the pole. By providing the ability to attach the clamp and corresponding accessory to a side portion of the pole, it is not necessary to install the clamp and accessory at or over an end portion of the pole, for example at the head or the foot  12   d ,  12   e , as in some conventional apparatus, which leads to a more complicated installation. In addition, the angular orientation of clamp  26  and corresponding accessory and the vertical position of the clamp and corresponding accessory is entirely adjustable relative to the pole, for optimizing placement of the accessory. Compressibility in the pad of material  31  allows for play in the width of the resulting pole interface, which can compensate for small differences in pole outer diameter relative to the indexed clamp settings. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an adapter in the form of a modular accessory connector  36  for attaching accessories to the clamp of  FIG. 3  in accordance with the present invention. A modular accessory connector  36 , or adapter, includes a body  41  that includes a pole interface  38  and rod features  40 . The pivot hooks  34   a ,  34   b  of the first and second body portions  70   a ,  70   b  of the clamp  26  snap-fit onto the rods  40  of the modular accessory connector  36 . In this manner, the pivot hooks  34   a ,  34   b  of the clamp body portions  70   a ,  70   b  pivot relative to the modular accessory connector  36  in a hinged relationship, so that in combination, the modular accessory connector  36  and clamp  26  articulate about the pole to ease installation and removal of the accessory to and from the pole. Like the pole interface  30  of the clamp  26 , the pole interface  38  of the modular accessory connector includes a pad  79  of compressible high-friction foam or non-skid material which prevents the installed clamp from sliding relative to the pole. The body  41  of the modular accessory connector  36  further includes retention hooks  39 , for example integral retention hooks  39 , that extend from the top of the modular accessory connector  36 . The retention hooks  39  are preferably elastically deformable so that they can latch with corresponding openings or slots  49  in a mating accessory mounting attachment  48 , as will be described in further detail below. In addition, the body  41  of the modular accessory connector is shaped so as to mate with a corresponding retaining slot of the mating accessory mounting attachment  48 , as will be described in further detail below. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the combined clamp of  FIG. 3  and the modular accessory connector  36  of  FIG. 4  mounted to a pole in accordance with the present invention. In this view, it can be seen that the pole interface surface  38  of the modular accessory connector and the pole interface surfaces  30  of the first and second clamp body portions  70   a ,  70   b , are shaped, for example, curved, to match the contour, for example the cylindrical contour, of the pole  12  to which it is installed. The latch handle  32  is shown in a locked position, which pulls the first and second clamp body portions  70   a ,  70   b  toward each other to secure the clamp  26  and modular accessory connector  36  to the pole  12 . 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the caution tape dispenser accessory of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B including a modular mounting attachment  48  feature in accordance with the present invention. The modular mounting attachment  48  extends from a body portion  46  of the caution tape dispenser and includes a slot  57  that mates with the body  41  of the modular accessory connector  36  for connecting the accessory, in this example, the caution tape dispenser accessory  10 , to a pole clamp, for example the clamp  26  described above in connection with  FIG. 3 . Retention slots  49  formed in a top portion of the slot  57  of the modular mounting attachment  48  mate with the retention hooks  39  of an inserted modular accessory connector  36 , and are operative to retain the modular accessory connector  36  and the corresponding clamp  26  to the accessory. 
     In this embodiment, the caution tape dispenser accessory  10  includes an axle  44  that extends from the body portion  46  and on which is seated a spool  45 . The spool  45  rotates about the axle  44  at a spool seat  95 . An outer diameter of the spool  45  is dimensioned to receive a standard roll of caution tape that can be press fit on the spool  45 , for example a standard roll having an inner diameter of 3 inches. The spool  45  is secured to the body portion  46  and axle  44  using a bolt  91 , washer  92  and nut  94 . An optional spring  93  can be positioned between an upper portion of the axle  44  and an inner ceiling of the spool seat  95  so that an adjustable tension can be applied to the rotation of the spool  45  relative to the body portion  46 . A lock knob  47  at a top of the spool  45  controls the position of an engagement tooth  43  at a bottom, interior portion of the spool  45 . The engagement tooth  43  is constructed to engage one of multiple tooth captures  51  arranged about a bottom portion of the axle  44 . In one embodiment, the lock knob  47  and the engagement tooth  43  pivot relative to each other about an axle. In this manner, the rotational position of the spool can be locked relative to the body portion  46 . A retractable handle  66  that pivots relative to the spool extends in a horizontal direction from the top of the spool in an active position. The handle  66  includes a knob  67  that rotates relative to the handle  66 , so that the caution tape can be rapidly dispensed during installation and reeled and retained following use. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the assembled caution tape dispenser accessory  10  of  FIG. 6  with the modular mounting attachment feature  48  being coupled to the modular accessory connector  36  of  FIG. 4  in accordance with the present invention. The body  41  of the modular accessory connector  36  is positioned in the slot  57  of the modular mounting attachment  48  to a final, engaged position where the retention hooks  39  of the modular accessory connector  36  engage the retention slots  49  of the modular mounting attachment  48 . In this manner, the modular accessory connector  36  and associated clamp  26  described above become locked together with the modular mounting attachment  48 . 
     While an accessory in the form of a caution tape dispenser is shown and described above in connection with the present invention, accessories other than the caution tape dispenser can be employed, and are equally applicable to the present invention. For example, such accessories can include, for example, tool mounts, cable mounts, shelves, drawers, lighting mounts, laser mounts, camera mounts, hooks, and other related supports and organization aids that lead to a more visually attractive, and safer work site. The additional accessories can each be constructed and arranged to include a modular mounting attachment  48  on their bodies having the same configuration as that of the modular mounting attachment  48  of the caution tape dispenser accessory  10 . In this manner, the different types of accessories can be mounted to the same type of clamp  26  and modular accessory connector  36 , leading to reduced manufacturing and assembly costs. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a pole having a shelf accessory mounted thereto, in accordance with the present invention. In  FIG. 8 , the accessory is in the form of a flat shelf accessory  146  that includes a modular mounting attachment  148  on its body that mates with a corresponding modular accessory connector of a clamp  26 , as described above. The shelf  146  may be used for storing and organizing tools or other objects. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of a pole having a wire clip accessory mounted thereto, in accordance with the present invention. In  FIG. 9 , the accessory is in the form of a wire clip accessory  246  that includes a modular mounting attachment  248  on its body that mates with a corresponding modular accessory connector of a clamp  26 , as described above. The wire clip accessory  246  may be used for arranging and organizing power wires or cables to be used at the work site for safety or cosmetic reasons. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of a pole having a multiple shelf accessories mounted thereto, in accordance with the present invention. In  FIG. 10 , multiple shelf accessories  114 ,  116  and  118  extend from the pole at various heights and various angular orientations. In this view, it can also be seen that although the pole sections  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  have different corresponding widths w 1 , w 2 , w 3 , the same clamps  26  can be used for each of the shelf accessories  146  attached to the different pole sections  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , since the clamps  26  are adjustable in width. In addition, the clamps  26  allow for vertical and rotational positioning with respect to the pole sections  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c.    
       FIG. 11  is a exploded perspective illustration of a variety of modular accessories that are attachable to a same type of clamp  26  and corresponding modular accessory connector  36 , in accordance with the present invention. The various accessories include a caution tape dispenser accessory  10 , a shelf accessory  146 , a wire clip accessory  246 , a hook accessory  346 , a lighting device accessory  446 , a camera or laser mount accessory  546 , and a tray accessory  646 . The caution tape dispenser accessory  10  is described in detail above. The shelf accessory  146  includes a flat or recessed upper surface for storage of tools, parts, or equipment. The wire clip accessory  246  includes a C-shaped, or J-shaped, opening for supporting and retaining wires or cables. The hook accessory  346  includes a hook feature on which various items, including tools, equipment, clothing, etc. can be hung. The lighting accessory  446  includes an adjustable neck  447  so that emitted light can be oriented in a range of desired directions. The laser or camera mount accessory  546  includes a camera or laser tray  549  with a standard mounting thumb screw  547  for securing the camera or laser to the tray  549 . The vertical position of the tray  549  is controlled by control knob  553 , which adjusts the vertical position of an arm  551  to which the tray  549  is mounted, relative to the body of the camera or laser mount accessory  546 . The tray accessory  646  includes a flat or recessed upper surface for storage of tools, parts, or equipment. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , each of the various accessories is equipped with a similar modular mounting attachment  48 ,  148 ,  248 ,  348 ,  448 ,  548 ,  648  that all mate with the same type of modular accessory connector  36  and corresponding clamp  26 , as described above. The same configuration applies equally well to other forms of accessories that would find use at or around a work site, or any site at which temporary partition poles would be installed. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the tape guide clip of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the present invention. The tape guide clip  17  includes a handle  23 , a tape slot  19 , a slot trap  25  and opposed clamping fingers  21 . The handle  23  and the body of the clip  17  include thumb release features  22   a ,  22   b  which can be used for leverage when releasing the tape guide clip  17  from a pole. The tape slot  19  is constructed and arranged to be sufficiently wide and long so that a dispensed caution tape can slide through the tape slot  19 . A slot trap  25  at the top portion of the slot  19  has a narrow opening for insertion of an edge of an caution tape and a relatively wide trap  25 , so that the inserted tape becomes trapped in the slot once inserted, and requires operator assistance for removal of the tape. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a caution tape dispenser assembly including an integrated modular accessory connector  236 , in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the features of the accessory connector adapter are integrated directly onto a rear face  748  of the body  46  of the caution tape dispenser accessory  10 . Therefore, the modular accessory connector  236  of this embodiment includes rod features  240  similar in structure to the rod features  40  described above, and mate with the pivot hook features  34   a ,  34   b  of the clamp in the same manner. Although this embodiment is illustrated in connection with the caution tape dispenser  10  accessory, the integrated modular accessory connector  236  feature can be integrated with any of the accessories illustrated above, or with other accessories. 
       FIGS. 14A-14E  are sequential illustrations of the installation of an accessory system, including installation of a caution tape dispenser accessory, lighting accessory, shelf accessory and hook accessory, in accordance with the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 14A , an installer  200  is in the process of installing three adjustable-length poles  12 ,  18 ,  20  between a first floor surface  24  and a second ceiling surface  22  of a room. In this illustration, a ribbon, for example in the form of a caution tape, is to be installed in order to section off an area of the room near the door. 
     With reference to  FIG. 14B , the installer  200  mounts the caution tape dispenser  10 , including a roll of caution tape  14 , to a side portion of the body of the first pole  12  between the first and second ends of the first pole  12 . Next, the installer  200  mounts a tape guide clip  17 A, for example of the type illustrated in  FIG. 12  to a side portion of the body of the second pole  18 , as shown. 
     With reference to  FIG. 14C , the installer  200  next pulls caution tape from the dispenser  10 , and places an edge of the dispensed caution tape  202  through the tape guide slot  19  (see  FIG. 12 ) of the clip  17 A so that the dispensed tape  202  is supported by, and slides through, the slot of the clip  17 A mounted to the second pole  18 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 14D , the installer  200  continues to pull additional caution tape from the dispenser  10 , and clips a leading edge of the dispensed tape  202  to the third pole  20  using the opposed clamping fingers  21  of clip  17 B. Following this, the installer uses the handle  66  of the caution tape dispenser accessory  10  to remove slack from the dispensed tape  202 , and locks the spool of the dispenser in place using lock knob  47 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 14E , the installer  200  next organizes the work site by installing first and second wire clip accessories  246 A,  246 B to the first pole  12 , and lighting accessory  446  to the second pole  18 . An electrical wire  450  for the lighting accessory is passed through the wire clips  246 A,  246 B and across to the lighting accessory  446  at the second pole  18  near the ceiling, in order to provide a safer work site. In addition, a shelf accessory  146  is installed on the third pole  20  for supporting miscellaneous tools that will be needed for the project. A hook accessory  346  is also installed on the third pole  20  for further organization of items. It should be noted that the various accessories mounted to the poles  12 ,  18 ,  20  in this illustration are mounted to different lower, middle, and upper pole segments of the poles  12 ,  18 ,  20 , each segment having a different width, as described above. Accordingly, by providing the accessories each with a clamp having a pole interface of an adjustable width, the accessories can be employed at any of the pole segments, leading to enhanced applicability of the systems and methods of the present invention. 
     The various accessories, the clamp, the modular accessory connector, and the tape guide clip, and the various components thereof, can be formed of any of a number of relatively strong and lightweight materials, including plastic, aluminum, and graphite. In one example, the parts and components are formed in a plastic injection molding process, preferably in a straight-pull injection molding process in order to reduce tooling and manufacturing costs. 
     The present invention is therefore directed to accessory mounting systems and mounting methods thereof that provide an effective solution for sectioning a portion of a room and for organizing tools, objects and cables involved in the activity that gives rise to the need for sectioning or organizing the room, in a manner that improves site safety, improves the visual attractiveness of a site, and improves site organization. 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     For example, although certain embodiments described above describe the use of a caution tape dispenser for dispensing commercially available caution tape, a similar dispenser could be configured to dispense colored ribbon or rope that does not include a written warning.