Patent Publication Number: US-2023148779-A1

Title: Separable hospital curtain

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Ser. No. 63/280,651, filed Nov. 18, 2021; Ser. No. 63/304,833, filed Jan. 31, 2022; Ser. No. 63/317,112, filed Mar. 7, 2022; Ser. No. 63/320,369, filed Mar. 16, 2022; and Ser. No. 63/320,366, filed Mar. 16, 2022, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     This invention relates generally to curtains and, more specifically, the invention relates to a detachable, ventilating enclosure for use with a supporting structure or railing to provide an enclosure of the type utilized for hospital settings, surgical facilities, or the like. 
     Curtains are often used to divide larger hospital rooms into individual patient or examination areas. They are useful in providing a patient with his or her own private area when other patients are in the room or to provide privacy in higher traffic settings in a hospital, clinic or other healthcare facility, such as an emergency room or post-operative recovery room. Often, the curtains are attached by hooks or other means that are slidably mounted to curtain tracks attached to the ceiling of the hospital room or other healthcare facility. The slidable mounting makes it convenient for the curtains to be moved back and forth between open and closed positions so that a health care professional, visitor, or the patient may enter and exit the area with ease. 
     Typically, hospital curtains are made from cloth or a cloth-like material. Due to the fibrous nature of this type of material, the cubicle curtains often become a haven for bacteria and microbial growth. Bacteria and germs are transmitted to and from the curtains through the air or by physical contact. Moreover, the process of installing a new or washed and cleaned curtain may result in the curtain contacting the floor and attracting contaminants and unwanted particles that might be present on the floor. 
     Such curtains in the prior art are expensive to manufacture, difficult to launder, and may increase the risk of infection. One noted problem is that removal of prior curtains for cleaning often requires the individual removing the curtain to stand on a chair or similar piece of furniture to reach the top of the curtain and detach the curtain from the ceiling mounted rail or support mechanism. Replacement of a curtain has a similar problem. This can be dangerous to the individual doing the removing and any patient nearby. Use of a chair or ladder maybe required to adequately access and remove/install the curtain. This can be potentially dangerous if the person falls from the chair or ladder and, at the least, is time consuming and cumbersome, especially if dozens of curtains are being removed and reinstalled at a time. 
     It is known in the art to make a bottom portion of the curtain separable from the top portion as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,204,749, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In the invention disclosed in the &#39;749 patent, the hospital curtain is made up of a ventilated top portion attached by curtain carriers and eyelets to a ceiling mounted curtain track, and a bottom portion joined to a bottom edge of the top portion by a zipper for selective removal of the bottom portion for washing or replacement. However, the zipper is often located at a height well above the floor of the room and is difficult for most service personnel to easily unzip or zip the bottom portion from/to the top portion without the benefit of a ladder, step stool or other device. One of the drawbacks to this type of design is that most zippers are designed for attaching two portions of material along a substantially straight section of each portion of the material. 
     Accordingly, what is needed is an improved hospital curtain that can be easily and safely removed and replaced without the need for a ladder or other assisting device to remove and replace the curtain. 
     The above and other objects and advantages in accordance with the principles of this invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention overcomes these and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing a hospital curtain having of a ventilated narrow top portion slideably attached along a ceiling track. A wide bottom portion of the curtain is removably attached to the narrow top portion by a zipper extending therebetween. 
     One feature of the hospital curtain according to various embodiments of this invention is a zipper or other attachment mechanism which joins the lower edge of the top panel to the upper edge of the bottom panel. Zippers are well known in the art for such an attachment mechanism, but the zipper according to various embodiments of this invention may have a contoured shape or curved portions to join the bottom edge of the top portion to the top edge of the bottom portion. The curved portions allow for the ends of the zipper tracks to extend downwardly for easier access to a user zipping the curtain portions together or unzipping them apart. The contour of the zipper includes relatively small radius curved portions to make it easier for an installer who may not be able to reach the lower edge of the top panel for installation and/or removal of the bottom panel. The lateral ends of the zipper extend downwardly from the lower edge of the top panel for more convenient access when mating the zipper portions on the top and bottom panels together or unzipping them apart. 
     An additional aspect of various embodiments of this invention is a zipper assist pole with a head feature designed to engage a zipper pull on the zipper and allow a user to pull the zipper pull across the joint between the top and bottom portions to zip them together or unzip them apart. The zipper assist pole allows a user to comfortably stand on the floor grasping the pole and engage the zipper pull with the zipper assist pole head to pull the zipper pull along the zipper track above head level. 
     The top panel maybe solid, or include a mesh or mesh-like fabric or substance. The top panel maybe constructed so as to allow air or light to pass through. The bottom panel maybe opaque so as to provide privacy, and maybe manufactured from a variety of materials known to the industry, including but not limited to polypropylene, polyester, treated natural fibers, or other fabrics. The material maybe flame resistant and/or antibacterial. The bottom panel maybe single-use or disposable, or maybe reusable. In one exemplary embodiment, the bottom panel is manufactured from sturdy material able to withstand frequent washings or cleanings. Once removed from the top panel, the bottom panel maybe discarded or laundered and re-installed on the same or a different top panel. Once the bottom panel is removed from the top panel, a different and clean bottom panel maybe installed onto the top panel. 
     Easy removal and replacement of the bottom panel for cleaning and other purposes is thereby promoted by embodiments of this invention. Once removed, the bottom panel may be cleaned and re-installed onto the top panel. Alternatively, a different, new and/or clean bottom panel maybe installed on the top panel which may be part of a service providers role in the maintenance of the clinical setting and associated curtain installation. 
     Further areas of applicability of this invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       CCN-107 Follows 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of one embodiment of a separable curtain in a clinical setting according to this invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a front elevational view of the curtain in  FIG.  1    in a generally planar configuration; 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged view of a portion of the curtain of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a view similar to  FIG.  3    with a user separating portions of the curtain along a zipper; 
         FIG.  5    is view similar to  FIGS.  3  and  4    with a portion of the curtain removed along the zipper; 
         FIG.  6    is a view similar to  FIG.  1    with the portion of the curtain removed and shown in phantom lines; 
       CCN-107A Follows 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of another embodiment of a separable curtain in a clinical setting according to this invention; 
         FIG.  8    is a front elevational view of a folded bottom portion of the curtain in  FIG.  7    being initially attached to a strap extending from the top portion of the curtain according to one aspect of this invention; 
         FIG.  9    is view similar to  FIG.  8    with the bottom portion secured to all of the straps on the top portion of the curtain; 
         FIG.  10    is a view subsequent to  FIG.  9    with a zipper mechanism initially being zipped closed to join the top and bottom portions; 
         FIG.  11    is view subsequent to  FIG.  10    showing the zipper mechanism being closed; 
         FIG.  11 A  is an enlarged view of the zipper mechanism of  FIGS.  8 - 11    being manually pulled by a user; 
         FIG.  11 B  is an enlarged view of the zipper mechanism of  FIGS.  8 - 11    being closed by a user using a zipper assist pole according to one aspect of this invention; 
         FIG.  12    is a view similar to  FIGS.  9 - 11    showing the zipper mechanism zipped closed joining the top and bottom portions of the curtain and zipper extensions of the zipper mechanism being tucked into the bottom portion of the curtain; 
         FIGS.  12 A- 12 D  are sequential views of one of the zipper extensions being tucked into a pocket in the bottom portion of the curtain; 
         FIG.  13    is front elevational view of the curtain of  FIG.  7    with the top and bottom portions joined by the zipper mechanism and the zipper extensions tucked into respective pockets according to one embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG.  14    is an enlarged view of a user initially separating the bottom portion from the top portion via a quick release zipper mechanism according to one embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG.  15    is a view similar to  FIG.  7    with the bottom portion of the curtain removed for cleaning and/or replacement; 
         FIG.  16    is a view similar to  FIG.  7    with two adjacent curtains coupled together to provide additional privacy and coverage to the clinical setting; 
         FIG.  17    is front elevational view of one of the curtains of  FIG.  16   ; 
         FIGS.  17 A- 17 B  are sequential views of the two curtains of  FIG.  17    being joined together according to one embodiment of this invention; 
       CCN-107B Follows 
         FIG.  18    is a perspective view of another embodiment of a separable curtain in a clinical setting according to this invention; 
         FIG.  19    is a front elevational view of a bottom portion of the curtain in  FIG.  18    being initially attached to the top portion of the curtain according to one aspect of this invention; 
         FIG.  19 A  is an enlarged view of the curtain of FIG. 19  with a zipper pull being mated with the head of a zipper assist pole according to one aspect of this invention; 
         FIG.  20    is a view subsequent to  FIGS.  19  and  19 A  with a zipper mechanism initially being zipped closed to join the top and bottom portions; 
         FIG.  20 A  is view subsequent to  FIG.  20    showing the zipper mechanism being closed; 
         FIG.  21    is a front elevational view of the bottom portion of the curtain installed onto the top portion with the zipper mechanism zipped closed according to one embodiment of this invention; and 
         FIG.  22    is a view similar to  FIG.  21    of an alternative embodiment of the curtain of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures. The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention being a curtain assembly  10  suspended from a track  12 , showing a lower portion  14  separable from an upper portion  16 . This embodiment of the invention is a quick release hospital curtain  10  comprising the lower portion  14  which may be fabricated out of an antimicrobial fabric. The invention also includes a ventilated upper portion  16 . The upper portion  16  has a top segment made of a mesh material  18  for ventilation and is slideably attached along a ceiling track  12  using a number of curtain carriers coupled to spaced apart eyelets  20  on a top edge  22  of the upper portion  16 . A breakaway zipper  24  extends longitudinally between the lower portion  14  and the upper portion  16  of the hospital curtain  10 . The breakaway zipper  24  has upper and lower zipper tracks  24   a,    24   b  with matingly interlocking teeth  26  that are separable for removing the lower portion  14  from the upper portion  16  of the hospital curtain  10  when desired. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of this embodiment of this invention fully assembled. Shown is the quick release curtain  10  of this invention comprising the lower portion  14  and the ventilated upper portion  16 . A number of different materials maybe used for the lower portion  14 . Various antimicrobial materials maybe topically applied periodically or they may be impregnated within the curtain material during the manufacturing process. This provides an impediment to germs in the environment surrounding the bed  28  or examination area  30  ( FIG.  6   ) by denying a surface where the organisms can multiply. The breakaway zipper  24  (discussed further below) extends fully from the left edge of the hospital curtain  10  to the right edge of the hospital curtain  10 . The breakaway zipper  24  has upper and lower zipper tracks  24   a,    24   b  with matingly interlocking teeth  26  that are separable for removing the lower portion  14  from the upper portion  16  when the matingly interlocking teeth  26  are disengaged from one another. 
       FIG.  2    is a front view of the curtain  10  in a generally planar configuration and suspended off of the ceiling track  12 . 
       FIGS.  3 - 4    are front views of this embodiment of this invention similar to  FIG.  2   , showing the lower portion  14  starting to be separated from the upper portion  16 . The quick release hospital curtain  10  of this invention includes the breakaway zipper  24  which extends from the left edge of the hospital curtain  10  to the right edge of the hospital curtain  10 . This breakaway zipper  24  provides a combined breakaway and engagement means that allows a user to remove the lower portion  14  from the upper portion  16  when desired, as will be discussed below. In one embodiment, the interlocking teeth  26 , are made of a polymer substance and may also be impregnated or infused with an antimicrobial compound similar to the lower portion  14  of the hospital curtain  10 . The zipper  24  maybe separated by a user pulling the handle  32  of the zipper  24  in the direction of arrow A in  FIG.  3   . Note also that it is contemplated that in the case of an emergency, if the curtain  10  needed to be removed more quickly, the interlocking zipper teeth  26 , could be disengaged from one another by simply pulling downwardly as indicated at directional arrow B in the  FIG.  4   , which would also cause the zipper tracks  24   a,    24   b  to detach from one another. 
       FIG.  5    is an enlarged partial front view of the upper portion  16  with the lower portion  14  broken away. The breakaway zipper  24  is shown with the upper zipper track  24   a.    
     Shown in  FIG.  5    is a detailed view of the quick release hospital curtain  10  of this one embodiment of this invention with the lower portion  14  removed. The breakaway zipper  24  extends from the left edge of the hospital curtain  10  to the right edge of the hospital curtain  10 . The breakaway zipper  24  has the upper and lower zipper tracks  24   a,    24   b  with the matingly interlocking teeth  26  that are separable for removing the lower portion  14  from the upper portion  16  when the matingly interlocking teeth  26  are disengaged. 
       FIG.  6    is an enlarged perspective view of the clinical setting  30  similar to  FIG.  1   , showing the zipper  24  opened and the lower portion  14  removed away from the upper portion  16 . The breakaway zipper  24  has the upper and lower zipper tracks ( 24   a  and  24   b,  respectively) with matingly interlocking teeth  26  that are separable for removing the lower portion  14  from the upper portion  16  when the matingly interlocking teeth  26  are disengaged as shown. As mentioned above, the user (seen in  FIG.  4   ) may either use the zipper handle  32 , indicated in  FIG.  3   , or may, in case of urgency, simply pull the engaged teeth  26  apart as shown in  FIG.  4   . 
     This invention in various embodiments provides a privacy curtain  10  for hospital room or examination room  30  use. With the rise of infections contracted in hospitals, some of these being partially or substantially resistant to antibiotic treatment, this invention addresses a real need by denying any airborne organisms or germs unknowingly carried by a person in the environment a surface proximate the patient where the pathogens can rest or multiply. As mentioned above, the lower portion  14  of the curtain  10  maybe contaminated and this invention allows for more frequent cleaning and/or replacement. It is contemplated that the lower portion  14  of the invention would be easily washable and able to undergo sterilization procedures (high temperatures, chemical treatment, or the like) in case of being removed. 
       FIG.  7    is a perspective view of another embodiment of this invention being a curtain assembly  110  suspended from a track  112 , showing a wide bottom portion  114  separable from a narrow top portion  116 . The top portion  116  may have a top segment made of a mesh material  118  for ventilation and is slideably attached along a ceiling track  112  using a number of curtain carriers coupled to spaced apart eyelets  120  on a top edge  122  of the top portion  116 . An attachment mechanism which in some embodiments is a zipper mechanism  124  extends longitudinally between and selectively joining the bottom portion  114  and the top portion  116  of the hospital curtain  110 . Other attachment mechanisms may be used within the scope of this invention. The zipper mechanism  124  has upper and lower zipper tracks  124   a,    124   b  with matingly interlocking teeth  126  that are separable for selectively removing/attaching the bottom portion  114  from/to the top portion  116  of the curtain  110  when desired. 
     According to various embodiments of this invention, the zipper mechanism  124  may include one or more zipper extensions  134  each of which extend beyond a side edge  136  of the curtain  110 . The curtain  110  has a perimeter edge which includes the side edges  136 . As shown in  FIGS.  8 - 11   , the zipper extension  134  may extend downwardly from the joint between the top portion  116  and the bottom portion  114  to thereby allow a user standing on the floor  138  to reach the zipper mechanism  124  via the zipper extension  134  and zip or unzip the zipper mechanism  124 . Each zipper extension  134  is a continuation of the zipper mechanism  124  joining the top and bottom portions  116 ,  114  together and may include a terminus of the zipper. Just like the main portion of the zipper mechanism  124  located between the bottom and top portions  114 ,  116  and the side edges  136  of the portions  114 ,  116 , each zipper extension  134  includes the upper and lower zipper tracks  124   a,    124   b  with matingly interlocking teeth  126 . Zipper extensions  134  may extend beyond and be included one or both lateral side edges  136  of the curtain  110  according to various embodiments of this invention. Each zipper extension  134  may be of any desired length to accommodate the hospital setting  130 , ceiling height, height of the joint between the bottom and top and portions  114 ,  116  and in various embodiments maybe about eighteen to twenty four inches in length. If the curtain  110  includes zipper extensions  134  on each side  136 , the zipper extensions  134  do not need to be of equal length according to some embodiments of this invention. 
     When the top and bottom portions  116 ,  114  are mated together as shown in  FIG.  7   , the zipper extension  134  maybe tucked into a pocket  140  formed in the bottom portion  114  of the curtain  110  (see  FIGS.  12 - 12 D ). The pocket  140  conceals the zipper extension  134  and inhibits inadvertent pulling on the zipper extension  134  when not being used to zip/unzip the zipper mechanism  124 . The pocket  134  maybe formed at the side edge  136  of the bottom portion  114  and include a panel of fabric sewn or otherwise attached to the bottom portion  114 . One or more snaps  142  maybe used to secure a strip  144  of material and capture the extension  134  in the pocket  140 . 
       FIG.  7    is a perspective view of this embodiment of this invention fully assembled. Shown is the curtain  110  of this embodiment comprising the bottom portion  114  and the ventilated top portion  116 . A number of different materials maybe used for the bottom portion  114 . Various antimicrobial materials may be topically applied periodically or they may be impregnated within the curtain material during the manufacturing process. This provides an impediment to germs in the environment surrounding the bed  128  or examination area  130  by denying a surface where the organisms can multiply. The zipper mechanism  124  (discussed further elsewhere herein) extends fully from beyond from the left perimeter edge of the hospital curtain  110  to beyond the right perimeter edge of the hospital curtain  110  in various embodiments. The zipper mechanism  124  has upper and lower zipper tracks  124   a,    124   b  with matingly interlocking teeth  126  that are separable for removing the bottom portion  114  from the top portion  116  when the matingly interlocking teeth  126  are disengaged from one another. 
     The zipper mechanism  124  may be zipped or unzipped by a user manually grasping a pull tab  132  on the zipper mechanism  124  and pulling it along the length of the zipper tracks  124   a,    124   b  as shown in  FIG.  11 A . Another feature of various embodiments of this invention shown in  FIG.  11 B  is a zipper assist pole  46  having an elongate shaft  148  and a head  150  at one end of the shaft  148 . The shaft  148  may be telescopic in some embodiments. The head  150  maybe Y-shaped with a pair of arms  52  each terminating at a distal end thereof in a rounded boss  154 . A juncture  156  of the arms  52  at the root of the Y-shaped head  150  may include a socket or other catch to engage the pull tab  132  of the zipper mechanism  124 . With the zipper assist pole  46 , a user may grasp the zipper extension  134  and begin the zipping process. The user may engage the pull tab  132  into the socket  156  on the head  150  and grasp the shaft  148  of the zipper assist pole  46  to thereby move the pull tab  132  along the zipper tracks  124   a,    124   b  at an elevated position over their head proximate the lower edge of the top portion  116 . The pole  46  maybe used to pull the pull tab  132  along the zipper tracks  124   a,    124   b  while the user is standing on the floor  138  even though the juncture between the portions  114 ,  116  is well above the user&#39;s height or reach. The zipper assist pole  46  maybe used to zip or unzip the zipper mechanism  124 . When not in use, the zipper assist pole  46  maybe hung on a conveniently located wall mount. 
     Another feature of various embodiments of this invention is shown in  FIGS.  8 - 11    as one or more straps  160  extending downwardly from the top portion  116  at spaced intervals along the width of the curtain  110 . Each strap  160  may have a fastener  162  at the distal end of the strap  160  or one or more fasteners  162  along the length of the strap  160  to initially and releasably attach the bottom portion  114  to the top portion  116  via the straps  160 . When installing a clean bottom portion  114  onto the top portion  116 , a user may not be able to both hold the bottom portion  114  and begin the process of engaging the zipper mechanism  124  while keeping the clean bottom portion  114  from touching the floor  138  and being soiled. To avoid this situation, the user may initially mate, engage or fasten complimentary fasteners  62  on the straps  160  and on the folded bottom portion  114  as shown in  FIG.  8   . As such, the bottom portion  114  will be suspended by the straps  160  as the user begins the process of engaging the zipper mechanism  124  for further attachment of the bottom portion  114  to the top portion  116 . 
       FIG.  14    shows the bottom portion  114  starting to be separated from the top portion  116  for replacement or cleaning. The hospital curtain  110  of this invention includes the zipper mechanism  124  which maybe a quick release zipper mechanism in some embodiments. The zipper mechanism  124  provides an engagement means that allows a user to remove the bottom portion  114  from the top portion  116  when desired, as will be discussed below. In one embodiment, the interlocking teeth  126 , are made of a polymer substance and may also be impregnated or infused with an antimicrobial compound similar to some embodiments of the bottom portion  114  of the hospital curtain  110 . The zipper mechanism  124  maybe separated by a user pulling the handle or zipper pull tab  132  of the zipper mechanism  124  in the direction of arrow  1 A in  FIG.  14   . Note also that it is contemplated that in the case of an emergency, if the curtain  110  needed to be removed more quickly, the interlocking zipper teeth  126 , could be disengaged from one another by simply pulling downwardly as indicated at directional arrow  1 A in the  FIG.  14   , which would also cause the zipper tracks  124   a,    124   b  to detach from one another. 
       FIG.  14    is an enlarged partial front view of the top portion  116  with the bottom portion  114  broken away. The zipper mechanism  124  is shown with the upper zipper track  124   a.    
       FIGS.  16 - 17 B  show a further feature of various embodiments of this invention. In many hospital or other settings, one or more curtains  110  may need to be serially attached to each other at the side edges  136  of the respective curtains  110 . A side edge seam  164  maybe temporarily formed by mating side edge seam strips  166  together as shown in  FIG.  16   . The side edge seam strip  166  maybe located on the side edge  136  of each top portion  116  and each bottom portion  114  and include a seam mechanism  168  such as mating snaps, hook and loop fastener or other mechanism to temporarily join the side edges  136  of the curtains  110  together. The curtains  110  joined together by the side edge seam strips  166  maybe suspended from a common track  112  for convenient movement of the joined curtains  110  along the track  112  and enhanced privacy offered by the adjacent curtains  110 . The curtains  110  can be easily separated along the side edge seam strips  166  for replacement and/or cleaning of the bottom portions  114 . 
     Shown in  FIG.  11    is a detailed view of the hospital curtain  110  of this invention with the bottom portion  114  removed. The zipper mechanism  124  extends from beyond the left side edge of the hospital curtain  110  to beyond the side edge  136  of the hospital curtain  110 . The zipper mechanism  124  has the upper and lower zipper tracks  124   a,    124   b  with the matingly interlocking teeth  126  that are separable for removing the bottom portion  114  from the top portion  116  when the matingly interlocking teeth  126  are disengaged. 
       FIG.  15    is an enlarged perspective view of the clinical setting  130  similar to  FIG.  1   , showing the zipper mechanism  124  opened and the bottom portion  114  removed away from the top portion  116 . The zipper mechanism  124  has the upper and lower zipper tracks ( 124   a  and  124   b,  respectively) with matingly interlocking teeth  126  that are separable for removing the bottom portion  114  from the top portion  116  when the matingly interlocking teeth  126  are disengaged as shown. As mentioned above, the user may either use the zipper handle  132 , the zipper assist pole  146 , or may, in case of urgency, simply pull the engaged teeth  126  apart as shown in  FIG.  14   . 
     Details of CCN-107B Follow 
       FIG.  18    is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention being a curtain assembly  210  suspended from a track  212 , showing a wide bottom portion  214  separable from a narrow top portion  216 . The track  212  maybe mounted to a ceiling atop an exam area  230  defined at least in part by the curtain assembly  210 . The top portion  216  may have a top segment made of a mesh material  218  for ventilation and is slideably attached along the ceiling track  212  using a number of curtain carriers coupled to spaced apart eyelets  220  on a top edge  222  of the top portion  216 . An attachment mechanism which in some embodiments is a zipper mechanism  224  extends longitudinally between and selectively joins a top edge  225  of the bottom portion  214  to a bottom edge  227  of the top portion  216  of the hospital curtain  210 . Other attachment mechanisms maybe used within the scope of this invention. The zipper mechanism  224  has upper and lower zipper tracks  224   a,    224   b  with matingly interlocking teeth  226  that are separable for selectively removing/attaching the bottom portion  214  from/to the top portion  216  of the hospital curtain  210  when desired. 
       FIG.  18    is a perspective view of this invention fully assembled. Shown is the curtain  210  of this invention comprising the bottom portion  214  and the ventilated top portion  216 . A number of different materials maybe used for the bottom portion  214 . Various antimicrobial materials maybe topically applied periodically or they may be impregnated within the curtain material during the manufacturing process. This provides an impediment to germs in the environment surrounding the bed  236  or examination area  230  by denying a surface where the organisms can multiply. The zipper mechanism  224  (discussed further elsewhere herein) extends fully from the left side edge of the hospital curtain  210  to the right side edge of the hospital curtain  210  in various embodiments. The zipper mechanism  224  has upper and lower zipper tracks  224   a,    224   b  with matingly interlocking teeth  226  that are separable for removing the bottom portion  214  from the top portion  216  when the matingly interlocking teeth  226  are disengaged from one another. 
     A joint  228  between the top and bottom portions  214 ,  216  in various embodiments of this invention has a middle section  229  which extends generally parallel to the plane of the ceiling and lateral generally vertical sections  231  each joined to the middle section  229  by an arcuate section  233 . The zipper mechanism  224  follows the path of the joint  228  between the various sections  229 ,  231 ,  233  of the top and bottom portions  214 ,  216 . In the embodiment of the top portion  214  show in  FIG.  18   , the mesh  218  extends downwardly at the lateral ends of the curtain assembly  210 . In the embodiment of the curtain assembly  210  shown in  FIG.  22   , an intermediate portion  235  extends adjacent to the middle section  229  proximate to the bottom edge  227  of the top portion  216  and includes generally triangular shaped lateral end sections  237  adjacent to the joint  228 . The intermediate and triangular portions  235 ,  237  may be opaque, non-mesh or another material according to this invention. 
     According to various embodiments of this invention, the zipper mechanism  224  may include a slider hub  238  and a zipper pull tab  232  as seen in  FIG.  19 A . The zipper pull tab  232  maybe secured to the slider hub  238  by a bridge  240 . The slider hub  238  may be pulled along the zipper tracks  224   a,    224   b  by a user engaging and pulling the zipper pull tab  232 . The user maybe standing on the floor  239  to reach the zipper mechanism  224  via a zipper assist pole  234  to zip or unzip the zipper mechanism  224 . 
     The zipper mechanism  224  maybe zipped or unzipped by a user manually grasping the zipper pull tab  232  on the zipper mechanism  224  and pulling it along the length of the zipper tracks  224   a,    224   b.  Another feature of various embodiments of this invention shown in  FIGS.  19 - 20 A  is the zipper assist pole  234  having an elongate shaft  248  and a head  250  at one end of the shaft  248 . The shaft  248  maybe telescopic in some embodiments. The head  250  maybe of any configuration to engage the zipper hub  238  and/or zipper pull tab  232 . In one embodiment, the head  250  includes a stem  252  with a ring  254  coupled to a distal end and a hook  256  coupled to the ring  254  as shown in  FIG.  19 A . This arrangement allows the hook  256  to engage an aperture  232   a  in the zipper pull tab  232  and the user may pull the zipper hub  238  along the zipper tracks  224   a,    224   b  to engage or disengage the zipper mechanism  224 . The hook  256  may articulate as needed about the ring  254  and head  250  to allow for smooth and easy zipping and unzipping of the zipper mechanism  224 . 
     With the zipper assist pole  234 , a user may grasp the two tracks  224   a,    224   b  of the zipper mechanism  224  and begin the zipping process. The user may engage the pull tab  232  with the hook  256  on the head  250  and grasp the shaft  248  of the zipper assist pole  234  to thereby move the pull tab  232  along the zipper tracks  224   a,    224   b  at an elevated position over their head proximate the lower edge  227  of the top portion  216 . The pole  234  maybe used to pull the pull tab  232  along the zipper tracks  224   a,    224   b  while the user is standing on the floor  239  even though the joint  228  between the portions  214 ,  216  is well above the user&#39;s height or reach without the pole  234 . The zipper assist pole  234  maybe used to zip or unzip the zipper mechanism  224 . When not in use, the zipper assist pole  234  may be hung on a conveniently located wall mount. 
       FIG.  19    shows the bottom portion  214  starting to be joined to the top portion  216 . The hospital curtain  210  of this invention includes the zipper mechanism  224  which maybe a quick release zipper mechanism in some embodiments. The zipper mechanism  224  provides an engagement means that allows a user to attach or remove the bottom portion  214  to or from the top portion  216  when desired. In one embodiment, the interlocking teeth  226 , are made of a polymer substance and may also be impregnated or infused with an antimicrobial compound similar to the bottom portion  214  of the hospital curtain  210 . The zipper mechanism  224  maybe separated by a user pulling the pole  345  or zipper pull tab  232  of the zipper mechanism  224  in the direction of arrow  2 A in  FIG.  19   . Note also that it is contemplated that in the case of an emergency, if the curtain  210  needed to be removed more quickly, the interlocking zipper teeth  226 , could be disengaged from one another by simply pulling downwardly, which would also cause the zipper tracks  224   a,    224   b  to detach from one another. 
     This invention provides a privacy curtain  210  for hospital room or examination area  230  use. With the rise of infections contracted in hospitals, some of these being partially or substantially resistant to antibiotic treatment, this invention addresses a real need by denying any airborne organisms or germs unknowingly carried by a person in the environment a surface proximate the patient where the pathogens can rest or multiply. As mentioned above, the bottom portion  214  of the curtain  210  maybe contaminated and this invention allows for more frequent cleaning and/or replacement. It is contemplated that the bottom portion  214  of the invention would be easily washable and able to undergo sterilization procedures (high temperatures, chemical treatment, or the like) in case of being removed. 
     These foregoing embodiments of the invention are exemplary only and in no manner should be viewed as exhaustive or limiting on the scope of this invention. Alternative numbers of components, method steps, materials, parameters, arrangements and other aspects maybe utilized within the scope of this invention. 
     From the above disclosure of the general principles of this invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, we desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.